An assist for drawing a bowstring of a compound bow to a position close to the standard draw position is described. The assist is a crutch that is inserted into a crutch mount that is affixed to the riser of the bow. The crutch allows the archer to place the bow on a support surface and to pull the bowstring up onto the crutch. When the archer is ready to shoot an arrow, he pulls the bowstring back from the crutch. The head of the crutch rotates into a vertical position, providing an unencumbered path for the arrow.