Shooting a crossbow will bring you tons of fun and joy. However, since it’s quite easy to get comfortable with it, inexperienced shooters become too comfortable, which can lead to easily avoidable injuries.
If you just started or are planning to pick up a crossbow, make sure to follow these crossbow safety tips.
12 Crossbow safety tips you shouldn’t overlook
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and don’t use bolts shorter or longer than recommended
- Always cock your crossbow on the ground and take it up to the treestand unloaded.
- Don’t dry fire your crossbow, you can damage it or injure yourself in the process
- Protect your eyes and wear safety glasses when handling your crossbow (assembling, loading, cocking, shooting)
- A loaded crossbow can be as lethal as a firearm, be careful not to turn it in anyone’s direction even if it’s not loaded yet.
- Practice your target shooting in clearly visible areas. Make sure to clearly identify your moving target, don’t shoot at the movement.
- Shooting is the safest way to de-cock a crossbow. Shoot it into a target or into the ground, don’t try to de-cock it by hand
- Never keep your finger unless you’re ready to shoot and don’t switch to FIRE position unless you’re ready to pull the trigger.
- Always keep people behind you when shooting a crossbow, never next to you. A broken string will launch all the debris sideways.
- Protect your fingers and always keep them below the rail of a cocked crossbow, make sure you/they are safe before every shot
- Keep your arrows and bolts protected in a quiver when transporting or storing them
- Again, treat a loaded crossbow the same as a loaded gun, never transport or carry it before unloading.
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