Well, I'd agree with most on here, but I prefer the compound. I've never shot a x-bow and I just started bow hunting two years ago with a compound. I don't really think using a x-bow is cheating as long as it's legal, but here in OK you can't use one unless you are disabled in some way. I just don't think you'd get as much satisfaction out of a x-bow as with a compound or traditional bow, but I guess it's up to the individual. It's better then not hunting at all, so if it's legal, by all means do what you want.