USDA traps here free of charge. Where I was killing 150 in six months - I havent had a picture in 14 months.
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Crossbows as we age....
- Thread starter 356
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USDA traps here free of charge. Where I was killing 150 in six months - I havent had a picture in 14 months.
Feelslikefar.
5 year old buck +
No... I'd want to do it the old fashion way.
Using NV / thermal's no different, heck even easier than shooting them in the daytime.
Using NV / thermal's no different, heck even easier than shooting them in the daytime.
356
5 year old buck +
Yes, they are good to eat. Older boars and sows are best slow cooked or used as sausage. Younger ones are very nice for loins and hams (brine them!). Trichinosis and brucellosis are killed off at a cooking temperature of 145 (lower if longer, such as sous vide) and, since I like port done, 165 degrees does not over cook and ensures safe meat. When handling the hogs, gloves are essential (I do the same with deer). Unlike venison, I aways use a thermometer to ensure the pork is cooked well.
I'll be going back to Oklahoma for my second feral pig hunt in April--this year I'll be combining it with a turkey hunt.
bigboreblr
5 year old buck +
Ive talked to some folks who trap them in a cage and corn finish them. They taste better that way.
We almost had a population of them in NY 5 years ago. Some knucklehead released some in the northern catskill foothills. State was on their toes surprisingly. Helped the region headquarters was less than 10 miles away.
bigboreblr
5 year old buck +
I cant change the rules the state makes. In all reality you dont even need to follow them. How many lone gun shots you hear during bow season. The lifetme license used to include doe tags, now you need to pay. There's guys just whacking them w/o a tag. Alot of hunter were mad in 2012 when the gun laws got alot stricter. Several guys refused to buy a hunting license.
What crossbows have done is making poaching easier. You shotgun range with no shot noise.
What I did learn was about 15 years ago. I walk down a deer path, put a little chair to the side and wait. Drew on a deer, then I see the deer running away with the arrow stick out of the complete other side of his shoulder. Thing turned around between me releasing and the arrow hitting. Probably was 15 yards. Shoot calm animals only. Not worth it otherwise in my opinion.
One limitation a bow does not have is extreme left or right shots. I heard numerous stories about the crossbow arms hitting a tree treestand etc. I hunt ambush style..... The rows of trees between fields. They come in fast n close and even from behind too. Sometimes a bow would be easier.
I've kinda forgot how to track deer, and thats not really a bad thing.
Checked out Arkansas regs..... You guys can use 40 cal muzzleloaders...... Want a nice slender barrel flintlock, but NY is 45 or bigger. Ealrly american late colonial times, flintlocks were predominately 40 caliber.
What crossbows have done is making poaching easier. You shotgun range with no shot noise.
What I did learn was about 15 years ago. I walk down a deer path, put a little chair to the side and wait. Drew on a deer, then I see the deer running away with the arrow stick out of the complete other side of his shoulder. Thing turned around between me releasing and the arrow hitting. Probably was 15 yards. Shoot calm animals only. Not worth it otherwise in my opinion.
One limitation a bow does not have is extreme left or right shots. I heard numerous stories about the crossbow arms hitting a tree treestand etc. I hunt ambush style..... The rows of trees between fields. They come in fast n close and even from behind too. Sometimes a bow would be easier.
I've kinda forgot how to track deer, and thats not really a bad thing.
Checked out Arkansas regs..... You guys can use 40 cal muzzleloaders...... Want a nice slender barrel flintlock, but NY is 45 or bigger. Ealrly american late colonial times, flintlocks were predominately 40 caliber.
Feelslikefar.
5 year old buck +
Somewhere around 600-400 BC.
roymunson
5 year old buck +
They're lean.
I've shot a couple and we always add a bunch of domestic pork fat to it. Then they're good.
When we're going here in a week or so, I'm hoping we can shoot a couple little ones and smoke the whole thing on the grill. That'd be cool.
4wanderingeyes
5 year old buck +
Sorry to bring this back to the main topic of crossbow vs compound bow, but about 20 years ago I blew out both of my shoulders, I missed out on bow hunting for many years because I refused to hunt with a crossbow, even though the Dr said he would sign off for me to use a crossbow.
After about 7 years I thought I had gotten enough strength back in both of my shoulders, and was pretty good at target shooting, standing and drawing with a wide stance, I could shoot about 25 arrows, at 60 pounds and my shoulders would be sore for a few days. So I tried hunting, but reality set in, while sitting still for hours, in the cold, and layered in clothes, minimal room to draw, and set up stance, bow hunting from a stand wasn’t going to work for me.
I bought a portable enclosure and had a heater in there, a comfy chair, I figured hiding my awkward draw would help, but when sitting, or kneeling in the portable, I really struggled to draw the bow back. I then worked out for a couple more years, dropped the bow to 50 pounds, and thought I was all set, I went several more before I found a shooter, a nice big 10, big for my area anyhow. I drew back, 15 yards, the arrow hit his shoulder, penetrated only a couple inches and the arrow fell out, he limped off, falling a couple times, thought I got him good enough, but he managed to live 2 weeks and limped in front of my neighbor for muzzle loader and he took him down.
After that I decided I was done now hunting, until the next year I decided in shame to get a crossbow, mostly because my enjoyment is sitting in the woods with the opportunity to hunt, and to be in the stand. This was about 3 years ago, and this season was the first time I let an arrow go out of the crossbow. Dead on, ran about 30 yards from a 60 yard shot. I would never have taken a 60 yard shot with a compound bow, but from practicing, it gave me the confidence that it had the ability.
I will say, the crossbow has given me the pleasure to continue archery hunting, everyone talked about the upsides to crossbows, but there are several drawbacks as well. If I could shoot my compound bow with confidence yet, I would use it 100% over a crossbow, but unfortunately my compound bow days are done l, I am afraid.
After about 7 years I thought I had gotten enough strength back in both of my shoulders, and was pretty good at target shooting, standing and drawing with a wide stance, I could shoot about 25 arrows, at 60 pounds and my shoulders would be sore for a few days. So I tried hunting, but reality set in, while sitting still for hours, in the cold, and layered in clothes, minimal room to draw, and set up stance, bow hunting from a stand wasn’t going to work for me.
I bought a portable enclosure and had a heater in there, a comfy chair, I figured hiding my awkward draw would help, but when sitting, or kneeling in the portable, I really struggled to draw the bow back. I then worked out for a couple more years, dropped the bow to 50 pounds, and thought I was all set, I went several more before I found a shooter, a nice big 10, big for my area anyhow. I drew back, 15 yards, the arrow hit his shoulder, penetrated only a couple inches and the arrow fell out, he limped off, falling a couple times, thought I got him good enough, but he managed to live 2 weeks and limped in front of my neighbor for muzzle loader and he took him down.
After that I decided I was done now hunting, until the next year I decided in shame to get a crossbow, mostly because my enjoyment is sitting in the woods with the opportunity to hunt, and to be in the stand. This was about 3 years ago, and this season was the first time I let an arrow go out of the crossbow. Dead on, ran about 30 yards from a 60 yard shot. I would never have taken a 60 yard shot with a compound bow, but from practicing, it gave me the confidence that it had the ability.
I will say, the crossbow has given me the pleasure to continue archery hunting, everyone talked about the upsides to crossbows, but there are several drawbacks as well. If I could shoot my compound bow with confidence yet, I would use it 100% over a crossbow, but unfortunately my compound bow days are done l, I am afraid.
A 6 year old kid that still cries when he has to go to bed can shoot lights out at 40 yards with a crossbow on his first try.
It took me many years of vertical bow practice, starting at 12 years old, to get that good.
I got into bow hunting because it extended my season. I loved to hunt. I didn’t to it because it was easy I did it in spite of being so hard.
From the days in my backyard practicing alone through the years I spent in archery leagues, there was pride in being a good archer and the best archers were usually the best hunters.
Killing any deer was a goal, then any buck, then older deer. Now, maybe no deer at all unless I’m in the mood.
Archery and a commitment to being “good” at it has been a fairly major part of my life…..and a vehicle for many of my most memorable days.
So when I see healthy 20-something’s with no bow in their “bow hunting” hero shot it hurts my heart a little.
It took me many years of vertical bow practice, starting at 12 years old, to get that good.
I got into bow hunting because it extended my season. I loved to hunt. I didn’t to it because it was easy I did it in spite of being so hard.
From the days in my backyard practicing alone through the years I spent in archery leagues, there was pride in being a good archer and the best archers were usually the best hunters.
Killing any deer was a goal, then any buck, then older deer. Now, maybe no deer at all unless I’m in the mood.
Archery and a commitment to being “good” at it has been a fairly major part of my life…..and a vehicle for many of my most memorable days.
So when I see healthy 20-something’s with no bow in their “bow hunting” hero shot it hurts my heart a little.
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356
5 year old buck +
As the OP, I've reflected on the comments and encouragement. I'll be on Medicare this next hunting season, and will likely do most of the 2026 season using my crossbow. The shoulders are sure not what they used to be! To be sure, I'll be pulling out the compound for practice and enjoyment, and may do a few doe hunts with it on the farm. When going after a target deer, I'll have the Ten Point Wicket Ridge NXT400 with me.
I plan to do more public land hunting this next season, it will be interesting to see who is in the field and what they are using. Last year, I saw about an equal number of compounds vs. crossbows. One factor that has not been mentioned is that the entry costs are lower for basic crossbows, with many complete sets around $200. I'm not speaking for the quality of these units--but that is not an uncommon price point for a crossbow with optic and three bolts, and no tuning is required. My local Walmart had a clearance on some Killer Instinct brand crossbows this week at $150. This "entry fee" alone suggests more folks will be using crossbows.
I am thankful to be able to enjoy Missouri's archery season using a crossbow, and knowing that I'll have a chance to restock the freezer each archery season.
I plan to do more public land hunting this next season, it will be interesting to see who is in the field and what they are using. Last year, I saw about an equal number of compounds vs. crossbows. One factor that has not been mentioned is that the entry costs are lower for basic crossbows, with many complete sets around $200. I'm not speaking for the quality of these units--but that is not an uncommon price point for a crossbow with optic and three bolts, and no tuning is required. My local Walmart had a clearance on some Killer Instinct brand crossbows this week at $150. This "entry fee" alone suggests more folks will be using crossbows.
I am thankful to be able to enjoy Missouri's archery season using a crossbow, and knowing that I'll have a chance to restock the freezer each archery season.
Do you recall which one you bought? I may be getting back in the market with access to a new property in an archery only county.
