Bowhunting Tech Tip: Crossbow Safety

As more and more bowhunters pick up crossbows during archery seasons across North America, accidents with them are on the rise. Safety should be paramount for bowhunters no matter what weapon they use. Crossbows present some unique safety issues not found with any other archery equipment.In this video, LAS TechXpert P.J. Reilly runs through the safe handling and operation of a crossbow. He discusses how to hold it safely, how to cock it safely and how to load it safely, among other issues.Arguably, one of the most common accidents that occurs with crossbows is when archers place their fingers or hands inside the string track when the crossbow is fired. Many crossbows made today feature finger guards aimed at preventing archers from being able to shove their fingers up into the string track, but accidents continue to occur.Never place any part of your body inside the string track when the crossbow is cocked. Think of it as a loaded rifle, and handle it accordingly - whether there's a bolt loaded or not.