Decocking Your Crossbow

One of the most common questions I field from crossbow hunters is, What is the best way to decock my crossbow?

Although there's not a universal answer, there are options available depending upon what type of crossbow you have.

Several recurve design crossbows allow for manual decocking with the use of a rope cocking aid. There are a few compound crossbow models that allow for manual decocking as well, but I've found that overall, regardless of what crossbow you're using, it's simply easier and more efficient to discharge (shoot) the crossbow at the end of each hunt.

It was only a few years ago that most hunters carried a junk arrow in their quiver, tipped with a field point that they fired into the ground at the end of each hunt. This worked well to decock the crossbow, but it didn't always have a favorable outcome on the arrow. I've seen arrows snapped in two from hitting unseen rocks that were buried just under the ground's surface. I've also seen arrows shot into the ground that went completely out of sight never to be seen again.

Today there are better choices available to decock your crossbow. Several of the top target manufacturers make targets specifically designed to discharge your crossbow. They are typically much smaller and lighter than a standard target and are easy to stow in your vehicle. At the end of each hunt, all you have to do is shoot your crossbow into the target and you're good to go. These small targets will last for several years.

There are also discharge arrows available that are designed to shoot into the ground. Some are short in length and are even biodegradable so there's no worry if they're not recovered. Others are made with an extra heavy shaft to endure impacts and a large rubber tip that prevents the arrow from penetrating. All come with universal nocks that can be fired from any crossbow.

I've used both types of discharge arrows and find the full-length discharge arrows with the heavy shaft and rubber tip to be preferable. It should be noted that they must be consistently shot into a soft area or they will break. They will not withstand shots into stumps or even hard ground. They also are a great option for hunters who travel abroad and can't take a discharge target with them.

For a few extra dollars, any of the above products will work well to decock your crossbow!