I hunt with both.

My Horton crossbow shoots at 260 fps, my compound bow shoots at 280 fps. My crossbow costs around $300, and my compound was about $450. My compound out performs my crossbow in just about every field, other than the amount of movement it takes to get ready for a shot. Like anything else, you get what you pay for.

Top end crossbows will out perform top end compounds, but if you buy mid range (affordable)... It's about the same.

It is a lot harder to drag a crossbow through thick woods or on long walks because they are generally heavier and much more bulky. I'll also say that compound bows give you many more options than crossbows as far as setting it up the way you like.

I think hunting with a crossbow is great fun, and a huge rush. It's not the same as hunting with a compound, but it's similar. To me, hunting with a modern crossbow is just as traditional as hunting with a compound bow. I mean, the crossbow has been around for hundreds of years.