I live in Ohio where it is legal to use crossbow the whole archery season. Like mentioned before, it is a touchy subject to some people but as long as it is legal i dont see any problem with them. I was never fortunate enough to have someone teach me to shoot a bow so i hunt with a crossbow. I have a compound but still a little " ify" on hunting with it right now. I dont want to wound an animal and have it limping around or die of some nasty infection later on. A cople of guys i know give me a little grief but all in fun about using a crossbow. Here in Ohio those things fly off the shelves more than people think. everwhere you look someone has got one.
You can shoot any broad head that you want out of a crossbow just like a compound. I shot 125GR. Sledge Hammers (mechanicals) last year and the only problem i had was bow is so fast i had to use 2 o-rings so they wouldnt open up in flight. This year i went back to fixed head and carbon arrows. I wouldnt be afraid to take a shot from the ground at 40 to 45 yards because i know my equipment and how it shoots. from the ground where i hunt is flat and obstruction free farm fields. In a stand i wouldn' t take any longer of a shot than you would with a compound.