Disabled bow hunters, anyone use anything like this?

[DoubleJ]

http://www.drawloc.com/content/line-draw-loc-unit

Draw loc. Seems like a better option for me next year so I don't have to go with a crossbow.

[RadSav]

I would check with the state first.  If I understand the rules correctly this is illegal even if you are disabled.  Besides the fact most of these do not have a safety and are quite dangerous. If any of my friends had one I would never hunt with them if it were cocked! Same with friends that carry shotguns with the safety off while bird hunting. Big advantage to crossbows is the ability to aim and shoot like a rifle.  The draw locks I've played with were all very difficult to aim with.  Without the tension of the string it was very difficult to hold steady and execute a clean release.  I'd go conventional compound or crossbow first before going this route.

[DoubleJ]

How is this illegal?  It is a device designed to keep the bow at full draw.  Seems perfectly legal for a disabled hunter per the regs.  And if you watched the video on that page you'd see it does have a safety.  Big disadvantages to a crossbow are weight, noise, cable replacement, very large down range loss of energy in the bolt copared to an arrow, and the fact that I'm alredy set up with a bow so buying this for $189 is way better on my wallet than getting all new stuff for a crossbow.

[Dirty Mike]

Why not just keep shooting your compound

[dreamunelk]

How does keeping your bow at full draw affect your bow?  Not sure they are designed for this so could be bad news. 

[Dirty Mike]

Its also agaisnt the rules cannot have a devise that holds a bow at full draw says so in the regs

[ldjbuff]

My dad is in the same situation, his whole shoulder is out, next year might be his first crossbow yr, when he gets approved

[DoubleJ]

Why not just keep shooting your compound

Can't.  Got it set at 40lb this year and was miserable.  Not going to be able to pull it next year.  This will allow me to keep shooting it, just with assistance

[DoubleJ]

Its also agaisnt the rules cannot have a devise that holds a bow at full draw says so in the regs

Not for disabled hunters, which I am

[kckrawler]

 

Page 68 and 69, Archery Regulations:

d. It is unlawful to use any device secured to or supported by the bow for the purpose of maintaining the bow at full draw or in a firing position, except that persons with an archery special use permit may hunt game birds or game animals using a device that stabilizes and holds a long bow, recurve bow, or compound bow at a full draw, and may use a mechanical or electrical release.

I say give it a shot DoubleJ! If it allows you to keep hunting archery and it's legal, what does it hurt to try?  If nothing else, it looks kind of cool (and it's sure to get folks fired up on this site when you start posting pics of dead animals and your bow)

[Dirty Mike]

In that case id say go for it

[bobcat]

Isn't surgery on your shoulder an option? Might cost a little more than the other options but I'm sure it would help you out more than just for hunting, to have a good shoulder again.

[DoubleJ]

Isn't surgery on your shoulder an option? Might cost a little more than the other options but I'm sure it would help you out more than just for hunting, to have a good shoulder again.

Unreparable.  Besides, I ALREADY HAVE A DISABLED HUNTER PERMIT.
 
The question wasn't if I could/should go disabled, that's already a done deal.  Was wondering if any other disabled archers on here (There has to be more than a few) have any experience with this product.

[DoubleJ]

Sorry for my snippyness.  Really not meaning anything by it.  It's just that everytime I bring up a disabled hunter thread, I go through this.  Everytime.  Maybe we should have a disabled hunter forum.  We have a youth and ladies board, why not a disabled hunter one?

[bobcat]

Was just a question. I'll be more careful next time to stay on topic, or I will just refrain from posting altogether.
 
There is no need for a disabled forum.

[RadSav]

I have played with just about all of these that have come out over the past 30 years.  And there have been a bunch of them.  This is the first that actually has some engineering and thought in the manufacturing process.  Just telling my observations from experience.  They may call that a safety, but I wouldn't trust it AT ALL!!! 

PM Sent!

[DoubleJ]

Backyard Bucks, if you see this, your PM box is full.  Get that thing cleared out.  I tried to PM you a couple of months ago too with the same problem. 

[lokidog]

Why not just keep shooting your compound

Can't.  Got it set at 40lb this year and was miserable.  Not going to be able to pull it next year.  This will allow me to keep shooting it, just with assistance

If you miss your shot or wound with the drawloc and cannot pull the bow back to reload, how do you get another shot off?  With a crossbow you at least have a cocking assist device that can be used.  Not trying to be a smart arse but am curious on the logistics of it.

[DoubleJ]

Why not just keep shooting your compound

Can't.  Got it set at 40lb this year and was miserable.  Not going to be able to pull it next year.  This will allow me to keep shooting it, just with assistance

If you miss your shot or wound with the drawloc and cannot pull the bow back to reload, how do you get another shot off?  With a crossbow you at least have a cocking assist device that can be used.  Not trying to be a smart arse but am curious on the logistics of it.

Watch the video in the link.  It draws just like a crossbow

[brianb231]

My Father, who passed in 2009 used this draw loc device in 2008 for an elk hunt. In the beginning I was very sceptical and it just did not feel right with the bow always locked back at full draw. However, once he got past that "feeling" the product worked pretty good. It makes it quite a bit heavier and takes a bit ti get use to but overall worked pretty good. You could also get off another shot as well if you wanted too. It did have a saftey mechanism as well that seemed pretty good. My Fathers doctor would not allow for Crossbow use, but this was the next step just below that that had to be approved by the doctors and the state. He had Doug at Great Northwest Fishing and Archery set it up for him. It was the first that Doug had seen as well.

Dont know if this helps but we did have first hand experience with it.

Kind Regards,

Brian

[DoubleJ]

Thank you Brian

[BOWHUNTER45]

it is unlawful to use any device secured to or supported by the bow for the purpose of maintaining the bow at full draw or in a firing position, EXCEPT that person with an archery special users permit... So there is hope for ya after all .... best check it out !! page68- 69 in the hunting pamphlet

[DoubleJ]

it is unlawful to use any device secured to or supported by the bow for the purpose of maintaining the bow at full draw or in a firing position, EXCEPT that person with an archery special users permit... So there is hope for ya after all .... best check it out !! page68- 69 in the hunting pamphlet

edit:  I sounded like a dick

[Snapshot]

The Draw-loc has been in use out east (eg. NY, PA) for many years with great results; it was their successes that led the Washington Archery Coalition to petition the WDFW to get it legalized here (about ten or twelve years ago).
 
IF the physical weight of the whole assembly is a problem, I suggest you google the "Steady Freddy"; it might be worth looking into.

[spomroy]

Good Morning to all. I am a disabled hunter. I have used the DrawLoc for two seasons now. The Washington regs allow for this type of equipment.  I myself am not ready to give up on using a bow to hunt. The DrawLoc is designed so that it will hold at full draw. It also has a safety on the release. I always make sure of where I am pointing my bow. And I always make sure the safety is on until I am ready to shoot. I have never had my DrawLoc release an arrow unless I pull the release. I can also crank up the poundage now. Where 40 pounds is the minimum Washington allows. I can now shoot at whatever my bow will allow. Lots of pluses if you think about it. Let me know if you have any other questions. I'd be glad to help you out. Regards to all.

[Machias]

Good Morning to all. I am a disabled hunter. I have used the DrawLoc for two seasons now. The Washington regs allow for this type of equipment.  I myself am not ready to give up on using a bow to hunt. The DrawLoc is designed so that it will hold at full draw. It also has a safety on the release. I always make sure of where I am pointing my bow. And I always make sure the safety is on until I am ready to shoot. I have never had my DrawLoc release an arrow unless I pull the release. I can also crank up the poundage now. Where 40 pounds is the minimum Washington allows. I can now shoot at whatever my bow will allow. Lots of pluses if you think about it. Let me know if you have any other questions. I'd be glad to help you out. Regards to all.

Welcome aboard!  Glad you're still able to pursue them with your bow!