Now days it seems that crossbows are starting to boom a little bit, with many states making them legal and the market sky rocketing on them. I personally think that it’s kind of cheating it’s almost like shooting a gun just don’t have range and speed. The only time I think you should be allowed to use a crossbow is if you are elderly, handicap or have some other reason to why you can’t pull back enough poundage to lethally kill a deer. Just wondering what everyone else thinks on here?
While I personally wouldnt use one unless I was unable to shoot a bow I dont have a problem with someone else using one. I do however feel that generally bowhunters are more serious hunters than your average guy that only uses a firearm for hunting. The crossbow sort of closes that gap so now we have a lot more guys heading into the woods during archery seasons that dont have a clue as to what they are doing therefore making it more difficult for the guys that do although I would imagine that traditional archers may say the same about me using a compound. So for purely selfish reasons of having less hunters in the woods with me I guess I would rather them not be allowed for archery seasons.
I would have to agree with Striker as well. Now that my father is going to to buy one this year, and my father-in-law has used one the past 2 seasons, i don't see anything wrong with them. THey are both getting older, and with shoulder problems they found that the crossbow was still allowing them to hunt in during the bow season. i can say one thing, the first time my father-in-law let me shot his, i was like.... "HOLY S***, that thing is fast"
I don't understand why people assume that crossbow hunters are less skilled than anyother person in woods. Lots of sterotypes to crossbow hunters, and I don't understand the logic behind looking down on a fellow hunter.
its not so much looking down on crossbow hunters its just kinda the thing why take the easy way dont you like the challange of the hunt? but like he said im sure traditional hunters think the same way about us who use compounds
I have no interest in shooting one, but why do I care what someone else does? I choose to shoot a compound bow, even during gun season (allowed in Texas) for a variety of reasons. That is my personal CHOICE. I choose NOT to shoot a recurve because I am too lazy to become proficient at it and I want the increased range that the compound provides as opposed to the recurve. While there will always be a few to argue the opposite, I think most of us can recognize that the recurve is a much more difficult weapon of choice compared to a compound. So for us compound hunters that want to condemn the crossbow....whats that saying about the pot calling the kettle black?
compared to a ccross bow of pulling up and shooting theres a lot that goes into it. you cant just go buy one sight it in then go hunting it takes hours and hours of practice
How long does it take to dial in a 20 yard sight pin on a compound bow? 3 shots? If you haven't owned or shot a crossbow, I'd recommend it. They aren't the end all-be all to becoming a whitetail exterminator.
There is nothing difficult about pulling a compound bow back and shooting a deer and plenty of people pick up their bow the day before the season, shoot it to make sure it hits the target and then go hunting and they kill deer. Really, killing deer with a compound bow is very easy, even kids can do it.
Crossbows are heavy and awkward. I tried one. There's no way I could hold that sucker up while a deer mosied into range. I would need a rest. Also, the one I shot had at least an 8lb trigger pull. I have a bad shoulder... but I'd take pulling back my compound over messing with that thing. The place where I hunt has had a couple of guys with crossbows hunting it.... they are no more successful than the vertical bow shooters. (in fact, I'd say the opposite is true)
I had a crossbow and shot a deer with it last year. I just simply didn't like it as much as a vertical bow. I didn't like the fact that it was very awkward to handle. I didn't like the fact that I was cocked the entire time I was sitting there. I didn't like the fact that it was loud as hell, I didn't feel like I could shoot it discretely in my back yard. And frankly mine was not as accurate as my vertical bow.
People that are going to pick up their bow the day before season and go hunting are not going to b your ethical hunters they are going to be your weekend warrior Elmer fud. Hunting with a compound is going to take a little bit more skill then having something that’s already cocked and ready to go, "point aim shoot". Most hunters are extending the range well over 20 yards to and being so it takes more coordination then again point aim shoot". And yes kids can shoot a deer with a compound bow to but they also have practiced and practiced with it vs. a kid could go pick up their parents crossbow and go kill something that night. Also they maybe heavy, bulky and you wouldn’t want to hold it up while a deer is coming in but that’s also kind of the same as saying you wouldn’t want to hold at full draw while a deer is walking in. By no means am I talking down or bad about people that hunt with cross bows I just personally think they are way easier.
I would jump in on this convo too, but I'll take the easy way out and just agree with everything Bruce has said and will say on the subject.
