PSG-1
Well-known member
I had it happen the other night, and still can't figure out what happened. First shot of the night, went to shoot at a flounder, and when I let the string go, the next thing I knew, something clocked me in the jaw, and the butt end of the arrow was actually lodged in my face about an inch or so. :shock: Just glad it was the plastic nock that went in my face, and not the other end with the gator point.
My only response was to say "WTF?!" and then pull the arrow out of my face. Fortunately I had someone on board, and he did a quick assessment. Since I wasn't gushing blood, and I wasn't spitting any out, I knew that it hadn't gone through my jaw, and hadn't hit anything vital. It hurt, probably about like being punched in the jaw, but I hadn't gone out there to just turn around and go home. So, I let 'er bleed, and kept on going, and got 4 flounder and 1 nice sheepshead. Did that with the gig, I was too gun-shy to shoot the bow anymore that night.
When it happened, I actually had it on video, because I was wearing my POV glasses. And considering how close that was to my eye, I can guarantee you I won't be shooting at any more fish without having on a pair of glasses. 2 inches lower, it could have been my neck, so, I think I'll also be wearing a turtleneck when I bowfish.
I've shot a bow and arrow thousands of times at fish and never had this happen. Even before I started using the saf-t-slide mechanism, just tying the string to the end of the arrow, it never happened. Still at a loss to figure out how it happened, but I'm just glad it wasn't more serious. Now I'm apprehensive to ever shoot the bow again, and even more apprehensive to shoot my crossbow. I want to continue bowfishing, but not at the risk of being blinded or killed.
Maybe it was bad karma, or maybe just a 1 in 1 million freak accident. I don't know.
Has anyone else ever had this happen? If I were to use a short piece of 14 or maybe 20 lb test mono between the saf-t-slide and my reel string, I think that would allow me to retrieve my arrow, even with a fish, but in the event of a snap-back, it might keep me from eating another arrow. Would that work?
My only response was to say "WTF?!" and then pull the arrow out of my face. Fortunately I had someone on board, and he did a quick assessment. Since I wasn't gushing blood, and I wasn't spitting any out, I knew that it hadn't gone through my jaw, and hadn't hit anything vital. It hurt, probably about like being punched in the jaw, but I hadn't gone out there to just turn around and go home. So, I let 'er bleed, and kept on going, and got 4 flounder and 1 nice sheepshead. Did that with the gig, I was too gun-shy to shoot the bow anymore that night.
When it happened, I actually had it on video, because I was wearing my POV glasses. And considering how close that was to my eye, I can guarantee you I won't be shooting at any more fish without having on a pair of glasses. 2 inches lower, it could have been my neck, so, I think I'll also be wearing a turtleneck when I bowfish.
I've shot a bow and arrow thousands of times at fish and never had this happen. Even before I started using the saf-t-slide mechanism, just tying the string to the end of the arrow, it never happened. Still at a loss to figure out how it happened, but I'm just glad it wasn't more serious. Now I'm apprehensive to ever shoot the bow again, and even more apprehensive to shoot my crossbow. I want to continue bowfishing, but not at the risk of being blinded or killed.
Maybe it was bad karma, or maybe just a 1 in 1 million freak accident. I don't know.
Has anyone else ever had this happen? If I were to use a short piece of 14 or maybe 20 lb test mono between the saf-t-slide and my reel string, I think that would allow me to retrieve my arrow, even with a fish, but in the event of a snap-back, it might keep me from eating another arrow. Would that work?