who hunts with an arrow nocked?

[seth30]

I never just walk around with an arrow nocked  Once I see what I am after and get within reasonable range then I will nock an arrow .. 

x2

[coachcw]

It depends on the situation of course , I will have one knocked if I'm sneaking along a good trail . more than once I've walked up on elk and got a shot . just like riffle hunting I don't have one in the pipe in less the situation calls for it . Being safe doesn't necessarily mean being unloaded or un nocked.

[DoubleJ]

Exactly.  I hunt alone with an arrow knocked and I carry the bow by the string, arrow always pointed at the ground

I was hunting this way a couple years ago watching for animals and not what I was doing.  My hand got tired so I went to switch hands and had all three blades on my broadhead go across my palm and fingers.  Walked out of the woods with a bloody rag on my hand and my arrows in my quiver, took 23 stitches to fix it.  Now I don't keep the arrow knocked.

I seriously cannot picture how you did this by carrying the bow with an arrow nocked and carrying by the string.  I switch hands all the time and I can honestly say the broadhead has never come closer than 26" to my hand during the exchange

[h2ofowlr]

Now days it seems like most guys I pass have an arrow knocked while walking with a bow.  The only ones I don't see doing that are the guys physically riding bikes to further locations.  I did however see a dude holding a knocked bow with his left had and the bike handle with his right.  Must be the need for a lot of quick shots?     Might explain many of the lost game.

[dreamingbig]

h20fowlr,

That is an outlier and not the norm.  Most bowhunters are responsible and take ethical shots only.  A few bad apples ruining the barrel.  I will say though that the multi-season tag has brought some folks into the archery season that you wouldn't normally be seeing out there.

[Snapshot]

h20fowlr,
 I will say though that the multi-season tag has brought some folks into the archery season that you wouldn't normally be seeing out there.

You bet it has! And included among them are some who lack bowhunting experience and bowhunting ethic and the actions of those people reflects poorly on dedicated bowhunters. What's more, some of them think they can "speak for bowhunting" because they dropped a couple of grand on the gear, when in their hearts they don't care a hill of beans whether bowhunting survives for their grandkids or not. It is messed up.

To answer the topic question: The only time my broadhead is unprotected is when I'm stationary or making a final approach on an animal or animal's bed.

In the past I hunted with a man who not only walked with an arrow nocked but would break out into a dead run with one nocked. It is surprising to me that he bothered with a sheath for his hunting knife.

[rebal69972]

i used to when i was youner    till i got 17 stiches in my calf.To say the least my arrows stay in the quiver now till i see what im hunting

[Teachers Pet]

I only nock an arrow once I hear or see an animal.  Too many things to go wrong, fast!

[sled]

  I was stalking up on a doe one time.  I put the bow behind me to go through some bushes while stepping over a log and guess what?  Broadhead into my calf.  Lifted my leg right into it   i cut my shirt to tie it on for pressure and hiked out.  Got to the truck, drove to town and had a puddle of clotted blood on the floor mat.  Didnt hurt at all, one of the benefits of sharp broadheads

[adamR]

Exactly.  I hunt alone with an arrow knocked and I carry the bow by the string, arrow always pointed at the ground

I was hunting this way a couple years ago watching for animals and not what I was doing.  My hand got tired so I went to switch hands and had all three blades on my broadhead go across my palm and fingers.  Walked out of the woods with a bloody rag on my hand and my arrows in my quiver, took 23 stitches to fix it.  Now I don't keep the arrow knocked.

I seriously cannot picture how you did this by carrying the bow with an arrow nocked and carrying by the string.  I switch hands all the time and I can honestly say the broadhead has never come closer than 26" to my hand during the exchange

I wish I knew how I did it, I was in such a good mood because I was out hunting maybe I started to skip and frolic... I don't know, but it happened, and it hurt.

[coachcw]

I reached in my pocket 22 miles in in montana and my  lil cricket poped open and sliced the chit outta my hand . chit happens

[bow-n-head]

No I don't.

[Kowsrule30]

I'd say about half the bow hunters I see out scouting and bear hunting are carrying knocked arrows... Not a good idea imo....

[Wildsau]

If you are hunting with a MR or ML, you don't go into the woods without a round in the chamber, or a cap in place, do you?    I look at a bow in the same manner.  I load (nock) the round (arrow), when I go into the woods, and unload (un-nock) the round (arrow) when I come back out.  A bow is no different than a MR or ML; if you are stupid with it, someone gets hurt.  The only difference is the round is visible, with a bow.  The guy who stuck his partner in the back, could just as well have shot his partner in the back with a bullet.  The guy who stuck his foot, could, just as well, have shot himself in the foot.  The weapons we use to bring down our game are NOT playtoys, but, rather, deadly weapons and should, ALWAYS, be treated as such.

Yes, I nock; and, until they make it a law where I can't, I will continue to do so.  I ALWAYS know which way the round is pointed and do not point it at anyone at any time.  When they make it a law where I can't walk with a nocked arrow, then the law that a MR can't have a round in the chamber, or a ML can't have a cap in place, while walking around, should be in place as well.

[dreamingbig]

How much of an advantage does it give you in your opinion?  Do you have one on the string while you are running up the ridge to get the wind right for the elk that is coming in or the mule that is chasing does?  To me the reward of a rushed shot at a wary animal is not worth the risk.