who hunts with an arrow nocked?

[Special T]

Most of the people who have said they knock the arrow and hunt are "Still hunting" meaning the are moving at slower than walking speed. I wouldn't run with a knocked arrow, but it could be a HUGE benifit to a still hunter. Less movement and much quicker to shoot at a animal, that may not even notice you. 

[sled]

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.

  it could give you that little bit of advantage that you need.  I have taken animals because i was ready with one nocked.  I have also missed animals that i never got a shot off because i wasn't. Nocked.
  It can be dangerous, but thats the risk some take.  Me?  Not so much anymore

[erk444]

I knew a guy a long time ago that slipped on some ice and dropped his bow. When the bow hit the ground, the arrow bounced up and he fell straight down on the broadhead. He stood up and pulled the arrow out. Mt dad took him to the hospital and the dr. said he was very lucky. The arrow went in his side, clipped his lung, and stopped in the muscle of his back. The nock was still on the string when the arrow bounced up. It just rotated on the string when the bow hit the ground. Scary.

[Annette]

thats got to be pretty rare, people get shot on accident too, so we probably shouldnt carry guns either?

Hi JonVH, I've been a Bowhunter Education Instructor for 27 years and hear of accidents all the time. Most never get reported because they are nonfatal. Self inflicted wound's are one of the most common accidents in Archery with Tree Stand falls being the most fatal .
Treat the bow loaded just like a gun with the safety off. Don't load an arrow until your intended target is in site or you are stetting still. Never walk along with an arrow loaded. Dumb mistakes like that will have this state going to mandatory Bowhunter Ed... Is that what you want??

[PolarBear]

 
Amen!

[deerslyr]

I keep an arrow knocked when ever im still hunting, especially for black tails

[Dirty Mike]

Nocked...its like muzzle control with a rifle

[JLS]

Nocked...its like muzzle control with a rifle

Except if I fall on my gun it won't pierce me.  Those trying to make the analogy of a gun with a round in the chamber, the hypothetical safety device in this case would cover the broadhead wouldn't it?  I don't hunt with my gun on "fire" and a round in the pipe.

Un-nocked for me.

[huntnnw]

This is an ongoing argument with my hunting partner and I. He always hunts with an arrow nocked, no matter what he is walking around the woods with a nocked arrow. I tell him that its pretty stupid it only takes one wrong slip and hes dead. He always tells me that it will never happen, and what if he has to take a quick shot with no time to pull an arrow out of a quiver and nock it then draw. To me that is almost a natural instinct so it takes no time at all. I would rather be safe than fast anyday. Just wondering what everyone elses take on this situation is.

wow...not me. I couldnt tell u how many times a year I fall down elk hunting. Not to include if I am walking around in NE WA with a bow the chances of sticking an animal is nill way to thick and loud to just walk up a deer

[JCKILLSHOT]

I do in certain occasions I know some might say its a risk but its a risk I'm willing to take.

[kglacken]

Wasn't there a bowhunter killed by his buddy in the last year or 2 with this scenario...guy walking along with an arrow nocked, not paying attention, his buddy in front of him stopped and he walked into him with the arrow and killed him?
It's a cloudy memory but I seem to remember something like this happening.

To answer the question, I do not.

If I am on an animal or a herd is close, yes I do knock an arrow and put on the stalk, but just walking through the woods, no! Sometimes if I am coming around a corner that i usually see elk or deer cross then yes. Generally I do not. I would rather go my entire life without killing an animal because I wasnt fast enough, then i would make one mistake and bleed to death in the woods, or worse have my hunting partner bleed because of me! 

[W_Ellison2011]

whenever I'm walking a trail I have an arrow knocked. Its what my father has done for years and its what I've always done with him since I was 12.. I'm 26.. never had an issue. If your climbing across an obstacle or something then yeah.. be safe and put the arrow away or hand your bow to your partner until you are across.. its common sense!

[PolarBear]

Thw places that I hunt, you couldn't get around with a nocked arrow due to the thick brush.  Hell, most of the time I have to carry my bow above my head to keep it from getting snagged.

[Instinct]

I always walked/hike with out a arrow knocked unless im doing a stalk or at a stand. It doesnt take that long to put one in.

[saylean]

Dont have an arrow nocked. I will sometimes nock one when I am in my stand.