Boilmaker I bought my 8 year old daughter a crossbow this summer because she isnt ready to hunt with her real bow, I had it dialed in after just 5 shots and she was proficient enough to use hunting this year with in a couple days.
(even though we continiue to practice)
I am very impressed with their accuracy, once it is sighted in (for adults) they are no different then rifles, slug guns and ML.'s. Just take it off the rack a few days prior to the season shoot a few shots to make sure it is still dialed in and go hunting. With that said I think the crossbow is a great weapon to teach young hunters with and think they should be legal for kids and disabled hunters only.
But with that said when I take my daughter out next weekend for the first day of bow season I dont consider it to be taking her BOW HUNTING but hunting with a small caliber firearm.
Also in your opinion why dont big bucks and PA. go hand in hand? Pike