Hi All, I'm going in the morning hunting with a cross bow for the first time, I have one question though...
My bow is extremely hard to cock and I'm wondering if I cock it righr before I leave and go hunting with it cocked the whole time would that put unnecesary stress on the string?
Thanks in advance

If you want the added challenge, cock the crossbow as the deer approaches, similiar to actually drawing a compound, recurve, longbow. IF you simply want to point and shoot, cock it ahead of time.

<font color=blue>Good Luck and Good Shooting</font id=blue>

<font color=red>Rob</font id=red>

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I'm wondering if I cock it righr before I leave and go hunting with it cocked the whole time would that put unnecesary stress on the string?

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are you talking about befor you leave home or befor you get into your tree????

I am not a hunter I am a whitetail population reduction specialest

remember keep your back to the sun, your knife sharp, and your powder dry.

I'm Talking about just as I leave home

i hunt here in ohio with a crossbow. i cock it before i get into my strand. and then load when i'm in and settled. it will not hurt your string or limbs. just remember to use and old arrow when unloading or that thing will explode if you dry fire it . i have seen it done limbs split and all the pullies blew off so make sure you are on safe when getting in and out of tree .

Thanks a lot Teamster...
I was wondering if I was the only one here that hunted with a cross bow...

Deerhunter; you should mark your bow string with whiteout when it isn't cocked. The whiteout marks need to line up when you are cocked to shoot straight. It's much easier and more accurate to cock ahead of time so you know the marks line up.

Dan O.

hey there deer hunter, i to use a cross bow for hunting due to a spinal cord injury that left paralyses on my right side, have not much use in right arm nor hand. Been hunting w/ crossbow going on my fourth year now. Take note on what Dan o said about marking yor string, needs to be pulled back equally on both sides in order to shoot straight & accurately every time you shoot. I use a cocking device which works great in pulling back the string staight. I always cock mine before leaving the house but am always conserned about getting pulled over by the sherriff or the Game Warden on the way to the stand. Sooner or later you will have to cock your crossbow in your stand, Usually only takes one shot w/ those puppys.

happy and safe hunting

DH; I sometimes cock mine befor I go up the ladder then pull it up.I have an old arrow to &quot;unload&quot; when I get back to the truck.I have a Barnett and the string has black serving with white marks on each side to help keep it linedup.

Good luck on the new bow.good luck on the hunt.

I am not a hunter I am a whitetail population reduction specialest

remember keep your back to the sun, your knife sharp, and your powder dry.

Thanks for all the great replies guys...
I'll keep all this in mind and I'll tell you how it goes in the morning.