Lesson Learned

[Jcotrel1]

This is my first year crossbow hunting as I converted from the compound bow due to vision issues. Got the bow over the summer and have been shooting quite a bit. Traveled from New York City to Kentucky last week to my buddy's farm. On the third day, I had a shooter 9 pt come in at 27 yards. Put the cross hairs on him and squeezed the trigger. Something didn't sound right. I didn't see my Lumenok light up and the deer walked a few feet, looked around and kept feeding. No idea what happened. No idea where the bolt went. Somehow, I was able to load another bolt while in the stand. Ranged him at 30 yards. Put the cross hairs a few inches high and squeezed. Saw the Lumenok but the bolt was all squirrely. Complete miss. Again the deer kept feeding. I loaded yet another bolt but he never came back in for a shot. He continued to feed at 60+ yards. Back at the cabin to target shoot, I realized the bolts were stopping about an inch short of the string. I forced it in a few times and cleared up whatever was in there. I'm thinking debris got stuck in the rail as I pulled it up the tree. Shot the bow at 20 and 30 and was right on target. From now on, I will only hoist it up the tree from the stock end and be damn sure the bolt is seated properly.

[Boo]

Load the bow when you hoist it up. I would never pull up a loaded bow just like I'd never pull up a loaded gun. Too many things can go wrong
You're lucky that your limbs survived the semi dryfire

[Jcotrel1]

I cocked it on the ground, put the safety on, pulled it up then loaded a bolt.

[xcaliber]

I cock mine on the ground, put my pull up rope through the thumbhole, and hoist it up pointing down. Never had an issue. I do look to make sure my arrow is seated every time.
Good luck.

[ko4nrbs]

A friend of mine had an arrow work loose while tracking big buck. Didn't notice it until he spotted the buck and fired. The arrow barely left the track and fell in 3 pieces in front of the crossbow. My friend's right handed took a beating but except for bruises and a few small cuts he was ok and very lucky.

I check my arrow frequently while in the stand or the Ground Blind to make sure it is fully seated. My friend does to now!!
Bill

[gerald strine]

Another thing to be aware of is I have had a case were I put the bolt in far enough to deactivate the ADF but not seated on the string you get a crazy arrow .

[jd4223]

My first time using Lumenok arrows,the vane did not sit completely flat on the rail causing the string not to be center on the nock which resulted in a semi dry fire ruining the arrow and vanes.

[Riflemanz]

I always double check when I'm in the stand to see if bolt is all the way back.

[mikej]

I'm also always checking periodically , that is also part of my routine before taking the safety off on a buck