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OK, finally have the stomach to write this
#3913308
01/03/13 10:12 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 191
Kingpin
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 191 |
I amputated the top half of my left thumb on December 23. It isn't pretty, hurts like hell, and will forever be deformed.
I incorrectly held a friend's crossbow and the string went right through my left thumb shattering the bone as it passed through. A rough trip to the ER to sew it back on followed by orthopedic surgeon appointments. Thank God for hydrocodone.
It is my own fault. I have shot hundreds of guns and own a bow. Just had never used a crossbow, thought I knew what I was doing, and paid the price.
Here is the interesting part. The orthopedic surgeon said that he had never treated a crossbow injury in his career but I was his fourth crossbow victim that week! Two of the others required surgery. One doctor, four crossbow injuries in a week.
Clearly the change in TX hunting regs, followed by gifts of crossbows for Christmas, has spiked injuries.
This is just a public service announcement. If you recently got a new crossbow, or are in the market, make sure you know how to safely use it. And if you hand it off to a buddy or son or daughter to shoot - make sure you provide them instruction.
I accept responsibility for my injury. It is my fault - not the equipment's fault or my buddy's fault. However, if by posting this I save even one person from going through the trauma I experienced it is worth my time to do so.
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Re: OK, finally have the stomach to write this
[Re: Kingpin]
#3913316
01/03/13 10:15 PM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,925
DFWPI
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,925 |
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Re: OK, finally have the stomach to write this
[Re: Kingpin]
#3913338
01/03/13 10:21 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,921
sprinkler specialist
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,921 |
you nailed it, when it doubt ask. i would accept responsibly too if i were you...but i kinda blame yer buddy imo..if i were handing you a loaded gun i'd take extra care in providing you instruction not to point that thing at me or in an unsafe direction, even if you already know, my life is on the line as well as yours. i would be a lil wary of being around a guy who didnt notice your finger was in the wrong place while you were shooting his xbow...who knows what else he isnt paying attention to? well live and learn, and like you said..thx for passing the info along.
Do it once, do it right! The Sprinkler Specialist of Dallas 469-576-1969 skype me @ sprinklerspecialist
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Re: OK, finally have the stomach to write this
[Re: sprinkler specialist]
#3913401
01/03/13 10:38 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 191
Kingpin
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 191 |
you nailed it, when it doubt ask. i would accept responsibly too if i were you...but i kinda blame yer buddy imo..if i were handing you a loaded gun i'd take extra care in providing you instruction not to point that thing at me or in an unsafe direction, even if you already know, my life is on the line as well as yours. i would be a lil wary of being around a guy who didnt notice your finger was in the wrong place while you were shooting his xbow...who knows what else he isnt paying attention to? well live and learn, and like you said..thx for passing the info along. Yea, I'm trying not to be bitter about it but I sure wish he would have been paying attention. I stressed it was my fault to head off the haters....
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Re: OK, finally have the stomach to write this
[Re: Kingpin]
#3914391
01/04/13 03:08 AM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,492
splash556
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,492 |
Sorry to hear of your injury and hope you heal soon and as well as able.
I shoot a crossbow and your hard lesson will stay in my mind. Thanks for posting.
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Re: OK, finally have the stomach to write this
[Re: DFWPI]
#3914477
01/04/13 03:22 AM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12,547
chital_shikari
Minor in training
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Minor in training
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12,547 |
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Re: OK, finally have the stomach to write this
[Re: chital_shikari]
#3915101
01/04/13 05:46 AM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 669
bowbuilder1971
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 669 |
Hope you make a speedy recovery and sorry for your accident. Thank you for putting this out there for others to learn and be safe. My grandmothers husband lost all his fingers when a table saw blade was set slightly too high when he was building a boat. The physical therapy he went through to try to keep them was very painful and tough for him. He lost them all in the end which was sad. Hope things go well for you and you get back out there soon.
Sincerely,
Ricky V.
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Re: OK, finally have the stomach to write this
[Re: bowbuilder1971]
#3915149
01/04/13 06:12 AM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,494
kmon11
junior
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junior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,494 |
Ouch hopefully it recovers better than expected for you. Thanks for posting. I have a crossbow and was cautioned on purchase of it about that possibility. Have let quite a few others shoot it and cautioned every one of them on keeping the fingers out of the way of that string.
lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true Mainstream news might be fun to watch
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Re: OK, finally have the stomach to write this
[Re: kmon11]
#3915370
01/04/13 12:43 PM
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,531
JWP58
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,531 |
Thank you for being an adult with a backbone and morals and accepting that you are human and can make mistakes.
A lesser person wouldve blamed the crossbow (as we've seen with firearms lately).
Lesson learned here, thank you for sharing.
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Re: OK, finally have the stomach to write this
[Re: JWP58]
#3915583
01/04/13 02:04 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,452
bjankowski
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,452 |
Thanks for sharing with us; God bless.
Bob <><
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Re: OK, finally have the stomach to write this
[Re: bjankowski]
#3915722
01/04/13 02:42 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 167
shaggysnack
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 167 |
I'm sorry for your accident and I appreciate the warning, however my morbid side kind of would like to see pictures. I take to heart more when I can see the injury then just hearing about it.
Army - Active 2001-2005 14J Air Defense Artillery (Enlisted) Army Reserve 2008- Present 46A Public Affairs Officer/92A Supply Specialist (Commissioned)
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Re: OK, finally have the stomach to write this
[Re: shaggysnack]
#3915813
01/04/13 03:03 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 22,630
Cast
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 22,630 |
So, no lawsuit huh? That's good. You caught a tough break there bubba, and handled it like a man.
Cast I have a short attention spa
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Re: OK, finally have the stomach to write this
[Re: Cast]
#3981213
01/22/13 10:08 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 31
Hawkin'
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 31 |
I recently bought a crossbow from Cabela's. i asked to fire it first, and being a long time rifle shooter, I adopted my normal standing position, resting the weapon on the palm of my outside hand...fingers sticking up on either side...The sales guy saw that and immediately grabbed the bow from me and gave me some quick instruction. I was about 3 seconds from losing a couple of fingertips...love shooting the thing...but man, i wish I'd have been a complete new person to hunting and shooting all together...Think you know it all....then Wham!
S~
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Re: OK, finally have the stomach to write this
[Re: Hawkin']
#3990978
01/25/13 04:26 AM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 188
Freeman
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 188 |
Bummer. Hope it heals good. I was fortunate to have the guys at Nocked and Loaded in Lampasas give me clear instruction before they let me handle my crossbow for the first time.
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Re: OK, finally have the stomach to write this
[Re: Freeman]
#3994934
01/26/13 04:47 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 195
rick13
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 195 |
Good luck on your healing and thanks for posting.
Life is a drawing without an eraser!
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Re: OK, finally have the stomach to write this
[Re: rick13]
#3995641
01/26/13 09:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,273
blackcoal
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,273 |
Yikes, never shot one. Now I think I will stick to my chain saws.
The Greatest Enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.--Stephen Hawking
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Re: OK, finally have the stomach to write this
[Re: bjankowski]
#3997043
01/27/13 05:48 AM
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 125
Dugie
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 125 |
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Re: OK, finally have the stomach to write this
[Re: Dugie]
#3999179
01/28/13 01:29 AM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 577
millerliteliker
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 577 |
Man sorry about that.
I picked up one of my friends and shot it at my bow range and he never said anything to me about how to hold it. I wonder how close I was to having the same thing happen to me?
That was the one and only time I have ever shot one of those things.
The more I hear about those things the more dangerous they seem to me. I think I will stick to a regular old bow. It just seems spooky to think about being up in a tree all day with one of those things cocked, loaded and ready to go off any time.
Good luck and thanks for the post. I sincerely hope you feel better and can still shoot a regular bow.
Mathews Z7 Bow for Whitetail and Hogs Remington R-15 .223 REM for predators I also like to "hunt" sporting clays with my Benelli SuperSport!
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Re: OK, finally have the stomach to write this
[Re: millerliteliker]
#3999476
01/28/13 02:31 AM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 812
Boomer57
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 812 |
WOW !!! On Dec 23 I also had an accident involving my left hand. I received an impact crush to my fingers breaking the 1st finger in 2 places, 1 was into 20 pieces and the other into 5 pieces. Middle finger 1st bone broke into 5 pieces. It cut tendon on the 3 big fingers. Therapy is a b####, man that lady is sadistic. I know your pain so hang in there.
My wife must be a cross between a Indian and a bulldog. When she's not on the warpath, she's sitting on her butt growling.
We're burnin daylite.
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Re: OK, finally have the stomach to write this
[Re: Boomer57]
#4000913
01/28/13 04:27 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,085
Don Dial
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,085 |
One of my buddies just came back from and extended hunting trip to B.C. and several of our Northern States. In doing this trip he was exposed to an owner/mfg of some Crossbows who had the Brown Bear trip booked and photo'd..Seems the guides put him on a Bear that w/13.5 in on a Moose kill..He got within 25 yds..shot the bear squarely in the chest..and the bear just looked at him and got P.O.'d. Both guides immediately shot the bear w/their 375 H&H Mag's. and now this is on the Broadcast net..but he doesn't show the guns, or say he killed the animal...Something to think about when playing with STICKS..Don
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Re: OK, finally have the stomach to write this
[Re: Don Dial]
#4001044
01/28/13 04:56 PM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 23
FireBeast
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 23 |
That is a story that is unfortunate for you and will give warning to lots of new shooters. I have never shot a crossbow and now will be cautious with my form and safety measures when I do decide to shoot one.
Thanks for the post!
Go big or Go home!!!
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Re: OK, finally have the stomach to write this
[Re: FireBeast]
#4031722
02/07/13 08:47 AM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,862
swampthang
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,862 |
I've shot crossbows for years myself without any problems but for the life of me I don't understand why crossbow manufacturers wont design them with a protective "shelf" at the top of the forearm that extends outward horizontally an inch or two. That would effectively prevent the shooter from sticking his thumb up into the path of the string.It's my understanding a few of the xbow manufacturers are starting to design theirs with that protective shelf/ledge but I'd like to see all of them start doing it.There's been too many incidents with guys losing the tip of their thumb.
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Re: OK, finally have the stomach to write this
[Re: chital_shikari]
#4031916
02/07/13 01:42 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,403
PWT
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,403 |
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Re: OK, finally have the stomach to write this
[Re: PWT]
#4038746
02/09/13 11:41 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,114
Flashprism
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,114 |
Sorry for your injury and hope all heals well and soon. I plan on buying one soon and I am so grateful for your input. I will certainly be extra careful based on your experience
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Re: OK, finally have the stomach to write this
[Re: Flashprism]
#4038803
02/10/13 12:08 AM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 10,466
DQ Kid
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 10,466 |
I have owned two of them for 3 years, both Barnetts. You do have to be cognizant and careful when handling/shooting them. As a non-compound bowhunter type, I love them. Fun hybrid weapon to get some extra hunting in with..
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