That is one reason why I believe a crossbow should have metal parts for safeties.
I climb a ladder stand or tripod and I [censored] the crossbow before I climb and use a rope to retrieve the bow (no bolt) once I'm in my perch. I'm not as young as I once was and cocking a crossbow in the stand is about impossible.
I'm in sandy soil so I unload my crossbow by firing an old bolt into the sand after the hunt.

Love my Excalibur Vortex, but I do look longingly at the Matthews version.

Parker makes one for youths called a Challeger. I've bought two. Originally for my son to shoot but we have guests from out of town hunt and those who don't bowhunt end up using his crossbow for certain stands I have where rifles are not allowed.

Every person who uses the crossbow ends up wanting it and buys it from me. It's really light and really accurate. Shoots close to 300fps. Plenty of power yet fairly easy to [censored] and even let down yourself if you don't have something to shoot into. I keep looking into others but this one works very well.

I always take my crossbow target with me just in case I want to practice or check sights. Use this to fire bolt to decock.

I know on the 2 Barnett's crossbows that my wife & I use :
They have a auto safety feature that prevents dry firing - safety will not release without a arrow in place. I have seen a lot of bows advertising this feature now.

A decocking arrow can be bought or it came with my wife's new Barnett lady raptor fx2

walmart decocking arrow $9 linky

Dicks sporting goods Barnett 3 pak decocking arrows $15 linky



This is the decocking bolt i use from acabemy $15 linky


I have been using this same bolt for 2 seasons now and it works perfect every time.


Shooting a full blown hunting broad head into anything besides a foam target will destroy the broad head & maybe the arrow also. Even shooting into a foam target they will cut thru a target that would stop a practice arrow - When I have shot a hunting tip into foam you will have to push it thru the target to get it out without damage

one ? I did not see answered..Owners manual usually recommends something about... How long you can leave in cocked position..My wifes Barnett says 4h we de-[censored] after each hunt morn/eve...I do same with my Excalibur even though they say a day is OK..We just put Bolt with Field p and take a practice shot into target to unload.Did that other day and found Wifes Red Dot had failed (glad we caught it at camp not aimed at BUCK))..I always got rinehart 18-1 target in camp/truck

As mentioned above, on my Ten Point, it supposedly will not fire if no bolt is in place. Not something I ever want to test, so I try to not have it cocked and empty, except to switch from broadhead, to practice arrow, or decocking arrow.

I purchased the Center Point Snyper 370. It was featured in Outdoor Life this year. Great bow especially for the price. Can't go wrong.