Crossbow Safety Guidelines

If you are among those who take crossbow hunting to be a light and easy sport and disregard safety guidelines, this is for you. Crossbows are heavy-duty weapons that need to be handled with extreme care.

If you fail to take necessary safety measures while handling one, you could potentially hurt yourself or others around you. So let’s get right into some of the safety guidelines that you must consider while using a crossbow!

Do Not Carry a Loaded Crossbow

Never carry a loaded crossbow while you are traveling or even looking for prey. You might think that it will save time or allow you to make the shot just in time.

But you have no idea how wrong you are because a loaded crossbow carried around for longer than necessary is an accident waiting to happen.

Even having a loaded crossbow in your transport is nothing short of dangerous. Hollywood movies might show otherwise, but they are movies and not reality.

It is always safe to keep the crossbow unloaded when you do not need to use it immediately.

Do Not Leave Crossbow Cocked for Long Periods

Crossbow limbs have an immense amount of energy stored in them when cocked. However, they are not designed to store this energy for extended periods.

As a result, leaving a crossbow cocked for long periods damages the limbs and other parts.

Therefore, you must uncock a crossbow and never leave it cocked overnight. It is recommended to discharge the crossbow every time you decide to take a break.

Consider it as giving the crossbow a break as well. It will keep you safe from broken limbs accidents and extend the life of your crossbow.

Keep Finger Off the Trigger Until Ready

Crossbows are considered similar to firearms in many states. They are deadly weapons and hunters must handle them with care.

Just like with firearms, you must keep your finger off the trigger until you are fully ready to take the shot.

If you keep the finger on the trigger casually when it is not needed, it is not only dangerous for yourself but others around.

Make sure to look around to see if it’s safe to take the shot. Once you are confident and in position, only then place your finger on the trigger.

Ensure Arrow is Properly Placed on Crossbow

Correctly placing the arrow on the crossbow is vital to the health of the crossbow. But, more importantly, it removes the chances of any accidents or dry fires.

The best way to go when it comes to safety is to ensure the arrow nock is properly in contact with the crossbow string when cocked.

If the arrow nock and the crossbow string have a gap in between, the immense amount of energy and pressure can break the arrow.

On the other hand, if the arrow somehow survives, the crossbow limbs might blow up. It’s a bad situation either way, and you could potentially get hurt as well.

While most manufacturers have added anti-dry fire safety features in their crossbows, you should always do your own inspection.

Properly Store Arrows in Crossbow Quivers

Arrows, if left out in the open areas dangerous as left cocked on a crossbow. This only means that you could hurt yourself or someone else by leaving an arrow uncovered or unattended.

The sharp tips are designed to hurt whatever they come into contact with.

As a result, you should always get a safe crossbow quiver that covers the whole arrow. This is not only good for your and other people’s safety but also for the arrow.

Keeping them in safe storage spaces increases life and keeps them in good shape for maximum performance.

Ensure You Have Proper Limb Clearance

As I mentioned earlier, crossbow limbs, when cocked, have an immense amount of energy stored in them.

Therefore, all the force needed to drive the arrow towards the target is stored in the limbs before you make the shot.

It is important to note that when the crossbow is cocked, the limbs are not in their full width or length. As a result, once you make the shot, they open up with great force.

At this point, if something comes in the way of the limbs, it will get hurt as well as damage the limbs. More importantly, you will end up missing your shot since the arrow flight path disrupts.

As a result, make sure there is proper limb clearance before making the shot. You can always take a test shot to get an idea about the length of the limbs, both when they are uncocked and cocked.

Do Not Pull the Trigger Without a Loaded Arrow

Pulling the trigger without a loaded arrow can potentially damage the crossbow as well as the shooter. This is again related to the huge amounts of energy and pressure stored in the limbs.

If you end up shooting a cocked crossbow without a loaded arrow, all that energy will be transferred to the crossbow.

The crossbow will end up damaged, receiving such a huge amount of force. More importantly, the crossbow will also transfer some of the energy to the shooter, causing them injury.

Have a Clear Shot at Target Before You Shoot

Having the target in clear sight and a clear path is vital for your own safety and others around you when shooting with a crossbow. So ensure you are in the correct position where the target is clearly visible.

It is also essential to inspect whether there are any objects such as tree branches in your arrow’s flight path.

It often happens that beginner hunters get excited when they see a target and end up putting a blind eye to small objects in between. Stay focused and alert at all times.

Do Not Shot an Arrow Up in the Air

The logic behind this is that you wouldn’t know where the arrow would fall. Shooting an arrow straight up in the air is dangerous for you and anyone around you.

It falls with a great velocity which can hurt and even be fatal in some cases.

You might think that it would be easy to get out of a falling arrow’s path, but trust me, it can get confusing.

It all can happen so fast sometimes that you don’t get time to think and panic. Avoid putting yourself in such a situation.

Uncock Crossbow Safely

Just like cocking safely is essential, so is uncocking. If you are thinking that slowly letting the string down while you pull the trigger is the safest way, think again.

If you do this, one wrong move can blow the crossbow, hurting you both.

So, the best and safest way to uncock a crossbow is to shoot the arrow/bolt. Shoot it somewhere safe, but the best way is to carry a target bag alongside.

You can put it in a secure location and shoot the arrow on the target’s back. You will have a perfectly uncocked crossbow without any issues.

Regularly Maintain Your Crossbow

It is essential to maintain your crossbow in order for it to keep performing well. More importantly, a poorly maintained crossbow is more prone to accidents and risks.

As a result, you must check the crossbow for any dents, cracks, defects, and breaks before use every time for safety.

Moreover, make sure to inspect the crossbow string regularly. Look for any worn-out parts and religiously follow the lubrication instructions given by the manufacturer.

It is also essential to check the arrow or bolts for any damages before you decide to use them.

Take Lessons Only from Experts

Crossbows are not toys that you can play with. They are serious hunting weapons that should only be handled with care and proper instructions.

If you are new to using a crossbow, make sure you have studied them thoroughly and strongly consider safety precautions.

Always ask for advice from experts. A beginner can never provide you with all the relevant details and safety measures.

Only people who use crossbows regularly know the routine of checks to follow every time you use a crossbow.

Keep Emotions in Check

Last but not least, keep your emotions in check. Crossbow hunting is an exciting sport. It is thrilling and adventurous. But that does not mean you let your emotions take the best of you.

Don’t make decisions in haste, excitement, or anger. Always take your time and be patient. Patience and focus are essential to successful days on the hunting field.

Never forget it’s a sport at the end of the day, and even if you fail to get the target, you can always go back and try again.