Gear Review: Crossbow Defuser

The crossbow industry seems very receptive to customer feedback and demands, as evidenced by trends such as faster and quieter rigs, lighter trigger weights and lighter, narrower and more maneuverable bows. Another area that has received more attention over the past few years is finding practical and efficient ways to "unload" your crossbow.

Each has its limitations. The simple process of firing a fieldpoint-tipped bolt into the ground works fine until, like me, you develop an uncanny knack for locating buried rocks (I nearly ran out of bolts doing this on a South Carolina hunt). Their longevity increases if you or your guide always remember to carry a foam target with you. A somewhat more recent option is projectiles specifically designed for the purpose, such as TenPoint's CUB or Carbon Express's Release Bolt. The CUB is inexpensive, biodegradable and intended for a single use — pretty practical until you run out because you forgot to stock up. The CX bolt is rugged and reusable, but I managed to find a way to destroy mine. Increasingly, crossbow makers are incorporating let-down devices into their bows (Parker Concorde) or designing them so they can be safely let down with a rope cocker (Ravin, Mission and CAMX). But that still leaves many thousands of us who don't currently own those particular crossbows.

Fortunately, there is another completely different, unique alternative. The Crossbow Defuser is a portable crossbow de-cocking device that allows you to safely, silently and simply un-cock virtually any crossbow in seconds. Simply remove your bolt and replace it with the Defuser, setting it properly in place by moving the U-brace tight against the riser and tightening the T-handle release knob. Switch the safety to fire, pull the trigger and turn the T-handle knob to let down your bowstring. That's it.

The Standard model works on most bows, except reverse-draw crossbows, TenPoint bows with the SDS system or the Barnett Ghost. The Universal model works on most conventional-draw bows, and the Scorpyd model works on Scorpyd reverse-draw bows. You can add a Compound Universal Kit to your Standard model to fit most conventional-draw bows. At 29 inches long, four inches wide and less than two pounds, it's portable enough to fit in almost any crossbow case, or even in your pack. And metal parts are powder coated and zinc coated for weather resistance.

MSRP: $99.95 (Standard); $119.95 (Universal); $134.95 (Scorpyd); $29.95 (Compound Universal Kit) | www.crossbowdefuser.com