Still Hunting/Stalking with an arrow nocked.

[Knawbone]

Originally posted by Bjorn:
If I am closing in on an animal, or if the hairs on the back of my neck tell me something is close, it is time to nock an arrow. Sometimes you can hear them and smell them and I nock then too.
If there is steep lousy footing I will either stand in place or put the arrow back in my quiver.
Lotsa' risks and dangers out there, the most dangerous by far is driving to your hunting spot.      

My feelings exactly. Be prudent and use common sense.When your numbers up............you'll be in a far better place!

[Knawbone]

I wanted to add that most accidents happen from carelessness and or a lost duty to safe handling whether it be an arrow, a gun, knife, chainsaw or what have you. The sub conscious mind should continuously be flashing caution as a habitual entrainment when ever dangerous items are used or handled!

[longstiks]

I like to use the solo on my bow that is held with my bow hand. It is just a broadhead cover that ties to my bow and will come into play real fast if needed, not much motion and not much chance of getting hurt if I get two left feet and trip   .
Denny

[Roadkill]

On stand, will nock.  If moving, no. If closing on game, nocked.
Blunts for rabbit and quail, knocked.  Situation dictates

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Originally posted by GANDGOLF:
Just goes to show "Common Sense AIN'T COMMON.!!" If you're stalking without an arra on the string, you ain't stalking --- your Traveling.. If you move so fast- you don't KNOW where your feet will be Planted, your Bow will come through , your Broadhead will pass by, you're not stalking your TRAVELING !! Like the old sayin" White man walk Lot See little- Indian Walk Little SEE LOT"

I like this guy..... Use common sense... if you are a clutz and fall down a lot, you obviously aren't watching where your feet are being placed.

I always have an arrow nocked when i'm stalking. But....it typically takes me 30 minutes to cover a 100 yards. If you are spending more time moving, than standing still & using your senses. Then you aren't doing it right.... you aren't hunting... you are traveling. Might as well keep the dad burn arrow in your quiver.

[GANDGOLF]

Thank's for the Flowers KIRK !!  

[Danny Rowan]

Not any more. Several years ago was slipping through the jungle here on Guam and tripped, tip of the broadhead stuck me just above the eye. Bled a bit but it could have been a whole lot worse, now I do not do it, ever. Wait until I am almost in position to shoot.

[Ron LaClair]

I suppose carrying a nocked broadhead could be considered dangerous but so is climbing trees or for that matter driving a car. A lot of things we do in life could hurt us if we're not careful. I've bow hunted with sharp arrows for 60 years and have yet to stab myself with an arrow...and yes at times I walk with a broadhead on the string when the occasion calls for it. I always make sure the arrow is pointed down and sometimes I hold the bow flat with my thumb pressing down on the shaft of the arrow holding it against the bow, while the arrow is pointed out and away from me.

There are times when you would never have time to nock an arrow before the shot is lost. I recall an incident many years ago. I was walking out of the woods heading back to my truck after a morning of sitting in my tree stand. I had to cross a big grass field where the grass was above the knees. I knew from the many deer beds that deer sometimes bedded in the field. I nocked an arrow on my 70# 68" longbow. About half way across the field TWO bucks, twin 6 pointers jumped up less that 20yds in front of me. One of the bucks went straight away from me and the other one ran horizontally from right to left. My bow which was locked and loaded came up and I swung with the buck. He almost looked like he was running in slow motion as I concentrated on a spot behind his shoulder. The arrow left the bow automatically without a conscious effort from me. I saw the yellow feathers blossom low behind the shoulder. The broadhead centered the heart and the buck never made it out of the field. Today his heart with a big 2 blade slit in the center sits on a shelf in my shop in a big jar of formaldehyde.

Had I not had an arrow on the string I never could have made one of the luckiest shots of my hunting career.

[njloco]

That is a great shoot!, and your absolutely correct, had your arrow not been on the string and ready, it would have been a lot harder if at all possible.

[jrbows]

I keep an arrow on the string unless I'm moving through thick stuff and hang-ups get to be a hassle. On a related note (forgive me any-one who has heard this story from me I seem to remember posting it a while back) a few years ago a friend and I were coming off of one of the steep courses at Denton Hill and were walking parallel to and about 30 yards from a guy wearing a side quiver on his right side his feet slipped out from under him straight down the hill and he landed flat on his butt, the quiver hit the ground and angled perfectly to insert a nock in the guys' nostril at a good rate of speed, enough to get some blood going and shake the guy up some, accidents happen, is walking with a broad-head "loaded" more dangerous? It definitely adds a degree of danger. I think if you're not comfortable doing it then you shouldn't, be careful so you can enjoy what you do for longer.

[joe skipp]

My point exactly Ron...

[kill shot]

Ron, A jar with a heart in it sitting on a shelf in your shop. DR Frankenstien I presume.

[Tav]

Depends.  I always try to keep it in the quiver, but when I'm close and on the stalk it's knocked because a shot is impending.  I am moving super slow so it's like I'm standing still anyway.

[Caddo]

When actually Stalking or Still hunting, absolutely! Because that's what I'm focused on doing!

Just walking along with no particular purpose in mind, nope, not practical.

LD

[nineworlds9]

Originally posted by Kirkll:
 

Originally posted by GANDGOLF:
Just goes to show "Common Sense AIN'T COMMON.!!" If you're stalking without an arra on the string, you ain't stalking --- your Traveling.. If you move so fast- you don't KNOW where your feet will be Planted, your Bow will come through , your Broadhead will pass by, you're not stalking your TRAVELING !! Like the old sayin" White man walk Lot See little- Indian Walk Little SEE LOT"

I like this guy..... Use common sense... if you are a clutz and fall down a lot, you obviously aren't watching where your feet are being placed.

I always have an arrow nocked when i'm stalking. But....it typically takes me 30 minutes to cover a 100 yards. If you are spending more time moving, than standing still & using your senses. Then you aren't doing it right.... you aren't hunting... you are traveling. Might as well keep the dad burn arrow in your quiver. [/b]

+1.

Here in FL I don't really need to worry about ice/snow or real crazy elevation changes.  The woods/swamp here can be ultra thick, it will most likely be I see them a split second before they see me or its at the same time and I will use my judgement to fit the situation/ feel more confident knowing I will just need to draw and shoot as soon as I'm in range.  

If I am on the stalk with someone else like my brother he will be at least 10 ft in front or behind and we use hand signals.  

And in the dark?  That's just crazy.

[Michael Arnette]

If I think a shot is possible in a situation like still hunting whitetail, I nock an arrow. I am going to re-consider this after reading this thread. But I know that as Ron said, shot opportunity will be missed at some point.
That being said, I don't knock an arrow when any terrain is unsafe or even somewhat challenging.

[BOWMARKS]

I have 2 friends that have been stuck doing this back in their younger dumber years!

One on his own and the other by his buddy behind him.      

Last year I was still hunting with an arrow on the string. I got to a steeper part of the slope and gently tossed my arrow into my back quiver and missed. I cut most of my B50 string in half about 12 inches from the lower tip of my longbow. Safety first.

[one more bow]

here in eastern n.c. the ground I hunt is flat, cant say how I would feel in hilly terrain, but here I most always have an arrow nocked. there are two beautiful bucks I KNOW would be dead if only I had an arrow nocked. that was many years ago. since then, always have an arrow ready.

[BOWMARKS]

What's that old saying "AN ACCIDENT LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO HAPPEN"