Up The Tree
Here’s a can of worms, and I want to see how many we can get to come out, help me out would ya! Many archers hunt from a tree and there are several different ways to do so. In every situation what is the safest way to get your Barnett TS380 Crossbow up the tree with you? Here are a few different scenarios you, as an archer, may choose to surprise your intended prey in.
- A Box Tree Stand
- A standard metal tree stand covered with the Allen Vanish Blind
- A Trophyline Onyx Platform
- A Trophyline Covert Pro Saddle
- From a limb
Dirt Under My Feet
What’s your fancy? If your answer is, “I prefer to keep the dirt under my feet” don’t assume you should stop reading now, because you should think of those who may need your help. Any knowledge you acquire could be something that helps another, so my point is read it because you care. (You can at least pretend you care).
Here’s what The Bow Bully Suggests for each scenario. Before taking any of your equipment into the field be sure it’s in good working condition and always check your safety to be sure it’s operating as it should because we don’t want you to find that out by surprise. Shooting apparatus are machines and can fail, and it’s not my responsibility to make sure your equipment is safe, that’s on you bud!
Stable Ground
If you’re making your abode in a box blind or standard tree stand there’s no need to cock the Barnett TS380 Crossbow on the ground. There’s plenty of stable ground in either of those, (generally, blinds vary) to accomplish that operation safely in the stand.
Those who choose to hunt from a Trophyline Onyx Platform, a Trophyline Covert Pro Saddle, or from a limb, that’s a different animal. I would not wait to get in position to cock your Barnett TS380 Crossbow, that should be accomplished on stable ground whether you’re using the included cocking rope or the Barnett Tactical Crank Cocking Device. Now you’d like me to tell you all the things that may go wrong, I’ll just tell you the list is long, just do it because I said so.
STOP!!!
What are you doing? Don’t sling it over your shoulder or try to climb single handed! Have you ever experienced the, “shoulda, coulda, wouldas”? If you haven’t, I would strongly encourage you to believe me on this one too, they’re never pleasant, especially when dealing with equipment or machinery used for hunting.
If you have the mindset of “It’ll be fine” and think nothing bad could ever happen to you, I don’t want to be your hunting partner. I’ll probably be the one to receive the brunt of your carelessness. I kind of like myself and appreciate the things I’m able to do. I don’t want that taken from me, I know you understand and feel the same way. Now that we know there are certain ways put in place for yours and others benefit, let’s talk about them.
Moving On From the Whipping Post
Before climbing up the tree you should have secured a rope to attach your cocked Barnett TS380 to, once you’ve attached the rope to the stock of the crossbow, never attach it near the trigger, (sometimes these things must be said!). The business end should be facing the ground next, leave the crossbow on the ground and climb the tree. When you’re safely in the tree with your harness attached to you AND the tree, (You did do that right?) pull the crossbow up by the rope.
Here’s A Few “Nevers” to Follow
- Never carry your cocked crossbow up the tree!
- Never nock your arrow until you are settled and in position!
- Never disengage the safety until you are ready to take a shot!
- Never place your finger on the trigger until it’s show time!
- Never allow any object or body part in front of the cocked bow string!
- Never assume it’ll be fine no matter what you do!
- Never point your finger at The Bow Bully, you are responsible for you!
You be safe and show others how it’s done!
