Well I am going to look for a year end sale on the new 26" barrel Optima Stainless over a black thumb hole stock.
I gave it some thinking to retire the T/C thunderhawk that has served me well over the years.I will leave it for this season late M/L here in N.Y.S.
I also gave it a lot of thinking it may be time to retire from bow hunting:I am now 65 and the joint pain is getting to me on cold days in the woods and trying to draw the bow back.I will say the last 40 plus years bow hunting has been good to me yep lost a few and missed a few on average a deer evey 2 to 3 years. I was up this past week bow hunting and missed 2 does one at 30 yards shaft went under the belly line.I had another doe at 23 yards used my 30 yard pin and went over her back.I then connected with a buck but the shot was 26 yards a little high just over the center lung area and a tad low of the spine.I tracked it for some 4 hours after the shot came up empty.I would think he will make it :I think they call that area a no mans land hit no vitals

You'll be happy with the Optima. I have one ordered myself.

What is the difference between the pro model and the standard Optima? The one I looked at yesterday was not fluted. Is that a standard? Also it was not a thumbhole model. If you find some cheap ones... let me know where they are.

Bow hunting and me are over also. Do to damage to the shoulders, I can draw the bow still but the pain is just terrible. I even tuned the bow down. I almost have to aim high in the air, then pull down on it past the break point... It just is not as fun as it used to be. I have a great nephew that loves to hunt and is poor as a church mouse... I might give him my fancy compound bow. He'd appreciate it I know.

My shoulder won't let me pull a bow either. Too bad too. Our archery elk season is a month long, and during the rut.

lonewolf5348
most states have provision for cross bow either with the archery or with a handicap license. I had similar problems the doctor took one X Ray and signed the application for a crossbow permit. I have been hunting for 15 years with one just got a Buck a couple of weeks a go. Its getting a bit harder to put up tree stands by myself now that I am pushing 75 but still going on.

https://www.bpishopping.com/cva/rifl...thumbhole.html
Dave: was looking at this one
I not shure if they all optima comes with fluted barrels with thumb hole stocks
Let see if Frontier Gander can help on the subject

That's a thought. He could get a handicap permit in NYS, and I could too in Co.

I'll have to think about that. I already have a permit that lets me use a scope in ML season.

What sort of range does a crossbow have for elk?

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shoot...3Bcat104533380
dave: the above has a fluted barrel seem you are RIGHT
now which one would be better choice?

the new model is the better choice! www.rrarms.com has some excellent prices on these. Be aware though that once CVA and all other companies sell out of the black thumbhole stock optimas, there wont be any more. They've discontinued the black thumbhole model.

so are you saying the fluted barrel are the better choice?