Washington state bowhunter killed in accident

[elkken]

It was reported in the Seattle Times newspaper today that a Washington state bowhunter had died in an accident this week. Apparently two hunters were tracking an elk, does not say following a blood trail, when the lead hunter suddenly stopped. The hunter who was following had an arrow nocked and ran into his hunting partner causing the fatal wound. The article does not say where he was struck by the arrow.

I personally do not hunt with an arrow on the string unless I'm in the final approach on a stock or in a tree stand, but I have hunted with and  have seen folks who regularly hunt with an arrow nocked.

Do you hunt with an arrow nocked ?? Be safe out there, your loved ones will thank you.

[Lamey]

Was the story verified, as it seems odd in many ways.   Unless they were at a run,  or the lead man fell with force onto the arrow its just hard to believe.

[straitera]

Old time bow mounted quivers w/exposed BH's. My buddy got into the truck & gashed his arm emergency room deep. Too late after the fact.

[Night Wing]

I never hunt on a stalk with an arrow on the string. Too dangerous. If I were to trip, I could fall on the broadhead and bleed out.

In a ground blind, I do put an arrow on the string, but I'm sitting down at all times when this happens. I'm not moving.

[Mudd]

Only if I'm on the final approach and not before and I'm talking about mostly just positioning for the shot.

God bless,Mudd


PS:http://www.kgw.com/news/Elk-hunter-killed-by-arrow-in-SW-Washington-102670349.html

[Mike Vines]

Some people just don't think!!!

[stickbowmaniac]

I'm with ya on that 1 Mudd.Only on final approach.To much can happen to fast.

[magnus]

I do with blunts when squirrel hunting. I used to when still hunting till a friend of mine's buddy was hunting out west and fell a few feet it seems and put the broad head thru his thigh. He was found three days later by search and rescue. He had his belt around his leg but couldn't save himself. NOT how I want too go!!!

Magnus

[toppredator]

I'm also the type of guy who doesn't knock an arrow until I'm close.  Carrying razor sharp broadheads you have to be super carefull.

[motorhead7963]

What on earth was he doing SO CLOSE to his hunting partner that he could walk into him and stickem???? STUPID!!!!!

[cohutta orange]

Prayers to the family and friends.

[Mudd]

The really sad part is we or anybody can ask all of the "How'd that happen?" questions they want but it is a "was" now.

The time for questions and thinking is before something happens.

Please, please be safe out there.

So what if you don't get that shot this time. Live to get another chance in the future.

God bless,Mudd

[Sixby]

I have seen guys get excited when we were calling elk and chasing a bull. Literally running after him. I finally got them together and read them the riot act. a couple had their arrows on the string and literally running. People get excited and do stupid stuff. Sometimes its the last thing they do. We have a responsibility to share these things and exhort to be safe. sometimes there is no second chance. This is a very sad thing and some man and some family is brokenhearted right now because of one mistake. When someone is so hardheaded that they will not be safe we part company. Nothing kills a hunt faster than someone being unsafe and getting themselves or someone else hurt. There are enough things out there that can get you without that. God Bless you folks and the people that this happened too. Be cool and be safe and insist on it. Steve

[redfish]

No arrow on the string for me. Too many things can go wrong. I have missed many chances at deer because I wasn't ready, but that's OK.

[Hud]

http://www.nwcn.com/news/washington/Kelso-man-killed-in-freak-bow-hunting-accident-102696109.html

[xtrema312]

I hunt with an arrow on the bow most of the time, but I treat it more carefully then the barrel of a loaded gun.  I don't put it on until I am hunting, and I take it off when I get out of a hunting area.  Most of the time I am in a hunting area and anything can happen.  I take it off any time I have to go up, down or cross anything with potential tripping of slipping.  I would never walk behind or close to another hunter with an arrow on.

[J-dog]

Keep one knocked as I am in a tree or in the blind - if walking no - I took a bad cut across the back of my hand (knuckles bone showing, severalof em) due to a friend walking with a arra ont he string. We were like 14 if I remember correctly on the age - I remember the day everytime I look at my left hand scars are memories in the skin.

God Bless the families involved in the incident. That is very sad.

I always have a blunt on the string, unless I am ready to finish a stalk on a deer.  Even having one in hand can be dangerous if the footing is not certain.  I think that I have just as much chance of falling on one in hand as one on the string.

[straitera]

Yessiree!! That's why I bought 2 new Solo Stalkers to cover my 2blade BH during a stalk. Honestly, I've rarely used them. Might be time.

[BrianP]

Sad...but what's even sadder are the comments to the nwcn story at the bottom.  Not sure what "state" I'm living in sometimes.