After my experiences last year, I'm always amused by the number of posts from folks who are extremely biased against the use of crossbows. They list all of the advantages a crossbow shooter has over a compound shooter. I can tell by reading many of their posts that their opinions are not based on fact or experience.

I had shoulder surgery on October 18th, 2007, and one week later, I bought a Tenpoint Pro-Slider crossbow. What I learned from hunting with it is that it is NOT easier to kill a deer with a crossbow.

1. The thing seems to weigh a ton.
2. If you hang it on a bow hanger, you need A LOT of advance notice that a deer is coming. Getting that big,
heavy crossbow off the hanger is a LOT of movement. The profile of a crossbow is a lot bigger than a
compound. It's also very easy to make noise trying to move it around.
3. If you decide to sit and hold it, prepare yourself for a very uncomfortable sit.
4. Even with a scope ona crossbow, compound bows, at least for me and everyone I've shot beside at the
range, are much more accurate.
5. The accurate range of a compound is considerably longer than that of a crossbow.
6. Follow-up shots are virtually impossible with a crossbow. Even if you can get it re-cocked and re-loaded,
the sound of the first shot is going to scare the crap out of anything within ear shot.

As soon as I could shoot my Drenalin again, I soldthe crossbow to my brother (who was going to buy one anyway) and I am much more confident in my ability to kill a deer now than I was using the crossbow. I have no problem allowing crossbows during bow season becauseI honestly feel that I have a bigger advantage over a deer with my compound bow than a crossbow shooter has.