Do whatever you need to do in order to continue to enjoy hunting. I have to ask...... have you discussed this with your doctor?
No judgement from me regarding the use of a crossbow. However, if you want to stay with a compound bow, might I recommend a 35 pound draw weight with an arrow that weighs in at 350 to 400 grains (at least 10 grains per pound of draw weight). After much research, those were the minimum standards that I set for my son before I would allow him to hunt. Of course if you can manage it, more draw weight is better. At first I was surprised at just how low you can go with a compound and still be effective. Then I looked at it from the perspective of a trad bow. 35 pounds on compound is an approximate match to a 50 pound recurve. So I read. The key is in having enough arrow weight. Sent from my VS500 using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
Any one that is going to try and make you feel bad because you are thinking about using a cross bow as your only way to continue to hunt during bow season is a COMPLETE F N ****** BAG!!! I don't want to hear turn it down to 40 pounds either. Look A HOLES if you don't want to use a cross bow don't but don't push your **** on him. Funny thing is some of the same guys who don't want you to use a cross bow or say your not a "real hunter" if you use a cross bow are the same guys who don't want anyone telling them what size deer they should shoot.
Crossbow for sure. It got me through a 3 year rough patch. For me it's about the hunt and the chase and being close up to the game. Not about whether I have to pull the string back or not. I didnt have any less fun or find it any less challenging than vertical bow hunting. It was actually quite cumbersome. The crossbow was bulky and awkward to carry through the woods. Try to re-cock it in a climber after your arrow hit that limb you couldn't see in the scope. Now that's a chore. Not like re nocking a vertical bow. But I guess some guys only get off on pulling their string. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
JIM!! Do Whatever it takes brother!!! I'd use a crossbow in a second If I couldn't physically use a bow anymore! Can't wait to see your live from the stand posts this year! Justin, you made some amazing points!! So true Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
No I haven't but I plan on seeing him soon. Blessings.........Pastorjim Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
That's a good idea but here's the thing I see with doing that. My current bow is a 55-70lbs and I currently have it at 55lbs. I think to go lower I would have to buy another bow. And at this stage of my life if I'm going purchase another bow, it may as well be a crossbow. Thanks for the suggestion though. Blessings........Pastorjim Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
Hope you feel better Jim!! Either way - your passion for hunting and the great outdoors hasn't changed! The beauty and reasons for hunting haven't changed. The weapons that we kill with have changed as the world has changed. Back long before I started hunting they didn't have compound bows. And so on and so on. Again hope you get to feeling better soon. Don't be too tough on yourself!
I don't think you have to buy a new bow. I believe just new limbs if I'm not mistaken. Sounds like you're leaning towards a new toy anyway. Go ahead and get the crossbow you want, get it lined up and decked out. Work on getting your shoulder and neck better and if it's not good to go by fall use the Crossbow. Win Win if you ask me. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
Or a good strength and conditioning coach/personal trainer that happens to be personally familiar with shoulder pain associated with shooting a bow and rehab to shoot pain free. Perhaps one that happens to be a member of a certain bowhunting forum and would help for free...
Please take the time to reread this post a time or two. A few years ago I was finishing up grad school and working at the same time, so I was spending a lot of time in front of a computer. Abruptly my neck and left side began to give me issues and then even some tingling in my left hand fingers. I consulted my family doctor who looked me over and signed me up for some PT in their office. The therapist I had was a fellow about the same size as myself and even more athletic. I saw him about 6 times and he really did wonders for me, plus gave me some ongoing exercises and tips for preventing this in the future. At times I have felt it coming back on a bit and nipped it in the bud on my own using the exercises. I LOVE shooting a bow throughout the year and hunting with a bow, so losing that to pain was really not a viable option. If you want to shift to an Xbow, that is certainly your choice but I would get some medical input before selling your archery gear. However that is just me......I have NO desire to shoot a crossbow unless every other option was expended.
...... I'm just kidding it doesn't matter if you hunt with a crossbow or with a bumper guard as long as you are hunting and enjoying it. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
Hunting is as hard as we want to make it, or as easy as we want to make it. sent from my mini hand held phone
I would be curious to know what the diagnosis would be and help if I can. After 10+ years in personal training as well as coaching athletes, I think that most shoulder pain, particularly in middle age or later, is completely preventable and/or can be rehabbed to being better than before. I do not think that dropping draw weight on a bow or shooting a crossbow has to be the permanent or only solution, although depending on the nature of the pain, it may be temporarily necessary. I have actually thought about reaching out to Justin to see if the Bowhunting.com would be interested in doing an in depth article or video series on shoulder health specifically related to archery and bowhunting. I see too many guys on here just assume that old age or shoulder injuries mean an end to their drawing a bow. I do not believe that. FYI, I am not against you going to a crossbow if you decide that is in your best interest. I own one.
Grab a crossbow and head back into the woods nothing changes and still get to enjoy the outdoors Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
I've killed a lot of deer with a 40lb bow. I hope to kill an elk with the same bow this fall. 40ish pounds still kills my shoulder. And the pain lasts for days, so needless to say, archery isn't a whole lot of fun for me anymore. So, I get where you are coming from..... but you have a lot of options. So quit bellyaching. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk
Do you want to hunt more than consider what donks think? Just do what it takes to be in a tree do not ask permission. Do not consider for a second opinions against your goal when you are following the law and what is available for you to use to enjoy the hunts you have for years. Anyone who berates or belittles a hunter that uses legal equipment dismiss them they are pathetic and not aware of the evolution of bow hunting.
