Just for my own curiosity , have you ever owned a crossbow Jason ? Ever fired one more than once ? Ever sight one in ? If not then I'll say that you probably have no fair base for comparison . If so , then you know what they can do in the hands of a hunter who has "done the work".
No, and I don't think I ever will unless I become disabled and can't draw a bow.
Yes, my uncle owns one....doesn't hunt with it, but plays around and shoots it.
No, I have no experience sighting in a crossbow....what difference does that make?
I won't deny that a crossbow is easier to master than a compound bow , so who says that a tool must be difficult to master to be proficient ? Personally , I prefer knowing that a fellow hunter is in the woods with a tool that they can humanely kill with . Equipped with the same type of scope , red dot sight , or even electronic range finder that you can now put on most compounds will only help ensure that the crossbow hunter will have little excuse for missing except lack of practice.
My main point isn't that the tool be difficult to use....more along these lines: If anyone can pick up a crossbow and become proficient enough to hunt with it in a matter of minutes then what's stopping them from doing it? Most everyone I know and on these boards and others use a peep and pin sights, not scopes and not red dot sights! If crossbows are legallized they(I know states do this now with archery) need to make a bowhunting education course mandatory to get your archery license. Frankly, all states should be doing this now, IMO!
i have to laugh at the comparisons some make. it shows they really do not know anything about a crossbow.crossbow distance is a great deal shorter than a compound.the arrows are smaller therefore lose their energy faster.it is no morer accurate than a compound.when they say it is easier to use i laugh again. how many of you can pull back and hold 200lbs?if being honest it would be none.they are heavier,more cumbersome, and have less distance.crossbows do not have any where all the bells and whistles that a compound does.compounders put everything they can on their bows to hepl them shoot better.there is very little you can put on a crossbow.where is this accuracy that compounders talk about?i have heard compounders say the cb has a trigger.what does the compounders have that they use to release the arrow>there are no advantages of one over the other.if honestly speaking it is the compounders that have all the advantages.then the question,"then why don you use a compound?"that is like saying why doesn't everyone use the same brand.it is a mute argument but the only one compounders can use or have
Crossbow distance? Do you mean max hunting distance? I'll agree with you there! Less energy....I'm with you on that too. Accuracy....I have to agree there too! Easier to use? Oh, so now you're holding 200 pounds? Using your legs or a cranking device that isn't all that much weight to pull! Bells and whistles? Let's break down what most guys have on a bow vs. crossbow.....sights-both, quiver-both, rest-both(crossbows rail compared to a compound rest I think is fair), stabilizer goes to the bow, but crossbows are stabilized differently because of the rifle shooting style, trigger release is very much the same.