SapperLohr ,
just try one for backyard plinking for awhile , that's actually why I bought my first one . I wasn't even aware at the time that I could legally use one to hunt since I wasn't disabled other than mentally . Imagine my surprise when I found out that DNR would allow it during our Late Archery season , and all I needed was a standard archery license for deer(we don't have a dedicated crossbow license like some states) . I bought one with more than enough poundage to exceed our minimum , and began shooting at a foam square target in the backyard . Crossbows require practice too , and I wanted to be sure that I would be ready by the following year .

Being used to guns , and more than a little intimidated by regular archery , I found it to be a smooth transition . The red dot sight it came with was better for me than the sights , so I stuck with that . Sighting a red dot isn't like sighting a scope so much as it resembles tuning pin sights like you're familiar with . I eventually got it tuned to the point that I could hit dead center on a 2" target at 20 yards , and cut the same hole at 30 by holding 8-10" high . The drop between the two is that steep , and that's at 235 FPS with a 20" Easton xx75 shaft and 100 grain Thunderhead broadhead . Shots at 40 yards were a bit too shaky for my taste , so I set 30 as my max comfort point . Bear in mind that I don't own a compound type crossbow , this one is a straight prod type .

When I first found out that I could use it to hunt I eagerly anticipated extending my season for the first time , and with a weapon that I really felt comfortable with . I didn't practice traditional archery then , I'd never even shot a bow since I was a kid back in the sixties . I felt confident from my practice and testing it's limits that I could cleanly take the does that I would be allowed to shoot(Bucks aren't allowed yet , still aren't) , and I looked forward to it . The ugly response to this harmless tool from the bow hunting community in general caught me by surprise , but I overlooked them and went hunting anyway . To say that it was magical would be an understatement , I'd never hunted deer in December before .

The biggest single reason that I now own and shoot a 50# recurve that I love was from shooting that crossbow , I'd never had any interest in archery before that . I soon wheedled a 40# recurve out of my cousin and began shooting , a 3-D soon followed to add realism . Of course I soon found the need for an armguard [] and shooting glove , and you just can't shoot with a noisy bow so you try those string leech things you heard about on a website . Wow ! They have Limb Savers for crossbows too ! Is this beginning to sound familiar by any chance ? [8D]

Sorry to be so windy , but judge one for yourself , don't let anybody steer you from what could be something you might like . Plink with it , take it out to the woods when the seasons are over and see how it feels to carry a bow that weighs like a gun afield . You can get a plinking grade model nearly all year long from Sportsman's Guide , most are around $100 and come with what you'll need to get started shooting except a target . They also carry much nicer ones around hunting time , but get a cheap one to play with .

They're not nearly as quiet , powerful , or as easy as you may have been lead to think , ask Cardeer . They're heavy compared to a bow , have severe bolt drop , they're loud no matter what you do , and if you're string isn't centered when you draw you won't hit much but sky . You've probably drawn a 70# compound , now double that and be prepared to use your feet , you'll need them . Most states have a 125# minimum , and I have yet to find a 125# crossbow , so plan on a 150# + model . Never forget to wax the track about every other shot , a snapped string on a 150# crossbow can leave permanent scars . Crossbows have a tendency to bury bolts at short range , and most bolts are plastic fletched , hope your fletching skills are current ... []

I think you get the idea SapperLohr , try one out if you really want to do those hunts you spoke of , I think you'll enjoy it .