Thanks Jason. First Rockhill welcome to our playhouse. You're going to get addicted, I hope.
The Vixen is the "entry" crossbow and is rated at 285 ft/sec. It has taken animals as big as moose. I have one as well as an old Exocet. You'll not need more unless you want to buy some insurance for breaking big bones or compensating for poor distance judgement. Under normal circumstances you will get nothing but pass-throughs. My two bows are pretty close to each other in power but I have not taken anything with my Vixen as of yet. The last arrow that took a deer went behind the ribs and out the other side through a ribs.
All the other bows have a longer stroke, more power, more speed, are harder to cock(but not really a problem with a rope cocker), more expensive and spend all the extra umph into the ground. All the other bows are impractical for 3D contests but are supremely accurate.
Check out the Excal website to help you pick a bow. I just gave a Vixen to a friend for his wedding present (LOL!!) and I know he got the perfect bow for deer or moose.
After having said that if I had to do it over again I might buy a Pheonix. But maybe not. My choice would be that close.