Welcome to the forum !! I, too, am from Illinois and am over 62 years old. I learned a lot from the forum and suggest you pay attention to these guys before you buy a crossbow. I used a crossbow for the first time last season (Excalibur Vortex) and took 4 deer with it. I have to say I love the Vortex. Good luck as you venture into the world of crossbow hunting.