Hiking with a cocked bow

[mb5200]

Being new to crossbows I was wondering if anyone has there bow cocked while hiking.

[Raymond]

Hello MB5200,
I do have my crossbow cocked while I am walking into my hunting location. If it is in my hands I have an arrow on the deck ready to take a shot if I need to also.
Raymond

[papa bear1]

I do hike with my bow cocked at times, But i don't have a bolt in it, I like being on the safe side, I have had more than my share of accidents, while hunting, But to each thier own, IF,,,, you feel safe doing something then by all means do so.!!! JMHO

Dave

[Normous]

Just curious, what does one do with a crossbow while hiking?

[Raymond]

If I was able to hunt like I used to, I would be hiking deep into a hardwood ridges where I used to go and I would have the crossbow slung over my back and not cocked. But the distance that I travel now it is cocked and loaded. If it is a ladder or tower stand I remove the arrow and haul up the crossbow once I am at the top. Then I put an arrow on the deck once I am seat and ready.
Raymond

[Limbs and Sticks]

Most of the time I'm in route to my stand before day light and my bow is cocked, have no reason to load a stick til I'm in my stand and can see what I'm going to shoot, be safe not sorry

Wes

[rayman]

I cock the bow just before leaving the truck and wait to put a bolt in until settled in the stand. Take the bolt back out before coming down and uncock the bow at the truck.

[VixChix]

I usually have a rubber band around the stock which I flip up over the safety as extra security for carrying it cocked and loaded.

[mr meat]

i cock mine when i leave truck in morning but no arrow till iam in stand! afternoon hunt i will put arrow in when i leave truck but take it out when pulling up into stand!

[onebigskittle]

When i leave the truck or out of my door to go hunting it will be cocked,loaded and when i get back to the truck or my back yard i unload the arrow and decock. Would hate to see a monster and have no arrow on deck then dry fire

[Roadrunnr72]

I usually have a rubber band around the stock which I flip up over the safety as extra security for carrying it cocked and loaded.

Nice, thanks for the tip! I hunt with a climbing stand, so it is on my back and bow in my hand, cocked, locked and loaded!

[bob watkins]

i like the idea of the rubber band. i pulled my bow up once it was in the fire position there was no arrow in it .still could do give you a serious hurt with just the string going off if your was in the wrong place. great idea bob

[Dash]

The crossbow is way easier to carry uncocked, as I carry it stock in one hand and bow over the shoulder. But once closer to my spot or higher probability of seeing game, then I cock the bow, safety on, but no arrow in. If your moving through tight bush with the bow on bad angles, twicks flicking you its easy for an arrow to become unlodged,or to trip up, so I prefer to place the arrow only once in position or I've spotted what I want to take down. I hunt on private land and owe it to the landowner as well as myself to play it safe.

[wheelie]

Maybe I am missing the boat completely but is hiking with a crossbow not called hunting? Not going to fire ten dollar arrows at a pop can or a piece of garbage I find along the way.
I go for a walk in the bush, I just take a .22 with me as crossbow is way more of a workout than this old body needs. Oh to be young again! LOL

[DuckHunt]

I cock the bow just before leaving the truck and wait to put a bolt in until settled in the stand. Take the bolt back out before coming down and uncock the bow at the truck.

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