My father-in-law went to a draw lock two years ago, and its helped him be able to enjoy bow hunting again. He has replaced shoulders, elbows, and a pinned wrist due to very debilitating rhuematiod arthritis. The last few years he hunted with a convential compound bow he had to reduce the poundage to 35 lbs, and limit his shots to 15 yds. Still, when the moment of truth came he found he could not begin to draw his bow, and when he could, he couldn't hold on a deer for a reasonable amount of time to offer a clean shot.
It was hard for all of us, we wanted him to be able to take a deer in the worst way. Even though he rarley complained, he knew he was just going through the motions bowhunting for deer with traditional equipment, and that his odds of actually shooting a deer were extremely low.
The draw loc is a good hunting device that allows you to hunt on a "disabilty licence" without having to go to a crossbow. NY only allows crossbows, if the only way you can realease - is by blowing through a tube. Basically you would have to be a quadropaligic to be able to hunt with a crossbow in NY. The Draw-Loc is by know means a crossbow, and a healthy adult would be much better served with a conventional bow. The draw-loc device makes the bow quite heavy. Also, manuvering with a bow always at full draw limits the type of stand you can hunt in (if you can even climb one). Even with the draw-loc - my father-in-law still has to use a device - that supports his bow arm when he lifts the bow to shoot. He uses a self locking, strap on device, that when he lifts his bow, "locks" his arm into an outstretched position - so he can hold the bow for an extended period of time when waiting for a good shot. If anyone is interested, I can get the name of the product, and its specifics. The other option, would be to make a swiveling, monopod rest that bolts into your bow, to hold it in position. While shooting the bow is easier this way, your options would be extremely limited while hunting, so he has not opted for that route yet. Even still, he is at a substantial disadvantage, compared to healthy bowhunters - and we hope he will be sucessful in year 3 - with a bow.
As a side note: NY Bowhunters association had some really great people that invited him into their houses, to try some of the different options on the market, and offer tips on how to make them work. - That organization has some extremely giving people, that he is very thankful to.
We are all so glad that he can share in bowhunting with us. Also, he can hunt with a realistic expectation of taking a deer. Even if crossbows were legal for his disability, I do not thing he would have, because of the sentiment of people like GRUMPY TOM.
