I guess ole Swampdog is chuckling to himself at all the replies he started with his ignorant question. If he had any ounce of intelligence he would be able to comprehend the statement "this is not a crossbow debate forum" before he clicked on the Crossbow section of Huntingnet.com. I agree with others in this thread that I don't have to justify my preference of hunting with a crossbow to anybody. I've hunted with and owned all types of bows, pistols, shotguns & rifles in my lifetime. What I choose to use and why is up to me as long as it is legal. And in Virginia a crossbow is legal to use by anyone who buys a seperate crossbow license. I still buy the regular archery license too just in case I want to use a verticle bow. Hey Swampdog, I also prefer to drive a Dodge Dakota Quad cab 4X4 over an electric car but again, that is my perogative and I don't have to justify that to anybody either.