This news piece from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) highlights why extra care must be exercised when hunting with crossbows.
The following is from the FWC:
A Gulf Hammock man was injured the evening of Sept. 18, 2011, while he was hunting in a private hunt club in Levy County.
John C. Champion (DOB 09/25/89) was hunting from his Polaris Ranger in the Fiber Factory Hunt Club, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) investigators.
Champion, who is a paraplegic, was hunting alone around 6 p.m. and was attempting to cock his crossbow. He accidently fired the bolt through his left foot, pinning his foot to the floor of the Ranger, investigators said.
He attempted to free his foot, but was unsuccessful. He then tried to drive out, but became stuck on some brush.
Other hunters and family members arrived a short time later and took Champion to Levy County paramedics.
Champion was transported the Seven Rivers Hospital in Crystal River for treatment. He suffered a puncture wound and several broken bones in his left foot, said FWC investigators.
FWC officials are investigating the incident.
why was there a bolt in it when he was trying to cock it?????
I would be interested in hearing the entire story about this incident.How much experience the hunter had with the equipment and why he couldn’t unscrew the shaft from the broadhead and pull his foot off the UTV would be interesting to know.
It had to be alread cocked and loaded to fire like that .