Gonna try crossbow hunting this year

[Natty Bumppo]

And for new hunters, I want them to be able to have that early success. It's more likely to make a lifelong hunter out of them. While access to private land may be shrinking, so are hunter numbers. We need to keep the number of hunters up to guarantee the sport lives on into the future for the masses, not just the privileged few.

100% agree. No question.

I was just trying to wrap my head around the argument you sometimes hear that crossbows offer no significant advantage over a compound. Never shot one. But it seems to me like they offer some pretty obvious advantages.

 

[Feelslikefar.]

That sounds like the "it's the same thing" argument. Like arguing a modern scoped inline is the same thing as an iron sighted side lock. They're not and it's silly to pretend they are as they basis of your argument. lol You can lie to yourself if it helps you, but....

 

[SwampCat]

That sounds like the "it's the same thing" argument. Like arguing a modern scoped inline is the same thing as an iron sighted side lock. They're not and it's silly to pretend they are as they basis of your argument. lol You can lie to yourself if it helps you, but....

I am not saying crossbows are not easier to hunt with than a compound - I hunt with one because it is easier - I couldnt pull a compound now. What I am saying is the inherent accuracy of a crossbow is not the main thing that makes them easier. You dont have to be able to shoot one inch groups at 30 yards to kill deer.

It is many other things that make them easier to successfully hunt with - you do not have to draw in the presence of a deer, you do not even have to draw - which allows young kids and old geezers like me to hunt, you can shoot off a rest, they are flat shooting. There are a number of things.

Granted, I have only killed two deer and a bear with my crossbow, but crossbow accuracy had nothing to do with it - I would have been shocked had I missed the bear and deer with my compound had I been using it.

Compound bows are just not that difficult to shoot anymore. I am just saying the accuracy of a crossbow is not what makes it that much easier to hunt with - it is all the other stuff

 

[H20fwler]

Same^^^^

Like many others have said in this thread I never had to practice much before season with a compound either, don't know if it was because modern bows are so good, or my muscle memory was.
Biggest advantage to using a crossbow is that it is already cocked and ready.

 

[jsasker007]

Picked up the ten point axis tripod. It seems to work pretty good. Looking for another tripod but trying to find one or two that will work without the higher price tag. The ten point has an adjustable clamp that will also work with guns. Hopefully I can get my hunting done with crossbow but most likely I'll still have tags left to fill when rifle season gets here.

 

[Feelslikefar.]

Maaan.. just reminded me of something I started to do last night but got side tracked. That was to see if mine will mount in my shooting tripod as is, will I need my adaptor and will it work at all since the 1913 rail is all the way up front? If not, will it fit my saddle mount? Hmmmm....

Though I don't plan on hunting with the tripod.

I have a crossbow target, had it even before I bought this crossbow. Bought it because it was on sale.
It weighs about, I dunno, 8500 pounds. Every time I move it I groan and say "Oh good lord, why did I buy this stupid thing."
After dragging the dang thing around the range, back and forth several times bouncing between 20-40 yards (so I could still shoot off the bench), I DO NOT want to have to do that again next time.

 

[jsasker007]

I still have a couple yellow jacket targets that I think will work well for practice tips. Big heavy bag targets but very EASY arrow removal. I want to make up a couple of metal frames for the target so I can get them up off the ground and be able to use the spots on the bottom also. Right now they just sit on the ground and I'm not brave enough to shoot at those bottom dots.

 

[Feelslikefar.]

I like this photo, for I am 12 feet tall!

 

[Feelslikefar.]

Didn't bother with the rail, the grip fit in the saddle. Though I think I'd trust it more mounted to the rail, and it would be more solid.

 

[jsasker007]

Finding out how shaky I am trying to shoot freehand. Wow. I better not shoot without some kind of rest under 25 yards with my crossbow.

 

[chucker66]

Finding out how shaky I am trying to shoot freehand. Wow. I better not shoot without some kind of rest under 25 yards with my crossbow.

If shooting from a hang on stand or even a ladder stand, plant your feet firmly on the base of your stand and drive your back into the tree or chair. This really helps firm things up. Having a rest is ideal of course, but I can shoot out to 40 pretty consistently that way and I'm 57. I will say that I only takes shots inside of 30 but its nice to know I could go that far.

Chuck

 

[jsasker007]

Stalking is my favorite way to hunt but it's the hardest way to hunt that I've tried. That might be tough with a crossbow. Gonna try it and find out. Maybe just stalk between spots to sit. Plenty of ambush sites throughout the property which makes deciding where to go more difficult. Half the time I get where I planned to sit and then start thinking about another spot and maybe I should be there instead. I'm so out of shape right now I'll probably end up not too far from the house. lol