I think it is an abject shame that crossbows are not allowed in many states' bowhunting seasons.

My father is limited to crossbow use for his archery hunting because of rheumatory arthritis. One of his younger brothers had poleo as an infant, which caused the loss of a muscle group in his right shoulder. As a result he also took up the crossbow about 14 years ago when he could no longer pull the legal minimum required for a compound of appropriate let-off.

Dad came out to bowhunt elk with us about 10 years ago. Montana (where I live) does not allow crossbows during archery season, so we hunted in Idaho just over the border. Had a great time.

The average crossbow that a guy can handily carry in the woods doesn't have the pennetrative value that an average arrow from acompound has at the same ranges. Using a crossbow on larger game such as elk or moose requires good shot placement at close range, which is no different than the majority of your compound bows. I have seen pennetration testing scenarios which prove this. Now, if you wheel a balista out into the woods, yeah you probably have some advantage, but otherwise a crossbow bolt is subject to the same deficiencies/attributes of thier constructthat any other arrow launched from another platform may have. Just because a crossbow looks like a gun doesn't mean they perform like one, and they basically don't.

Now, if you are fat, lazy and your butt is glued to a 4-wheeler most of the time because you are too lacidaisical to get yourself into shape to draw that bow, and you get some doctor to give you an excuse to use a crossbow during archery season, good for you! You're the one who determines what ends justify the means with regard to your hunting experience. Who's to say otherwise?