bassin1815
Well-known member
For distances 35 yards or less a crossbow is good. But if that distance is more than 35 yards I like using a compound bow.
Opinions On Crossbows
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Kirk
Well-known member
I heard all this same stuff on Tndeer.com a few years ago. "Xguns", "you don't have to practice", "like shooting a rifle", "shoots 90 yards", "real hunters won't use them" etc etc etc. I decided if these things are that high tech I would perform a test. I really like mythbusters so I set up some
tests.
Test #1:
I cocked my crossbow, climbed up in my ladder stand, put in a bolt laid the crossbow across the gun rail and climbed back down. I went back the next day and couldn't find any dead deer or blood trails. The bolt was still in the cross bow and it had not fired let alone kill a deer by itself. My game cam revealed that at least 6 deer had been with in range during the 24 hour period.
MYTH BUSTED: Cross Bows can not kill a deer without someone aiming them and pulling the trigger.
Test #2:
I set up my bench rest and sighted in my Cross bow at 30 yards. I used the graduated cross hairs and was able to shoot accurately out to 60 yards. (can do the same with a compound bow. ) I moved the target out to 90 yards and estimated hold over and pulled the trigger. The bolt
disappeared under the grass about 10 yards in front of the target. I was able on the 10th shot to hit the bulls eye. (most deer won't stand still that long)
MYTH BUSTED: Cross Bows will not shoot 90 yards accurately without practice and sighting in.
Test #3:
Cross bows are easier to use than Compound bows due to already being cocked. A crossbow is heavier, louder, and more cumberson and requires a greater area of tree stand rail to use them in. They are not at all like a rifle because the bow part has to have proper clearance to fire freely. If any part of the corss bow is in contact with the tree it will not fire properly and will push the shot right or left. A compound bow can be used at different angles and elevation is easier to account for. If you miss with the first shot with a crossbow you probably won't get a 2nd shot.
MYTH BUSTED: Crossbows are easier to use in a tree stand.
tests.
Test #1:
I cocked my crossbow, climbed up in my ladder stand, put in a bolt laid the crossbow across the gun rail and climbed back down. I went back the next day and couldn't find any dead deer or blood trails. The bolt was still in the cross bow and it had not fired let alone kill a deer by itself. My game cam revealed that at least 6 deer had been with in range during the 24 hour period.
MYTH BUSTED: Cross Bows can not kill a deer without someone aiming them and pulling the trigger.
Test #2:
I set up my bench rest and sighted in my Cross bow at 30 yards. I used the graduated cross hairs and was able to shoot accurately out to 60 yards. (can do the same with a compound bow. ) I moved the target out to 90 yards and estimated hold over and pulled the trigger. The bolt
disappeared under the grass about 10 yards in front of the target. I was able on the 10th shot to hit the bulls eye. (most deer won't stand still that long)
MYTH BUSTED: Cross Bows will not shoot 90 yards accurately without practice and sighting in.
Test #3:
Cross bows are easier to use than Compound bows due to already being cocked. A crossbow is heavier, louder, and more cumberson and requires a greater area of tree stand rail to use them in. They are not at all like a rifle because the bow part has to have proper clearance to fire freely. If any part of the corss bow is in contact with the tree it will not fire properly and will push the shot right or left. A compound bow can be used at different angles and elevation is easier to account for. If you miss with the first shot with a crossbow you probably won't get a 2nd shot.
MYTH BUSTED: Crossbows are easier to use in a tree stand.
SpurHunter
Well-known member
I think this concludes the test of "The American Deer Hunters Myth Society" 
LOL
LOL
Bprice
Well-known member
I appreciate all you hunters staying off the water during hunting season, which opens up more water for us year-round fishermen!
G
Guest
Guest
Bprice - 7/27/2009 2:44 PM
I appreciate all you hunters staying off the water during hunting season, which opens up more water for us year-round fishermen!
Black powder season in Georgia is my favorite time to fish for crappie and catfish. emoBigsmile
Thanks for all the input. I had Robert on the lake this weekend and we discussed the pros and cons of compound vs crossbow and actually recurve. I believe if he could get a harvest under his belt he might rethink compound bow in a positive way. He has watched many hunting shows where the hunter uses a crossbow and sees the "simplisity" of the harvest. He is still leaning toward crossbow at this point. However, he has been in the backyard with me and shooting his bow. I just have to get him more enthusiastic about the thrill of a harvest with a convential bow so to speak. Thanks for all the great advise and good luck to all who will chase in the woods!
SpurHunter
Well-known member
</p>
That is the bigegst problem. Decocking is also an issue. I always carry a small target and on old bolt to discharge the bow at the end of the day. </p>
cooperjd
Well-known member
I didn't want to weigh in on this one with yet another opinion but i'm bored at work this morning, so what the heck.
1. Good for you to get your youngster interested in deer hunting and in bow hunting, (even though its an xbow). that is fantastic, and i think once he hunts with the xbow for a few years and gets bigger and stronger, he'll want to make the transition to the vertical bow.
2. for those that say its easier to shoot accurately with a crossbow. yes, it probably is. Minners' mom is a classic example, first time shooting shot a good group at 40 yards. that is tough to argue with, so i won't do it. I see a lot of bow hunters at the range that can't shoot that good at 40 yards with their compounds. I will offer these though...
-When i bought my mathews back in 07 i was shooting in the backyard here in VA. I got the sights set, and my roommate comes out and wants to try it. now other than little kid bows he shot as a youngster, he's never shot a real bow before. so I explain to him how to use a peep sight, release, and which pin to use. at 20 yards, the first time shooting, this man is shooting 3-4" groups, and hitting the bullseye. his first time shooting.
-ex. 2. a few weeks ago i traveled down to Charlotte to visit some friends, one of which wants to get into archery, and he wanted me to bring my bow down. also, his first time shooting a bow. we go out in their backyard, i show him how to use the release, peep sight, pins, etc... and this man is also shooting 3" or so groups his first time shooting. we started at 10 yards and moved back to a touch over 20. he was shooting as accurate at 20 yards as most deer hunters within 5 minutes.
so today's compounds, with high letoff, releases, pins, levels, peeps, etc... arent' that difficult to shoot either. it just takes practice and familiarity with your equipment to become good. i'm certainly no olympic class archer, but i shoot a lot, and can shoot deer killing groups out to 80 yards. I watch guys fail to qualify to hunt on the army base i hunt on (a 9" circle at 20 and 30 yards 2 out of 3 shots), guys that have been bowhunting for years. i think its all a matter of just how much you want to practice and how much time you want to put in.
there are advantages and disadvantages to using xbows. they may be easier to get on deer with, less movement, etc... but they are also big, clunky, and the shots are louder. the game still has to be close. and i may be mistaken, but i often hear that the effective range of the xbow is less than that of a compound (not sure about that though). I use to be completely against xbows, but the more i learn about them, the more comfortable i am with people using them for archery season. personally, i won't get one until i'm too old or hurt to pull back my compound, but i can't really fault someone for wanting to get into archery, and if this is the opening step for it, then go ahead. I think once you get close to deer and feel that rush, it will be a natural progression to want to get the vertical bow next to add that much more challenge to the hunt. i could be wrong, its happened before.
but i'm bored at work this morning, so what the heck.1. Good for you to get your youngster interested in deer hunting and in bow hunting, (even though its an xbow). that is fantastic, and i think once he hunts with the xbow for a few years and gets bigger and stronger, he'll want to make the transition to the vertical bow.
2. for those that say its easier to shoot accurately with a crossbow. yes, it probably is. Minners' mom is a classic example, first time shooting shot a good group at 40 yards. that is tough to argue with, so i won't do it. I see a lot of bow hunters at the range that can't shoot that good at 40 yards with their compounds. I will offer these though...
-When i bought my mathews back in 07 i was shooting in the backyard here in VA. I got the sights set, and my roommate comes out and wants to try it. now other than little kid bows he shot as a youngster, he's never shot a real bow before. so I explain to him how to use a peep sight, release, and which pin to use. at 20 yards, the first time shooting, this man is shooting 3-4" groups, and hitting the bullseye. his first time shooting.
-ex. 2. a few weeks ago i traveled down to Charlotte to visit some friends, one of which wants to get into archery, and he wanted me to bring my bow down. also, his first time shooting a bow. we go out in their backyard, i show him how to use the release, peep sight, pins, etc... and this man is also shooting 3" or so groups his first time shooting. we started at 10 yards and moved back to a touch over 20. he was shooting as accurate at 20 yards as most deer hunters within 5 minutes.
so today's compounds, with high letoff, releases, pins, levels, peeps, etc... arent' that difficult to shoot either. it just takes practice and familiarity with your equipment to become good. i'm certainly no olympic class archer, but i shoot a lot, and can shoot deer killing groups out to 80 yards. I watch guys fail to qualify to hunt on the army base i hunt on (a 9" circle at 20 and 30 yards 2 out of 3 shots), guys that have been bowhunting for years. i think its all a matter of just how much you want to practice and how much time you want to put in.
there are advantages and disadvantages to using xbows. they may be easier to get on deer with, less movement, etc... but they are also big, clunky, and the shots are louder. the game still has to be close. and i may be mistaken, but i often hear that the effective range of the xbow is less than that of a compound (not sure about that though). I use to be completely against xbows, but the more i learn about them, the more comfortable i am with people using them for archery season. personally, i won't get one until i'm too old or hurt to pull back my compound, but i can't really fault someone for wanting to get into archery, and if this is the opening step for it, then go ahead. I think once you get close to deer and feel that rush, it will be a natural progression to want to get the vertical bow next to add that much more challenge to the hunt. i could be wrong, its happened before.
