After reading about some accidental stabbings I tend to not have an arrow on the string while slip hunting anymore.
While I'm sitting in a spot on my chair I nock and arrow.
Just wondering what others do.
I believe it is prudent to not nock an arrow unless you a well away from other people and you are almost prepared to shoot. While I have personally never had an accident, I have twice had my bowstring cut by careless broadhead handling . Both times by people walking by me at a firing line sticking their arrow between my riser and string. Could have just as easily poked me I guess.
I don't put an arrow on the string until I see the critter I want to shoot (and close at that). Hunting with an arrow nocked is an accident waiting to happen. All kinds of stuff to slip on and or get tangled in. Speaking of tangling, walking with an arrow nocked requires a lot more movement to keep the arrow from becoming entangled in the brush. Just not a good idea.
On stand, of course, I have an arrow nocked and the bow across my lap or between my legs.
When I'm stalking (slip hunting), especially for hogs, I carry my bow, string down with an arrow nocked. This puts the arrow pointing up on my left. Usually, am moving so slow that it is not a problem. I hunt public land for hogs that are very pressured and 99.999% of shots are happening before you realize that you have your bow up. They like the briar patches and it is like busting out grouse or quail. We call it, "wing shooting for pigs". Not much time to nock an arrow, unless you're good at 40-50 yard shoots at running boar. They go from 10 yards to sixty real quick.
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I have a Solo Stalked(leather broadhead cover)tied to the upper limb and hold the arrow in my bow hand. When I need the arrow I slip it out of the cover and on the string. I don't walk with the arrow on the string unless I'm ready to use it.
I suppose I have the not so popular answer. But in my defense I'm strictly a Bowhunter and I don't walk down firing lines and such. I also roll solo and seek areas nobody else hunts so harming someone with friendly fire isn't a precaution. But from the time I hit the woods I nock an arrow and stalk my way to my stand. Many times this has got me a quick shot I would not have got if I was digging in my quiver. I'm moving at turtle pace with nobody in the general area just don't see what can go south. The only probs I have ever had was during a rushed attempt to nock an arrow. To each there own and safety first. Life is a game of choices but I don't have any probs with a arrow on the string
Quote from: Wudstix on April 04, 2019, 05:14:55 PM
When I'm stalking (slip hunting), especially for hogs, I carry my bow, string down with an arrow nocked. This puts the arrow pointing up on my left. Usually, am moving so slow that it is not a problem. I hunt public land for hogs that are very pressured and 99.999% of shots are happening before you realize that you have your bow up. They like the briar patches and it is like busting out grouse or quail. We call it, "wing shooting for pigs". Not much time to nock an arrow, unless you're good at 40-50 yard shoots at running boar. They go from 10 yards to sixty real quick.
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We call that spook and shoot instead of spot and stalk!
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Quote from: bigbadjon on April 04, 2019, 03:44:24 PM
I believe it is prudent to not nock an arrow unless you a well away from other people and you are almost prepared to shoot. While I have personally never had an accident, I have twice had my bowstring cut by careless broadhead handling . Both times by people walking by me at a firing line sticking their arrow between my riser and string. Could have just as easily poked me I guess.
Our club doesnt allow broadheads on the range.
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Still hunting I don't nock an arrow until game is spotted but I sometimes will move quite a ways trying to get close to a sounder of feeding pigs.
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Quote from: GCook on April 04, 2019, 06:23:47 PM
Quote from: bigbadjon on April 04, 2019, 03:44:24 PM
I believe it is prudent to not nock an arrow unless you a well away from other people and you are almost prepared to shoot. While I have personally never had an accident, I have twice had my bowstring cut by careless broadhead handling . Both times by people walking by me at a firing line sticking their arrow between my riser and string. Could have just as easily poked me I guess.
Our club doesnt allow broadheads on the range.
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What's your point? Careless handling could get your eye poked out with a blunt. It's best to not nock an arrow unless you are preparing to shoot or not around other people.
I make a safe decision based on the terrain and cover. If I feel it is safe, I don't have a problem stalking with a nocked arrow. But hey, I'm a risk taker. I once pulled the tag off a mattress when it clearly said not to...
In my 63 years of bow hunting big game I've never had an accident (knock on wood). If I'm just walking in to my stand I don't have an arrow nocked. But if I'm slipping into an area looking for and expecting to see game I have a broadhead on the string. I am moving turtle slow and am ALWAYS conscious of the direction the broadhead is pointed which is AWAY from me.
IMO if you don't have an arrow on the string you're not hunting you're just going for a walk. Being "nocked and locked" has paid off occasionally over the years. I recall on time in particular, I was going back to my truck after spending several hours in the morning on my stand. I was moving slowly across a big high grass field that I knew deer sometimes bedded. I had my longbow ready with arrow nocked when two bucks jumped up in front of me. One of them went straight away and the other went horizontally to my left. I had only seconds to shoot but my bow came up and the shot was true. The buck never made it across the field.
For me there's a difference in how I feel when I'm hunting with an arrow ready on the bow....and I like that feeling.
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I personally have no problem sneak hunting with an arrow nocked. I will add that everyone should always have a first aid kit and know how to use it, just in case things go south.
I never walk, even slowly with a broadhead knocked. I personally
know of 2 different guys who slipped with an arrow knocked and both
died quickly from blood loss.
Too many things can go wrong
Quote from: bigbadjon on April 05, 2019, 09:14:24 AM
Quote from: GCook on April 04, 2019, 06:23:47 PM
Quote from: bigbadjon on April 04, 2019, 03:44:24 PM
I believe it is prudent to not nock an arrow unless you a well away from other people and you are almost prepared to shoot. While I have personally never had an accident, I have twice had my bowstring cut by careless broadhead handling . Both times by people walking by me at a firing line sticking their arrow between my riser and string. Could have just as easily poked me I guess.
Our club doesnt allow broadheads on the range.
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What's your point? Careless handling could get your eye poked out with a blunt. It's best to not nock an arrow unless you are preparing to shoot or not around other people.
Agree.
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Appreciate all the comments.
Ron, what's that fluff in front of the fletching on the arrow? Looks almost like a string silencer.
My father found a broadhead in the back of his leg from someone who thought he would get ready whole they were sneaking in on some deer.
"Ron, what's that fluff in front of the fletching on the arrow? Looks almost like a string silencer."
It's turkey down that I wrapped on the shaft ahead of the fletching just for decoration. Sometimes I've used white fluff, that makes the arrow more visible when the fletching is gray barr's.
Quote from: Ron LaClair on April 05, 2019, 11:36:09 AM
In my 63 years of bow hunting big game I've never had an accident (knock on wood). If I'm just walking in to my stand I don't have an arrow nocked. But if I'm slipping into an area looking for and expecting to see game I have a broadhead on the string. I am moving turtle slow and am ALWAYS conscious of the direction the broadhead is pointed which is AWAY from me.
IMO if you don't have an arrow on the string you're not hunting you're just going for a walk. Being "nocked and locked" has paid off occasionally over the years. I recall on time in particular, I was going back to my truck after spending several hours in the morning on my stand. I was moving slowly across a big high grass field that I knew deer sometimes bedded. I had my longbow ready with arrow nocked when two bucks jumped up in front of me. One of them went straight away and the other went horizontally to my left. I had only seconds to shoot but my bow came up and the shot was true. The buck never made it across the field.
For me there's a difference in how I feel when I'm hunting with an arrow ready on the bow....and I like that feeling.
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Ron...we have spent a TON of time together in the woods and in camp, but I sure as heck disagree with your comment about not having an arrow on the string is just going for a walk. As sharp as I know you get your broadheads....it's a miracle you haven't gutted yourself.
I figure if I don't have time to nock an arrow, it's not that good of an opportunity. I'm not risking my life over a running shot at a deer.
Patience Grasshopper....don't listen to the demon that whispers fear in your ear. You are the one in control.
Roger, I've hunted with you enough to know that you don't "slip hunt" That style of hunting is fast becoming a lost art. Most bowhunters are content to hang a tree stand and walk to and from it. With old time hunters of years past slipping or stalking as it was called was their primary method of hunting. It requires a little more skill but it's not hard to learn what you need to do to become successful....and to be successful you need to be ready... "nocked and locked"
I think it was Howard Hill or John Schultz that said, "Without an arrow on the string you're just going for a walk"
I slipped up on this little buck through the corn with an arrow on the string as he was feeding in the hay field
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Agreed.
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dnovo said, "I never walk, even slowly with a broadhead knocked. I personally
know of 2 different guys who slipped with an arrow knocked and both
died quickly from blood loss.
Too many things can go wrong"
I'm not saying it hasn't happened but in all of my years I've never heard of an instance of that happening and you personally know of two guys that slipped on their arrow and died?.....that's spooky. I wouldn't walk with a nocked arrow if I was you either.
Quote from: Ron LaClair on April 05, 2019, 11:49:59 PM
dnovo said, "I never walk, even slowly with a broadhead knocked. I personally
know of 2 different guys who slipped with an arrow knocked and both
died quickly from blood loss.
Too many things can go wrong"
I'm not saying it hasn't happened but in all of my years I've never heard of an instance of that happening and you personally know of two guys that slipped on their arrow and died?.....that's spooky. I wouldn't walk with a nocked arrow if I was you either.
I was thinking the exact same thing.
I knew two guys who have been killed driving in city traffic. Doesnt mean I don't commute. There is risk in everything. I workd at water plants where we climbed 140 foot water tanks, worked on chlorine, ammonia and ozone systems (among other dangerous chemicals) and was on the hazmat response team. When it went bad we ran in while everyone else ran away. Can it happen? Absolutely. But is it likely to?
I like to believe I'm intelligent enough to know when to put the arrow in the quiver should circumstances put me in hazardous situations.
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To each their own. I think it's a foolish risk, and frankly you guys are minimizing that risk to Lord knows how many young/new bowhunters right now.
And Ron, I have "slipped up" on both a caribou and mule deer, got to within 15 yards, and safely/slowly pulled an arrow out of my quiver. Both ended up in my freezer.
I don't walk around with my knife in my hand either.
I carry a quick-clot first aid product in my cargo pocket and in my truck door. Bleeding out is a really dumb way to die.
Like I said, bow hunting has changed, people don't do things the way it was done in years past. Even though I've done it I can't say that tree stands and baiting have been an improvement. It may have made for greater success but the trade offs have taken away from the challenge and the skill that we had 50/60 years ago.
As for "nocked and locked" or not, that's a personal choice, but if you haven't done it, it's hard to judge. If you fear what "might" happen then you shouldn't do it.
I knew a guy that was so afraid of heights that he would freeze and shake when he tried to climb a ladder stand so he hunted from the ground.
Roger, years ago I hunted with "Mr Bowie knife" Bill Bagwell. He suggested to carry super glue for an emergency to stop bleeding.....if you accidentally cut yourself with your "Bowie knife"
"I like to believe I'm intelligent enough to know when to put the arrow in the quiver should circumstances put me in hazardous situations."
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Can anyone remember bow quivers without a broadhead cover? This is from 1958 with a quiver of big Goshawk broadheads just waiting to slice me. As I remember I was VERY aware of the danger and VERY careful.
The coon skins are from two coons that came into a wild apple tree one evening where I was set up. Two shots, two coons... We ate them both.
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In over 50 years I've never heard anyone say "slip" hunting till this thread.
I think the greatest misconception of people who are picturing slip hunting or still hunting as you will comes from people who view it as walking through the woods with a Broadhead very slowly. when in fact to do it correctly you are essentially just standing around, and taking a step once every 5 minutes or so. So I guess with that in mind it's no different than standing in your tree stand with an arrow nocked.
Personally for me, I don't knock an arrow until it's time and the moment and situation will dictate when it's time. with that being said I will never at this time in my life you taking shots at a deer that jumps out of his bed and is moving rapidly. I do not practice that shot nor will I take it
I do not want to be one of those guys who comes on here and says they messed up, in a situation that was completely controllable and preventable. I also dislike spending three or four fruitless days of tracking only to wonder what if? I know most people just assume deer live if they're not recovered. I personally usually assume that I'm feeding coyotes.
Perhaps I'm too cautious in my shot selection there for as a result I don't put many deer in the freezer with my bow. But on the flip side I am not talking about how arrows deflected by branches caused me to miss my mark. I once shot at a walking dear, and ended up Center punching a sapling that I have no idea was there. When your focus so hard on one spot in the animal is moving you are not seeing everything else that can cause a hunt to go Bad
Please disregard my grammar imperfections, as I am using voice text. And I don't want my post to make other people feel like I'm talking down on their Styles and choices While Hunting, and I for one have made those mistakes in the past. and know where my comfort level is at this point in my life
We call that spook and shoot instead of spot and stalk!
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At Granger the only time you see hogs, mostly is after they bust from the thickest, nastiest stuff on the face of the earth. Being ready for a running shoot at a streaking pig, is the only option.
Hunting pigs at other spots is different, deer also. The situation is more controlled, and slightly more predictable. Granger is PhD level hog hunting, especially with a stickbow; going solo is a blast, but rarely productive.
Lmbo. Yeah Ronnie coined that phrase when we were at 3Fingers.
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50 years, really BAK?
To me slip hunting is quietly moving through the woods as the woods themselves dictate how fast or slow you can successfully slip. Once an animal is sighted or fresh sign is found ( like steam still coming off a fresh scat pile ) then the stalk begins. Then with or w/o an arrow nocked will depend on the particular circumstances.
For me anyway.
Quote from: GCook on April 05, 2019, 09:18:21 PM
Agreed.
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Forgot to mention; I like Websters 1. b definition of slip.
I used to keep an arrow on the bow as a regular practice. However, I finally realized that I just don't have the ability to slip quietly through the woods. I would make a cloud crackle and crunch, so now I hunt solely from stands. The only accident I had was when using an old Kwickee Kwiver with no protective hood. I stabbed myself in the thigh. Now, I don't even string my bow till I reach my stand. Likewise, I unstring it to walk out. I have been hunting since 1964 and have only had a couple of instances of walking up successfully on a deer. I have practiced, read books, watched videos, and talked to many experienced stalkers (slippers?), but I'll just stick with stringing up when I get to the stand.
Quote from: Ron LaClair on April 06, 2019, 08:35:52 AM
Like I said, bow hunting has changed, people don't do things the way it was done in years past. Even though I've done it I can't say that tree stands and baiting have been an improvement. It may have made for greater success but the trade offs have taken away from the challenge and the skill that we had 50/60 years ago.
As for "nocked and locked" or not, that's a personal choice, but if you haven't done it, it's hard to judge. If you fear what "might" happen then you shouldn't do it.
I knew a guy that was so afraid of heights that he would freeze and shake when he tried to climb a ladder stand so he hunted from the ground.
Roger, years ago I hunted with "Mr Bowie knife" Bill Bagwell. He suggested to carry super glue for an emergency to stop bleeding.....if you accidentally cut yourself with your "Bowie knife"
Don't worry Lobo....I'll be around to slap a Quick-Clot on you before your femoral pumps you dry :biglaugh:
if I am spot and staking for High Desert Mule deer I wait until I am about 100 yards or elk hunt and calling I will nock and arrow sitting on a water hole I will nock and arrow but small game hunting or stump shooting always have and arrow on my string.
I nock as soon as I sit or as soon as I start a stalk.
I have fallen a few times while still hunting. Usually, it's when I'm trying to look around while also taking a few steps. It's a good reminder for me to either walk or watch but don't try to do both at the same time. Granted, my terrain is usually very steep & tricky. Not exactly midwestern cornfields. The last time I slipped was while scouting for turkeys about a month ago. I even had a trekking pole for balance. But a frosty morning on brushy slope with enough fallen & dead timber underfoot to make the forest floor look like a giant wicker basket makes standing up straight a challenge sometimes. Glad I didn't have anything sharp in my hands that time.
For me, I'll take the risk if I'm actually in-pursuit. Otherwise, I keep them stuffed in the quiver. I'm not the least bit confident in my ability to take a running shot.