The end is near

We have our tags filled for this year and I already miss being out.
Last year at about 15 minutes before sunset I had a small buck walk out. Last day of season and I was out with the crossbow. I waited for good shot placement and pulled the trigger. I heard an abnormal loud CRACK from the bow, but ignored it as I watch the buck bounce away. Shot felt good so I sat giving the him time.. I looked down maybe 5 yards from my tree stand... wtf is that my arrow??? Turns out I didn't have the bolt fully seated and it was pretty much a dry fire.

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Originally Posted by Candice_h

We have our tags filled for this year and I already miss being out.
Last year at about 15 minutes before sunset I had a small buck walk out. Last day of season and I was out with the crossbow. I waited for good shot placement and pulled the trigger. I heard an abnormal loud CRACK from the bow, but ignored it as I watch the buck bounce away. Shot felt good so I sat giving the him time.. I looked down maybe 5 yards from my tree stand... wtf is that my arrow??? Turns out I didn't have the bolt fully seated and it was pretty much a dry fire.

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Ouch!!!

candice_h, I can feel your pain. last year had the biggest buck I have ever seen less then 20yds away, broad side standing there. i took aim and pulled trigger, watched bolt hit ground between his legs. he ran about 30yds and stopped and looked back to see what the noise was, then walked away. Only thing I can figure is the same as you the bolt had come unseated while walking in. Never going to happen again.

good luck

Im still at it, last year had tag soup, have no intentions of tag soup again, due to christams gatherings have been out once since mid november, so plan on being out for a few days.

Earliest I hat a deer was 730 am oct 1, big lonely doe, latest was nov 27th , usually tagged out or have enough meat that only hunt large bucs after the controlled

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Originally Posted by sabmgb

candice_h, I can feel your pain. last year had the biggest buck I have ever seen less then 20yds away, broad side standing there. i took aim and pulled trigger, watched bolt hit ground between his legs. he ran about 30yds and stopped and looked back to see what the noise was, then walked away. Only thing I can figure is the same as you the bolt had come unseated while walking in. Never going to happen again.

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This thing likely happens more often then talked about.

I had the same thing happened to me twice,in a course of few years. No shot opportunity ruined though....so i may got lucky noticing this while sitting and observing the nature. .
Now,i have a habit to"pull"the bolt back against the string with my left thumb, many times in a sit.I do not recall ever since ,if that act was a savior or not .......

Not the safest practice,since the thumb is inside the strings path-if i happen to fire the X bow at the same second(which is highly unlikely).Do not recommend to anyone this practice..

Bolt slid out can happen if the retaining spring is not strong enough ,and the loaded X bow is pointed downwards(providing it was seated properly right from the get go)

A group of guys I used to know always did their last hunt on the 31 to use the remaining tags.
They did pushes, questionable tactics with a bow, IMO, but to each its own.
Not to start a debate, but I wish we had 3-4 months gun season, like other places. I'd always choose a gun over a bow.

I am in a not bad situation here, both my wife and I got drawn for the controlled hunt which our group filled all of our tags. I did purchase an additional archery tag figuring I would have time between Christmas and New Years since our fall harvest rush is complete...well hello COVID...All 3 of either tested positive, or been in close contact of a positive and now I've been at home since the 17th.

Good luck to you!

Your 10 days,(now only 5 days in some locales) are up for quarantine. Go fill your tag!
Some areas are not even mandating isolation for close contact without a positive, only monitor for symptoms.
Quebec now is allowing positive cases to return to work!
John

Never give up. I'm heading out this afternoon with a new hunter and tomorrow for my last sit