I'm in my second year of crossbow hunting, we just had a split season for all hunters to use crossbows in Maryland added recently, and I thought I'd get one just for another way to hunt. They are not easier to hunt with than a normal bow. You trade off noise for ease of aiming and pulling a trigger like a gun, and have the luxury of a scope. Your effective yardage is really still 40 yds, if your comfortable shooting at that distance. If I couldnt shoot a regular bow I would definately go to the x bow, and I will hunt with mine every season. It is another way to enjoy the sport, but stalking can be a tad tedious, with its weight and size.