hoyt3

x bows. yes, they exhibit different responses from different people. I for one am not a fan of them except for disabled hunters and the like. But I had just read the editors stump in Peterson's Bowhunting World by Jay Strangis, and he brought up an interesting point. altho Pope and Young along with many other hunters do not consider this to be a bow in the traditional sense (the compound isn't in some minds), he made mention of it as a recruiting tool for young hunters to cut their teeth on archery and move up to a compound or traditional equipment. An interesting take on it. I suppose it would be almost like a compound user taking up traditional equipment after using his compound. a ladder to sucess of sorts. first x bow, then compound then traditional equipment. never really saw them in that sort of light. food for thought.

PABowhntr

I agree that it is food for thought but don't necessarily if I buy that natural progression from one weapon to the other. On the other side of the coin I could see folks starting with a crossbow and not wanting to progress to a compound or recurve because of the increased effort needed to perfect the use of the weapon.

Finch

Ive never shot a crossbow and dont care to. I think they are pretty cool but I like my compound and the effort that goes into it to perfect it. Crossbows were illegal when I first started bowhunting so maybe thats why I dont care to shoot one. I just got my Hoyt last summer and people now say that I should have waited to get a x bow but I tell them Im happy w/ what I have. Im not degrading x bow hunters here just stating my preference.

FL/GA Hunter

Well, as somebody who needs to break into bowhunting this year, and waited too late for it, it actually is a natural progression - I want to hunt this year, but don't have the time necessary to buy, tune, sight in, and perfect my technique with a standard compound. A crossbow will let me hunt this year, and starting in January I can really shop around and get a good fit, then practice all summer.

But yeah, I've always been with you guys that a crossbow is cheating. Guess I just need that for a season.

davidmil

WRONG kind of toy for a kid to "Cut his teeth on". First off, I think they're really more dangerous than a bow. Secondly, you're starting them off lazy. A kid doesn't care if he nails a bullseye everytime he shoots. He just wants to make believe he's Robin Hood or Sitting Bull or something like that. He wants arrows down range, something he can feel and control. Something where he can have an occasional good shot and get excited about. The type of weapon isn't what limits the number of kids getting involved, it's having an adult who will help them and encourage them. You teach them to shoot a crossbow, that's what they'll use.

kevin1

More opportunity always trumps less , and you don't have to use one if you don't want to .

I own twocrossbows and love them . They also gave my grandkids motivation to try archery , along with a 10# compound that one of their friends has , and now all three have their own stickbows . My eldest grandson shoots a 20# recurve and wants a more powerful one this xmas . All of them also enjoy shooting my crossbows , though they complain about the weight . They've been dropping hints about wanting kid sized crossbows of their own too , but I told them that I wouldn'tspend themoney on anything less than a legal poundage one so that they can hunt with it later . Thank goodness they've never seen an Excalibur !

FL/GA Hunter, they aren't as easy as they look , and the compound models require nearly all of the same tuning that a compound bow does . Get a good crossbow rated scope or sight for it and practice , practice , practice . No matter how well you dial one in it always pays to practice . They aren't wonder weapons .