I have hunted with rifle, bow and cross bow. To me any person that just enjoys the hunt is a hunter. Anyone can hunt with a rifle, but a true hunter goes back to the basics. I see a crossbow as a middle ground. But more toward the tadition side
I'll play! It's not the crossbow I am against as a matter of fact I think bows aren't for everyone. It takes a certain coordination and some people simply don't have it. Some people don't have the nerves for taking game with a bow. Crossbows are probably more their speed. Back to what I am against. I am against any person who pick up a piece of archery equipment 2 weeks before a hunt shoots and hits a pie plate at 20 on flat ground and thinks their ready for 40 out of a stand. It's the guy who buys one from a big box store, shoots if without learning yardage judging or using a range finder an thinking they are good to go. That's the guy who blames the Rage broadhead for losing the deer they found only spots of blood from or never found at all. This scenario plays out every year with horizontals as well though. I think they are great for the guy who dedicates a lot of time with family or has a demanding career but still enjoys the hunt. It takes much less effort to learn to shoot a crossbow than a horizontal but, it does still take some practice. As Americans and humans for that matter, we have a right to choose what we hunt with in my eyes as long as it is legal. It's not about the weapon to me rifle included. It's about the caliber of individual on the business end of that weapon that concerns me.
I applaud all of you for standing together as hunters, I have used both but now solely hunt with crossbow due to back probs . miss shooting verts but not the pain that comes with it. Its great to just sit and watch my son shoot his vert.
I hunt with my mathews compounds....but last year did buy a Ten Point crossbow for hunting on the ground (stalking in thick woods). I had a ruptured herniated disc surgery a month ago and am still recuperating but am already shooting my compound because let's face it....would you rather have a huge buck on the wall courtesy of a compound ..or crossbow? Which would make me more proud I wonder? No shame in using a crossbow....if physical limitations call for it. It's still better than a rifle.
I love my crossbow. anyone can shoot with a rifle. Too many people go out opening day of rifle season and take a big buck out and they call themselves big hunters. A bow hunter AND crossbow hunter still has to put that time in, often many days of seeing nothing. I get more out the hunt by sitting out with nature. I personally dont understand why crossbows are considered to be easier than a bow. I shoot pretty equal to my bow, its hard to keep the crossbow steady. Plus, you have ONE shot with your crossbow, there is no time to reload without scaring anything within a mile.
If they are legal and you enjoy shooting a crossbow, or due to medical conditions are not capable of shooting a vertical bow, there is nothing wrong with a crossbow.
i think it if it is legal use it. screw what your friends think and what anyone on here thinks about it.it is Your decision and know one else's.I have a compound and a xbow. i plan on using the xbow this yr because i work in the oil and gas industry and work alot of hrs and do not have the time to practice like i should.i am lucky to be able to hunt for a couple hrs one day a week and thought of wounding and animal because i didnt practice enough doesnt fly with me.I shoot the xbow atleast once a week and about 10 shot at a time.i also do not use a scope i have pin sights and a peep site.It is like a 1983 horton xbow all wood stock and heavy as hell and big(it was my dads) but works great and lets me spend a few hrs doing what i love. dont judge or worry about what others think. do what you need to do
I bought an excalibur crossbow recently, also shoot bows, crossbow is neither a bow nor a rifle, but it still falls under the same limitations as a bow, I have no disabilities yet, I bought a crossbow because they are an awesome weapon, just like a hoyt buffalo is an awesome bow, my excalibur crossbow is more primitive in design than a mathews compound. I can robin hood arrows all day with a compound... and much faster than a crossbow. If you compound guys who talk about practicing all the time cant do that versus me who rarely practices... then maybe a rifle is more your thing. Heck my brother has a video on his facebook, shooting a wood recurve bow, 6 shots under a minute 1 inch group, at 25 yards, if you think it is hard, your obviously doing it wrong!!!!!
Go for it. Lots of real men use Crossbows. Don't listen to foolish talk. I use both, depending on my set up.
I used to be against using a crossbow during bow season but then Uncle Ted slapped some sense into me. Why would we ever argue with each other about what is ok or not okay to do as long as it's legal? Whether it's baiting, crossbows, etc., the anti-hunters win when we argue amongst ourselves. We have to embrace all methods of hunting provided it's legal. Hunt on my friend.
I use one but only because I have to. I bow hunted for 31 years but now have so much arthritis if I could get a bow back I wouldn't be as near accurate as I use to be. We owe it to the animal we hunt to make the best shot possible and I know I couldn't do that with my bow.
X2.... necamo.......your took the words out of my..mouth....I'm a bowhunter since 1973...killed many bucks ....I shoot my xbow every other day..just to stay in practice....just like I did when I shot My PSE..so I never changed my habits when I changed over...Thunderbolt
crossbow hunter put down gun hunter, compound hunter put down crossbow hunter, long bow hunters look down on compound hunters, and so on and so on. We as hunter should be worrying about the anti-hunters not worrying about what our fellow hunter like to use to hunt with, we need to be sticking together.
Here I my stand on Xbows. If a hunter is responsible with the equipment, then I'm not against it. If the hunter is just picking it up a week before season starts and hasn't practiced at all since the last day of the season, I'm against it. That's with any weapon though. Xbows, rifles and vertical bows. What I am completely against is the guys who are out to only extend their season a few months that thinks a crossbow is more affective as a bow at long ranges and doesn't practice at even close ranges. I guess what I am saying is I don't think any archery weapon should be legal without passing a shooting test. Xbows and vertical included. In my opinion, it would separate the guys who care and shoot on a regular basis from the guy who takes their bow out the day before season opens and doesn't care if they injure an animal or kill it.
My opinion is if it is legal and ethical why not shoot what makes you happy. The most important thing to consider is which weapon you are personally most accurate with and satisfied hunting with.
The main issue is this....use whichever one you want to...I have both and hunt with both. If you want to hunt then use a crossbow until the problem with your shoulder is fixed. Don't permanently mess your shoulder up just trying to appease your friends. You do what makes you happy. In the end, you have meat in the freezer and possibly some pretty awesome mounts on your wall and it doesn't matter which you used to bring the deer down. Go for it.
I am not in favor of their use during an archery season with the exception of the elderly or disabled. During a general season ...have at it.
