crossbows
 

What is a good crossbow to get? Georgia is going to make them legal for deer statewide. Thanks for your help.

RE: crossbows
 

horton

RE: crossbows
 

I also heard Georgia was making them legal.
What is the effective range of crossbows compared to compound bows?

RE: crossbows
 

well if your going try a crossbow get a Horton, or you can get a crossbow that is called Tenpoint and also PSE makes crossbows.
But Hortons would be a good bow to try.
Pork chop the range on a crossbow are close to compound bows that are out there. 25-30 yards. But like an othier bow you can make longer shots if you think you can. 35-40 yards.
Myself 10-20yards are the most rewarding.

RE: crossbows
 

I have a horton,like it.But they have a limit.X-bows drop off alot quicker then a compound and noisy.Oh they will go a long distance but loose there killing punch real quick.Mine drops 15 inches between 20 and 30 yards.I keep my shots to 25 yards.

RE: crossbows
 

GODZHUNTER7 - Just curious, do you shoot a compound or a longbow/recurve ? I aint trying to start anything, just a question.

RE: crossbows
 

Here in Ontario Canada crossbows have been legal as long as I can remember. Top bow choice here is the EXCALIBUR. Very fast,and has lots of punch. I've seen these things take down trophy moose. These bows vary from 150# draw weight to 185# draw weight!

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RE: crossbows
 

It looks like me and TBow were typing at the same time and in agreement. Great post TBow. And he's right about most of them being heavy.

I think PSE actually sells Horton and I think the xbows w/ the PSE name are manufactured by them also.
I am wondering the same as Stealthycat. Or are you disabled? I'm not so sure I know exactly where I stand on the issues with xbows but I will tell you this. I started into "archery" with a xbow and soon after realized how much I like practicing and how I love the "mystical flight of the arrow" :) and ended up trading in the bad ass Horton I had just invested in and will never look back. Bows are just more fun to shoot to me. Xbows are neet but IMO not very fun to take out and shoot 100 times or more. Not even 50 really.
I also never had much luck extending my range while target shooting (even with that kick butt scope) and I really love launching those long range missiles. I'm much happier with my compounds.
I also love tinkering with my setup to get the most out of it and there's not much you can do with a crossbow, really.
I agree with the other comments on range and agree that Horton and Tenpoint make nice stuff. The package deals aren't bad, I had the 175 lb Hunter Express and it was pretty wicked. Some other brands I can think of are Barnett, and Proline. There aren't a whole bunch really.
I hope this helps.


Edited by - chiefheadhunter on 02/15/2002 09:25:00

RE: crossbows
 

Why do you think they legalized x-bows? Was there a lot of pressure from hunters to legalize them?

RE: crossbows
 

wolfen I have a feeling it may be to get more people out there hunting to thin the herds in some states. I know here in Va. the herd is growing at an alarming rate. 30 years ago the most deer you could kill in the whole state was 3 and that was only in certain counties, now you can kill 2 a day and as long as you are willing to pay for bonus tags you could kill 2 every day the season is open. The season ran from 6 October (bow) and closed 5 January (gun).

The Tazman

RE: crossbows
 

Actually wolfen from everyone I am talking to and hearing from, the biggest outrage is from the archery community. Georgia isn't just legalizing xbows, they will be legal for anyone to use during archery season.

So far, I ahve not heard from any of the politicians that there was a large amount of hunters asking for the xbows, it was a decision they made pretty much on their own. I have talked on the phone with my local state rep, and he said the decision was made with input from the head of DNR only, not from the hunters.

Highlights on some other legislation for hunting changes in GA:
-increase bag limit to 10 anterless and 2 antlered or antlerless deer per year. If 2 antlered deer are taken, there is a 4 point on one side minimum for the 2nd.
-legalize baiting----there are 2 different versions of this bill, one in the senate, and one in the house. The house bill legalizes it only in certain zones, the senate bill legalizes it statewide with a $25 feeder registration fee per feeder.
-Open the season 1 week earlier.

RE: crossbows
 

Guys, I have been going over all this crossbow debate thing on another forum, and theres a lot of people who got theit facts wrong.

#1 - crossbows are not any more accurate nor can they shoot farther than a compound ( I personally think they are less effective)

#2 - Crossbows ARE archery equipement, defined as

Archery - 1 : the art, practice, or skill of shooting with bow and arrow
2 : an archer's weapons

Bow - 2 : a weapon that is made of a strip of flexible material (as wood) with a cord connecting the two ends and holding the strip bent and that is used to propel an arrow

They have been around a thousand years, compounds only 60 years.

#3 - Its a game management issue. Is it ? Gun hunters kill the bulk of your states deer. If theres a deer problem, increase gun season by two weeks or increase the bag limit. Adding another weapon is not a game managemet tool, is it ?

Crossbows are fine for legitimate handicap people or in any season but archery. The people that use them in general are trying to circumvent having to practice and learning their equipment. They was to pick the bow up on Monday and go hunting on Saturday. I know this for fact, as I live in Arkansas where crossbows are legal in archery season. Its not about killing more deer or keeping a long archery season (those are selfish reasons), its about preserving the integrity of the sport of bowhunting. You know, paying your dues, praciticing all summer, learning your equipment and how to master is etc. Archery is NOT suppose to be easy - but crossbows make it so. Archery's image is damaged because of them being legal in archery season, and thats me greatest problem with them.

RE: crossbows
 

Taz...that's amazing! I can't imagine after one season with such liberal regulations that there would be any deer left in your area! Must be gobs of deer running around!

RE: crossbows
 

Taz...that's amazing! I can't imagine after one season with such liberal regulations that there would be any deer left in your area! Must be gobs of deer running around!

I tend to agree with Stealthy though that increasing gun season (God forbid I said that)would be a more effective management tool than adding another weapon to the mix.

RE: crossbows
 

I guess I'd rather see a guy out there with a crossbow in his hand after 2 days of practice shooting the eyes out of a blue spot,....then a guy with a compound who practices a few weeks and still isn't competent. By the way,...it seems that competence is in the eye of the beholder!

I don't get your statement Stealthcat: &quot;Archery's image is damaged because of them being legal in archery season, and thats me greatest problem with them.&quot;.....&quot;and thats me greatest problem?&quot; I didn't know you were Irish me lad! <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> I moved here from Ohio 4 years ago and Xbow was legal there. I rib my cousin about hunting with the Xbow but I really REALLY would prefer to see him with that crossbow!! For sure he needs to practice more,...but like allot of guys he isn't/wasn't where I personally thought he should be with a compound.

Am I the only guy on here that seems to know many many more bowhunters who don't practice much. Am I the only one who hears about the wounded deer. I hear of 5 wounded deer for every one I hear about that is harvested!! I know these guys practice routines also. Yep they get out the bow a month or less before opening day and shoot a few days and they are ready to go!! They are the ones that give us a bad rep!! I wish all these YAHOO's could crossbow hunt,...but even if it was legal they probably wouldn't!!! They must find it a frickin challenge seeing how many deer they can wound!! MAN ITS A SORE SPOT WITH ME!!!!!!!!!! DAMNNNNNNNNNN. I'd like to give'em a <img src=icon_smile_blackeye.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_angry.gif border=0 align=middle>

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Stealthycat has this one figured out I'd say. I said in my post that I wasn't really sure where I stood. You guys for really help me understand where I stand on this issue. It's really the same place I stood before but now I understand how I feel about it a little better.

RE: crossbows
 

TWANG - No, I don't see the same things you do. I do see compound hunters who don't try hard enough to master their equipment, another topic perhaps ? My argument is this - some compound hunters are lazy and don't try to learn the art of shooting a bow and they don't learn the art of mastering their equipment - you're going to have that in ANY sport. Their numbers are not high. I say this because shooing a compound isn't easy, learning what arrows to use, where to puit your nocking point, how to use a release, how to set up your pins - all that stuff is NOT encouraging to someone who doesn't want to put the time into learning it.

Enter the crossbow as being a legal weapon in archery season. BAM ! You get an easy to use, easy to scope, easy to master weapon that takes a very minimal ammount of time to tune and your ready to go deer hunting. Folks, that can't EVER be a good thing, can it ? Perhaps for handicap persons, but thats about it.

My experience has been just that - people buying crossbows because they simply don't want to spend the time to master a compound, and wouldn't archery hunt at all if it were'nt for crossbows. I aint selfish about wanting to have the deer al to myself, but I do expect people to know what they're doing, and crossbows invite just the opposite from what I have seen.

RE: crossbows
 

Twang: I have seen way to many compounders not take the time to be proficient with there bow. I use both compound and crossbow and practice lots of hours with both. I do feel that alot more wounding of deer and non harvest ocurrs with compounders. Simply because they do not practice enough or take ill advised shots!!!!

Stealtycat: By stating that crossbow users gives archery a bad name is pretty self centered by you. This xbow topic has been covered and debated millions of times, but the real thing that gives archery a bad name is the un ethical people who wound deer and never harvest the animal. THOSE ARE THE FOLKS WHO GIVE THIS SPORT A BAD NAME!!!!!

RE: crossbows
 

buckforme - Yeah, well I'll stick by what I say because I know it to be true. Most (because there are always exceptions) crossbow hunters are using them because they are easy to use. Is that not true ? Gun hunters use guns because they're easier than compounds, compounds easier than longbows etc etc. I hunted with crossbows, I know what they are and what they can do. I also hunted with a compound, and I know quite a bit about them as well. I shot them well too. I also live in Arkansas and we've had crossbows for what, 16-18 years ? I know the people that use them, they are shortcutting learning archery to capitalize on a longer season. While this has had minimal effects on deer harvest, no effect on making the woods more dangerous and no effect on the length of the archery season, I do see the types of people who generally use crossbows.

buckforme - You can argue all you want, but that doesn't make it less true that people use crossbows because they're easy. People use compounds because they're easier than longbows/recurves too. Thing is, longbows/recurves and compounds require practice and knowledge of the weapons to at least some extent (exceptions apply). Not so with crossbows - anybody can use them with a few minutes practice. And its been my experience that the vast majority of those using crossbows do not practice with them because they don't want to - thus they use a crossbow and not a compound, recurve/longbow, and that type of person does not personify what Archery is all about.

Maybe I am glorifying archery more than I should. Perhaps I am putting archery higher than it belongs now days.

RE: crossbows
 

double post

Edited by - stealthycat on 02/15/2002 15:08:41

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RE: crossbows
 

Don't go spending your money yet. The Georgia crossbow bill died in committee.

RE: crossbows
 

I agree, i do not like the &quot;hunter against hunter&quot; scenerio that always plays out in this compound versus crossbow and who is an archer and who is not. I have stated many times before, i believe its the acutal hunt and the prep work before hand that is the &quot;essense&quot; of bow hunting, not the actual bow used. The compound is easier to use then the long bow and the crossbow is easier to use then the compound......yeah yeah yeah....but if you cant shoot ethically either one because you dont practice or take the time to &quot;be in the right spot&quot;, it does not matter what bow you use. IMO: Crossbows dont give archery a bad name, people give archery a bad name. Just like guns dont kill people, people kill people!!!

The outdoors is yours, treat it with RESPECT!!!

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&quot; : Crossbows dont give archery a bad name, people give archery a bad name&quot;

I'll agree with that. My argument against crossbows is not based on weaponry used (because truth is, a compound is more accurate and can shoot farther), it not based on success rates (I don't know that crossbow shooters kill rate is higher, does anyone else ?)and its not about loss of season or overcrowding (something we haven't really noticed much in Arkansas)

My argument is based on archery ethics and image. What I mean there is, if you have a weapon that is easy to use you are going to have people using them who are irresponsible. Thats why many of us bowhunted to begin with , to get away from all the crazy gun crowds, or its at least an added benefit, right ? Look at the added numbers of hunters in archery season now in the states that allow crossbows in archery season. I aint being greedy, I am saying those hunters are there, using a weapon that is so easy to use they can literally take it out of the closet and in three shots be ready to deer hunt. Is that REALLY the image of Archery that we want ? Archery is NOT SUPPOSE TO BE EASY, and that isn't confined to kill success rates. It includes practice, dicipline, learning about the sport and everything it encompasses.

A point I have been trying to make that everyine overlooks - If its all about range limit, or success rates and not at all about weapon type, than nobody should have any problems putting iron sighted 4 inch barreled handguns in archery season, should they ? Most people aint going to be accurate past 30-40 yards tops - about that of compounds and crossbows. What do ya'll say about that ?

RE: crossbows
 

I dont have a bow right now. My wife and I only gun hunt. Last year we were going to get some compound bows but the finances just werent there, so it got scrapped. Looks like that turned out to be a blessing considering they will now legalize xbows. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

RE: crossbows
 

GODZHUNTER7 - If they do, then you have every right to hunt with them legally. But aren't you saying you'd rather spend your time and money for crossbows that are very easy to use and which are every bit as efficient than to learn to master a compound ort recurve/longbow ? Maybe I am missing something, but its my opinion that that is the quality that should seperate crossbows from compounds, recurves and longbows.

My apologies though to you for taking this topic off the original intent. My response to your thread question - Go with an Excalibur if you are going to go with a crossbow. They are the cream, but they do cost a bit more.

RE: crossbows
 

I have to disagree with a few replies above. First of all I shoot a 10-point Stealth X-2 crossbow. &quot;This is the cream of the crop&quot;!!!
If you ever get a chance to shoot them and try and compare them, you will see the differences. I'm not trying to knock the other brands too much, but they really just are not in the same legue with 10-point. As for the reply about them dropping off faster, that's not a correct statement. I shoot 175lbs, with a 410 grain 20&quot; Goldtip Lazer 2 bolt at just over 320 fps. This drives this bolt at over 90 lbs of kenetic energy. I think you would be really hard pressed to find a compound that can stack up to those numbers. My SQ2 can only launch an IBO weighted arrow at 305 fps. The fastest bows are somewhere around 320fps with a much lighter arrow.

RE: crossbows
 

bmurray, it really is refreshing to find a crossbow user that acknowledges his weapon's performance. Most crossbow folks I've debated with over the years do their darnedest to portray them as not much more than parlor toys.

Of course, some crossbows aren't much more than parlor toys. My Barnett Wildcat for instance. What a waste of beer money that was! <img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>

I bought it because crossbows are legal in Texas for all general weapons seasons and I intended to hunt with it. Got flat ripped off. Price seems to reflect quality in crossbows to a FAR greater extent than it does in bows.

If I were in the market for a crossbow, I'd budget a minimum of $400 look at both 10 Point and Excalibur.