Actually Rack I view my crossbow as a stepping stone . I could afford the $130 it cost at the time , but my budget wouldn' t allow for a good quality bow . I know there are inexpensive bows , but I hunt with the best equipment that I can afford like anyone else . If I like " archery hunting" as much as I think I will , I' ll certainly start looking for a " real" bow . Crossbows require many of the same skills , and in their own way are just as challeging according to people I consulted who own both . I could have bought the more expensive " real" bow first , but what if I didn' t like it ? Then I would have wasted money I could have spent elsewhere . I happen to love shooting my crossbow , even if it' s only at targets , and up until now I couldn' t hunt with it because I' m not disabled .