Illinois joins the crossbow list

[Natty Bumppo]

I have been bow hunting since the early 80's, tried the crossbows a little twenty years ago it's not my thing but I sure don't have any issues with anyone that uses one. I don't get why compound bow hunters think it is so difficult to get a compound sighted in or to shoot? I get a new bow and within an hour am pretty much dialed in from 10-60 yards...to say shooting a compound is somehow so difficult is a stretch, it's harder than a crossbow but not much.

But you have over 35 years experience and strength and muscle memory and training. You're actually making the point. You did not become an expert out to 40, 50, 60 yards overnight. You did not develop the muscles to pull and hold a bow in hunting situations without hundreds of practice hours. You are clearly devoted to archery. An 18 year old pimply face kid can buy a crossbow out of the box store and be on paper out to 40 yds. in about 10 minutes. No muscle required. No need to draw back when the deer is 15 yards away. Awesome scope to help with target acquisition. And the ability to use a rest. I have a hard time seeing how anybody thinks that crossbows are not a huge advantage. That's just me though. But essentially I agree with you. To expert archers, yes, I guess maybe the advantages of crossbows are fewer, but still present.

 

[H20fwler]

LOL!!!! Then why are hunters flocking to crossbows?

Saying compounds are only slightly more difficult to use than a crossbow is like saying riding a bike 20 miles is only slightly harder than riding a motor cycle the same distance. Let's see, a crossbow ...

• Requires much less physical strength or training to hold & aim
• Can use a bench rest or a tripod to hold it even while shooting
• Do not have to draw and hold to shoot (CB you can pre-draw)
• Drawn CB can be held indefinitely
• Can use a powered or red dot scope (veritical bow requires ability interpret 3-5 pins through a peep site)
• Scope, (if high quality) will allow CB in low light conditions where a peep & pins cannot be used
• Can rest CB butt stock against your shoulder
• No worry about string catching clothing

I have been using a compound for 20 years now. Shot a buddies CB once without any training. At 50 yards I put my 1st 3 bolts in an 8" pie plate without any effort at all.

I was sitting at a picnic table ... wasn't actually in real world hunting conditions like the guy below

View attachment 15359

Your bike/motorcycle analogy is way off.

I've shot and hunted with both...shooting a compound is not rocket science. Crossbows are heavy/loud/almost impossible to get off second shot and don't shoot any further than a compound. Are they easier to sight in..yes..but not that much. What like 15 minutes vs an hour of practice? So that makes shooting a compound the elite of archery hunting..no way.
I know lots of guys that shoot a crossbows that are fantastic hunters in every sense of the word...I know lots of guys that shoot a compound that are slobs and just shoot a couple arrows day before season and head out to hunt over their corn piles. They are legal who gives a crap how the other guy hunts as long as he isn't trespassing or breaking the law. I think it comes down to a lot of die hard bow hunters get bent because they think crossbow shooters are going to shoot "their" deer. We have had crossbow in our archery season for over three decades and Ohio's hunting and trophy potential only keeps getting better...a slob is going to be a slob no matter what they are shooting with.

But you have over 35 years experience and strength and muscle memory and training. You're actually making the point. You did not become an expert out to 40, 50, 60 yards overnight. You did not develop the muscles to pull and hold a bow in hunting situations without hundreds of practice hours. You are clearly devoted to archery. An 18 year old pimply face kid can buy a crossbow out of the box store and be on paper out to 40 yds. in about 10 minutes. No muscle required. No need to draw back when the deer is 15 yards away. Awesome scope to help with target acquisition. And the ability to use a rest. I have a hard time seeing how anybody thinks that crossbows are not a huge advantage. That's just me though. But essentially I agree with you. To expert archers, yes, I guess maybe the advantages of crossbows are fewer, but still present.

That's true, but I have watched my youngest son and others jump right into using a compound and become very proficient with very little practice. Becoming a good hunter is a totally different ball game no matter what one uses to hunt with. I shoot a compound because I absolutely love it..everything about it..how smooth it feels/how quiet it is/messing with arrows and shooting crazy angles and heights.
A bow, recurve or compound gets me in touch with my primitive self the instant I pick it up and that is the biggest difference I see between a crossbow and a compound or trad bow. And it sucks for the crossbow user that they can't have that, my oldest shoots a crossbow and I've tried to explain but he just doesn't get it.
When I am to old to shoot a compound I'll switch over if it can keep me up a tree in the fall.

 

[bwoods11]

I just hope they do not allow them in MN, but that is wishful thinking. MN needs fewer seasons, not more seasons. Crossbows mean more deer harvested, and a combo of a box blind-crossbow over a food plot/water source/major trail, is a very efficient set up.

I do believe they should be allowed for injuries/disabled, and for age 55 or older, or whatever the cut off is.

 

[4wanderingeyes]

60+

 

[Tree Spud]

Your bike/motorcycle analogy is way off.

I've shot and hunted with both...shooting a compound is not rocket science. Crossbows are heavy/loud/almost impossible to get off second shot and don't shoot any further than a compound. Are they easier to sight in..yes..but not that much. What like 15 minutes vs an hour of practice? So that makes shooting a compound the elite of archery hunting..no way.
I know lots of guys that shoot a crossbows that are fantastic hunters in every sense of the word...I know lots of guys that shoot a compound that are slobs and just shoot a couple arrows day before season and head out to hunt over their corn piles. They are legal who gives a crap how the other guy hunts as long as he isn't trespassing or breaking the law. I think it comes down to a lot of die hard bow hunters get bent because they think crossbow shooters are going to shoot "their" deer. We have had crossbow in our archery season for over three decades and Ohio's hunting and trophy potential only keeps getting better...a slob is going to be a slob no matter what they are shooting with.

Rationalization is the 2nd strongest drive know to man ...

As stated above, you sound like you are a very seasoned and experienced archer with a vertical bow. To say that there is very little that separates a compound versus a crossbow in terms of training, level of difficulty, consistent grouping at different yardages, and proper form is well just plain silly.

I could care less who shoots what or how they shoot it, just don't try and downplay what is takes to become an effective archer & hunter with a compound bow to make it sound like cross bow hunters have no significant advantages. Sitting in a blind with smoked glass windows and no concerns about the wind, in a comfortable recliner, the cross bow loaded on a tri-pod with your red dot laser scope, and your little buddy heater keeping the blind toasty is not archery.

 

[H20fwler]

Rationalization is the 2nd strongest drive know to man ...

As stated above, you sound like you are a very seasoned and experienced archer with a vertical bow. To say that there is very little that separates a compound versus a crossbow in terms of training, level of difficulty, consistent grouping at different yardages, and proper form is well just plain silly.

I could care less who shoots what or how they shoot it, just don't try and downplay what is takes to become an effective archer & hunter with a compound bow to make it sound like cross bow hunters have no significant advantages. Sitting in a blind with smoked glass windows and no concerns about the wind, in a comfortable recliner, the cross bow loaded on a tri-pod with your red dot laser scope, and your little buddy heater keeping the blind toasty is not archery.

I would love to put up a nice tall shooting building with oblong windows I could shoot a compound out of while staying warm and dry in a comfy recliner with a Mr Buddy heater! Maybe one day I will pony up and spend the money to put one or two up...would be great when I someday have grandkids or for when I get older, it would be sweet to try and get it to blend in as natural as I could. I don't have to sit in the cold or rain to prove anything, I've done way to much of that over the years.

We will have to agree to disagree on how hard it is to be able shoot a compound bow proficiently, both crossbows and compounds have their advantages and disadvantages.

 

[yoderjac]

Yep. I find it much easier to shoot deer behind my tree with a compound. I shoot my compound much more accurately when standing and my crossbow sitting. With a crossbow, I'm limited to about an 80 degree shooting zone. With my compound I can comfortably shoot well over 270 degrees. I was having some issues with my compound this year, so I took my crossbow out fir the first couple days until I made the necessary adjustments and verified them on the range. I had a nice fat doe yesterday broadside at 30 yards (my personal limit. And yes, I can hit the bulls eye on the range at well over 50 yards but that does not translate under field conditions). This doe had be jittery for a while and checked me out several times before finally settling down and feeding with the yearling and fawns. I was afraid to rest the crossbow on the window for fear she would see me. So, I decided to shoot from inside. All was clear through the scope and I was right on her chest. The arrow sailed 3' over her back. Turns out the arrow creased the window. This is not something that would have happened with my compound. I probably would not have been in a box blind with the compound to start with but I find it much easier to ensure the arrow path is clear.

Just more examples of how each instrument has it's own set of challenges when hunting.

Thanks,

Jack