Bow Hunting Accidents
Have you ever had an accident when bowhunting? If not, let me take this chance to make it clear to you that bow hunting accidents are very real. They happen more than you think and can turn out to be a nightmare for you.
These accidents take many forms and can be a direct result of the malfunction of your hunting equipment or a mistake by the hunter.
In this post, I’ll take a look at the four most common bowhunting mistakes and how you can easily escape them and continue enjoying your bowhunting life.
NOTE: I don’t intend to scare you away from bowhunting in this article, but to make you acutely aware of the misfortunes you’re likely to encounter and how to avoid them.
Let’s look at these accidents:
#1. Treestand Accidents
We can all agree that a treestand is one of the greatest inventions of our time. Employing a top-quality treestand gives you an edge over the game we pursue, sharp senses and, thus, bag more and more of them. Sadly, a treestand also acts as a hotspot for most of the bowhunting mistakes every season.
Countless hunters (beginners as well as experienced) fall from the tree every year and sustain serious injuries. If you fall from your treestand and sustain a few bruise and injuries, consider yourself lucky. Most of the fall victims end with severe brain damage, broken bones, paralysis, to name but a few.
Others don’t even survive to tell their tales!
To keep off possible treestand tragedies:
– Be sure to read all the instructions that come with a new treestand before you start using it
– Always pick the ideal tree for hanging your stand; it should be straight, strong, with no dead limbs/branches that might fall and injure you
– Always use the safety harness included in your treestand package when setting up your stand
#2. Shooting Damaged Arrows
A handful of archery hunters has a bad habit of simply picking up their arrows or pulling them from the targets, taking them back to the quivers, and continue using them without checking.
I was once a victim of this habit until I saw the threat it poses (check the video below).
Let’s take the example of the widely used carbon made arrows. If you fire a carbon arrow with structural compromises – like splintered areas, fractures, gouges, and so on – be prepared for the worst.
The arrow will break/shatter and send splinters back into your face or embed some of its parts into your hands (unbearable pain it is!) as shown in this video:
Video: the danger of firing damaged arrows.
Now that you know the potential hazards of shooting arrows with structural compromises, observe the following safety measures to avoid encountering such scenarios:
– Frequently and randomly inspect your arrows to see if they’ve any structural defects. This is as simple as bending and flexing them identify the potential splintered sections and stress cracks
– You might also consider running your fingers through the arrow shafts to identify possible damages or cracks
#3. Accidental Arrow Shooting
Another common bowhunting mistake revolves around accidental shooting. Hunters have often mistaken their fellow hunters for deer and accidentally shoot them with their fast and furious arrows.
The end result?
The accidental shooting has coasted lives in the past few years (and continues to do so). And the few who survive this ordeal end up with permanent disabilities, depending on the shot fatality.
The surest way to avoiding such a misfortune involves being fully aware of your target and its surroundings before releasing that arrow. Ensure you’re pointing your arrows at something you’re certain of.
Ignore this, and you might find yourself facing a meaty lawsuit!
#4. The Animals Might Attack Too
Ever heard an incident where a deer turns against a bowhunter and mercilessly fights him?
Well, one such incident hit the headlines a few years ago when a 72-year-old Fond du Lac County hunter was attacked by a doe he had just struck down with his crossbow.
Other than this, you’re also likely to encounter attacks from other animals like beer, cougar, snake bites, or get life-threatening reactions to bee stings. Sometimes, these attacks can even come from animals we couldn’t expect to be dangerous – like a coyote!
The scenario can really be horrific. Personally, I’ve never been there, and I wouldn’t want ever to face the wrath of wild animals. I know you also wish the same, so be sure to take the following precautions with you when bowhunting:
– The best way to avoid an attack from a wounded animals is by making one good shot (a one-kill shot). Hunting in a team can also help thwart these attacks or rescue your wounded friend. Using tracking dogs to trail the wounded animal easily diverts such attacks.
– After taking down that deer, never approach it without a weapon. You never what/who might arrive there first or the animal is still alive
– Using calls that draw in predators can also turn out to be a bad day for you. However, if you hunt in two, the situation can work in such circumstances – where one hunter pinpoints the location of the call and other moves around unnoticed.
– Never engage the wild animals in a run
– You may consider carrying bear spray
In conclusion, ALWAYS, always be on a high alert!
Final Verdict
We’ve just discussed the four most common bowhunting mistakes that hunters are likely to face when chasing the deer with their bow and arrows. As you can see, these accidents take many forms can truly cause havoc not only in your hunting life but also in your normal life. Almost all of them can even result in near-death and death experiences.
I know you’d do everything to make your safety a priority and avoid these scaring moments when out there. I’ll strongly urge you to carefully observe the tips I’ve provided under each of these incidents, and you’ll always remain safe.
Better be safe than sorry!
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