Crossbows and thumbs.

[davet]

I went to pick up my deer today from my friend\farmer\deer cutter and as we were BS-ing a fellow showed up with an archery kill. I was looking at his small rack 9PT when my buddy said "What happen to your thumb?"

Guy states he took it off with his crossbow string. Said it was hanging on by a "string". I ask if he did that when he shot the deer to which he stated "yes." After some conversation he said he didn't have high hopes of them saving his thumb. (Left hand from the knuckle up.)

I politely ask him if he ever heard of "Skaters Tape"  AMAZON and he didn't. I told him to pick up some skaters tape as it's about the grit of 40-grit sandpaper and cut some rectangular shapes....pull off the backing tape and stick in onto each side of his front crossbow front hand placement. Then when his fingers come up and touch the rough skaters tape, it tells you it's time to STOP or your fingers will be .....as he well knows.....in big trouble.

FWIW

[ridgecommander]

Thankfully, most of the newer crossbows have built in finger guards. Still many people load the arrows into crossbows wrong and still place their fingers into the path of the string.

[buzz]

Good advice, and warning.

[dougl]

Sounds like it would have been better advise a few days ago.Always a day late and a dollar short Dave.

[davet]

Nov 12, 2020 13:54:40 GMT -5 dougl said:

Sounds like it would have been better advise a few days ago.Always a day late and a dollar short Dave.

I didn't know the guy from a cake of soap. I'm just relaying what occurred to him as our paths crossed at the processor.

[dougl]

You let the guy down Dave.Now he has to hitch hike on the wrong side of the road.

[turkeykiller]

Eleven yrs. ago, my buddy and I went to Cableas in WV to buy crossbows. The salesman was very nice. They had a small indoor range, and he let us try a few crossbows. I rested the Excalibur on a post which was part of a small section of post and rail fence and squeezed the trigger. WOW!!!. I grabbed my hand, and started dancin the jig and takin deep breaths. (didn't want to scream, take it like a man). I heard the store loudspeaker callin code blue in archery, and several workers showed up with first aid kits. Thankfully, it wasn't too bad. It didn't break the skin, but my thumb turned purple and hurt like hell for 2 weeks.

[davet]

Sometimes we forget just how wicked deadly those crossbows can be. The energy "loaded" in those limbs is really phenomenal!!!