Crossbows as we age....

[356]

Telemark’s recent post of King Matthias with a crossbow got me thinking.

As a bowhunter, my first experience with a crossbow came in 2014—after I blew out a shoulder. At the time, I needed a medical waiver, which I gladly accepted. There was no way I was missing deer season, and no way I could draw a vertical bow. I bought a basic TenPoint crossbow and filled a buck tag that fall. Ironically, I didn’t tag a deer during firearms season. That crossbow kept me in the game.

Over the last five years, I’ve slowly backed my draw weight down—from 70#, to 65#, to 56#. My bow is a Mathews Journey (circa 2006), and now I’m at a crossroads: do I invest in another vertical bow, or retire the Journey and hunt archery season exclusively with a crossbow?

Here’s the reality—I love to hunt. My effective shooting distances are the same with a compound or a crossbow. For me, the biggest advantage of the crossbow isn’t range; it’s not being seen while drawing.

My son harvested his first archery deer with a crossbow. Today, he’s a vertical bow hunter and—likely due to my influence—tends to see crossbow hunters as “the guys ruining archery season.” I wish I could rewind a few years.

Earlier today I clicked a link in my inbox that took me to the latest TenPoint marketing video. The camera followed a beautiful 4½-year-old buck, and the voiceover said, “The deer is 66 yards. I could take this shot, but this deer is off limits for this hunt.” That line stuck with me, and not in a positive way, as it implies it's OK to take those long shots with a crossbow. However, the truth is that the crossbow is simply taking archery to a new distance in much the same way the compound bow did for archery in the 70s and 80s.

Putting crossbows exclusively in rifle season will take a lot of older hunters out of the woods. And at a time when we need more hunters—not fewer—to manage deer populations, I’m coming to terms with the changing climate of archery deer hunting. I also find myself empathizing with traditional bowhunters who once argued that compounds would “ruin archery season.” Hopefully we can somehow enjoy the woods together.

Between now and September, I’ll be continuing daily shoulder exercises, and hoping I can still draw my bow when the leaves turn. But as the odometer keeps rolling, I’m grateful there are options—options that will keep me in the game when September comes.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Keep crossbows for the disability and those over 65. I’d say most archery hunters have no problem with that

 

[356]

This ad (circa 1969-1970) notes "performance is about as efficient as a rifle" and promotes the conservation benefits of improved recovery rates due to speed and penetration.

 

[Feelslikefar.]

"Long range" is the in thing, even for bows, you've got clowns out there flinging arrows 70-80-100 yards.
I always think the same thing, especially with the rifles, "Heaven forbid we do any HUNTING".

 

[Telemark]

Earlier today I clicked a link in my inbox that took me to the latest TenPoint marketing video. The camera followed a beautiful 4½-year-old buck, and the voiceover said, “The deer is 66 yards. I could take this shot, but this deer is off limits for this hunt.” That line stuck with me, and not in a positive way, as it implies it's OK to take those long shots with a crossbow.

Yeah. It's not crossbow hunters that are ruining hunting. It's the dorkwads on TV that promote unethical hunting and the yahoos that buy into their bullcrap antics. I can't watch hunting shows anymore. Haven't for years. It's almost always a dude in a stand over a foodplot flogging hunting gear from sponsor brands and whatever outfitter he may be visiting. They're just commercials with a kill shot.

I understand it's difficult to film while still hunting or stalking, but that makes for quality viewing when it's done right. I have no interest in watching another person kill a deer off a food plot. I want to watch a skilled hunter to show me how I can become a better hunter. Oh well. Part of the fun of hunting is figuring it all out. As long as I'm improving my skills I'm having a good time.

 

[Telemark]

Over the last five years, I’ve slowly backed my draw weight down—from 70#, to 65#, to 56#. My bow is a Mathews Journey (circa 2006), and now I’m at a crossroads: do I invest in another vertical bow, or retire the Journey and hunt archery season exclusively with a crossbow?

Here’s the reality—I love to hunt. My effective shooting distances are the same with a compound or a crossbow. For me, the biggest advantage of the crossbow isn’t range; it’s not being seen while drawing.

It sounds like you've made up your mind and are looking for encouragement. Well. I'm happy to provide it. A good compromise would be to keep practicing with your bow but invest the money in a crossbow rather than another vertical. You don't have to retire the vertical, just keep it around as an option. No reason to give it up entirely. I enjoy shooting a traditional bow. But I prefer hunting with a crossbow.

How did you feel about taking your buck with a crossbow? We're you happy? Or were you bummed out that it was a crossbow kill instead of a vertical bow kill?

Personally, the implement important to me. I just want a clean kill on the right animal.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Im very happy crossbows give you the opportunity to get out when you have age and health working against you.
For the 25 year old healthy dude using one in archery season….should 100% be illegal but it’s not in most places but I’ll keep yelling from whatever mountain top I can to try to make it that way.

 

[BenA]

Personally, I couldn't care less about the weapon someone uses. I picked up a bow when I was young to extend my deer season. I just like hunting deer. I'd rather use a rifle more than anything because of the efficiency and effectiveness. I know I can put a deer down without having to worry about tracking it if I want. I use whatever weapon is legal at the time. If multiple methods are open, I choose the one that is going to give me the fastest and best recovery rate percentage.

 

[SwampCat]

Personally, for me - the jump from a recurve to a compound was much greater than the jump from a compound to a crossbow. I killed a LOT more deer with a compound than a recurve. The crossbow adds about 5 yards to my range - but the biggest thing it does, like 356 said, is reduce the likelihood of being seen while drawing. That allowed me the opportunity to at least feel like I could be successful hunting from the ground and not in a ground blind.

There would be some truth to that if you were not very selective. But everything goes out the window if you are trying to kill a specific deer and are often passing other deer waiting on the one you want - and not spooking the other deer as they mill around 5 to 30 yards away

I have killed two deer with my crossbow, from the ground not in a ground blind - in seven years. My success with w compound from a tree stand was MUCH better

In AR, we killed 160,000 deer in 8 weeks with a gun, 13,300 deer with archery in 4 months, and 12,000 with a crossbow in 4 months. Those numbers positively show how ineffective a crossbow is compared to a gun

 

[Telemark]

Im very happy crossbows give you the opportunity to get out when you have age and health working against you.
For the 25 year old healthy dude using one in archery season….should 100% be illegal but it’s not in most places but I’ll keep yelling from whatever mountain top I can to try to make it that way.

Not gonna happen, Sisyphus. People are desperate for the bucks they see on TV, or any buck.

Plus it gives meat hunters more flexibility with their season.

 

[Telemark]

In AR, we killed 160,000 deer in 8 weeks with a gun,

Jeez. In Ohio we get 13 days, including the 4 day muzzleloader season. If you can't afford a muzzleloader, you get 7 days, which always starts on a Monday. Them two weeks later you get 2 more days. That's why I bought a crossbow.

 

[SwampCat]

Jeez. In Ohio we get 13 days, including the 4 day muzzleloader season. If you can't afford a muzzleloader, you get 7 days, which always starts on a Monday. Them two weeks later you get 2 more days. That's why I bought a crossbow.

I would guess harvest rate in Ohio is somewhere around 25% of the total deer population - give or take a few percentage points. Same as it is in our state. In our state - cover is everywhere - so it is harder to kill our 25% - thus longer seasons.

 

[Angus 1895]

I bought a Excalibur on eBay brand new for $500 shipped. An auction outta Michigan they might still have some.

The safety is clunky, but is shoots sahweet!

I highly recommend one.

Compound bows can be hard to keep in tune. But they are fun to shoot also.

 

[Telemark]

I would guess harvest rate in Ohio is somewhere around 25% of the total deer population - give or take a few percentage points. Same as it is in our state. In our state - cover is everywhere - so it is harder to kill our 25% - thus longer seasons.

I'd be happier with longer seasons and fewer tags.