Let me start by saying that I am not trying to start a war and I am not looking down upon anyone who uses a cross bow. What I want is to be educated by others on the use of this weapon.

In michigan you can use a cross bow during the rifle season orif you are physically disabled. Now, I can see the point of using one if you are physically limited, but why use a cross bow when you can use a rile?? also i know that in other states it is legal to use a cross bow during the archery season. To me the point of using a bow is the challenge. I like having to have the animal with 30 yards. With a cross bow (and correct me if i'm wrong) but the effective range is 50 or so yards. It takes the challenge out.

for those of you that use a cross bow instead of a compound or traditional bow...why do you do it?

I started this year because of a shoulder injury. I bought an entry level Horton Summit 150. I was surprised that the accuracy is still very much dependant on my ability. The speed of my arrow is 260 fps on a good day, much slower than a good compound. I have shot accuratly to 40 yards at targets but hold to no more than 30 with the Horton as the arrow is slow and the bow is loud even after my attemps to silence it (which probably cost me a few FPS). I hunt from a ground blind or from a stool in the brush fully camoed. I shot my first 7 pointer this year at less than 20 yards standing on my hind legs as I still hunted to my ground stand. I was like most and thought that a crossbow gave me some magical advantage. I see two small advantages, one, learning curve, very short even for gun novices (you still need woods craft to hunt), two, not having to draw with an animal in view, minimal as the chance to recock for a second shot is about nil. I hope this helps with your thoughts about challenge. I am saddened to hear so many myths when I try to explain to my hunting buds that I enjoy this way of hunting, they act like I am using a lightning bolt stolen from the Gods, but after a few minutes they realize it is no better or worse than any other way to harvest fair chase game.

A modern vertical bow and the average crossbow have essentially the same range and speed. Surprised? It's true.
While one can hold a crossbow steadier because of the stock (although some vertical bows have 99% letoff so can be held back for a long time) estimating distance accurately is critical to accuracy with all bows; 50 yard hits are an exception, not the norm. Deer can easily move before the arrow gets there. Crossbows are much noisier when shot and when cocked so you generally get just one shot. Period. If you want a real challenge, hunt with a crossbow during gun season. If you want to shoot deer hunt with a rifle.

Its 100% ignorance by the vertical bow guys IMHO. I am at presently hunting with a vertical bow a Hoyt trykon a very good bow I must say. But as soon as this season is over here in NJ I am selling it for a Bowtech Desert Stryker Crossbow. Why, Because it seems fun to me and has that cool factor to it. Now I did have shoulder surgery 3 years ago and has healed good but not as moble in my shoulder as I used to be but still plenty good enough to hunt with a vertical bow IF I wanted to. I am choosing NOT to next year. I will have more fun with it than my old hoyt trykon and will gain in my total experience with it. I do feel there is one advantage to it the crossbow as you don't have to draw on an animaland the learning curve is short compaired to the verticalbows. I HUNTED with a darton maverick at55yards and was deadly. I was good back then and yes that was before my shoulder surgery.

The crossbow and the modern vertical bows are the same in performance. ITs true. The only advantage is not drawing on an animal ( that is it). For me I think it will be a more fun weapon to hunt with,and it for me,has that WAY COOL factor.

I can't wait to sell my Hoyt trykon and get a crossbow. See I am converting over and I don't even NEED to. No handicap or anything. I am doing it cause I want to. And I can't wait to do it.


This same conversation could be said of the compound bow. Why would you use one when a real bow is a LONG BOW. All those wheels and pulley things and such makes it not a REAL bow to me. Oh also that let off stuff why that is not a real bow either. So the compound bow went through this transition from the long bow. Performance and ease of use. YEs I said ease of use with that let off you don't have to hold the full weight of the bow string. Also increased range over the long bow. See its the same thing that the ignorant vertical bowers are saying too mostly about us crossbowers. Hey I am not even a crossbower yet but I never had a problem with them ever. Maybe just jealous because till next season in NJ I will finally be able to use one legally. Thank GOD.

Stay tuned crossbows will be coming to the woods near you. LOL

oh just a quick note the farthest I have ever taken a deer is at 35 yards. just to clarify.

Brian

Well, what is funny to me is that this same question is posed over and over on this and other forums. The poster always starts with a disclaimer that he is not trying to start an argument. As the previous poster stated, I could easily go on the bowhunting forum and get everyone riled up with a dumb statement asking why they feel the need to use a compound.

The problem with the question is that it starts with the premise that the x-bow user needs to justify his use of the weapon. I don't feel the need to justify my use of the x-bow. I like to use one and it is legal where I hunt. To me, this debate is akin to a stupid debate over calibers, models, manufacturers, etc.

Let me also add one more thing before I get off my soapbox. From astrict herd management point of view, there is no"point" in using any weapon other than a modern high-powered rifle. We are fortunate our game departments allow more primitive weapons. You can manage a deer herd more effectively, witha shorter season,and with fewer hunters using modern rifles.

So, there is no point to using any kind ofbow other than to challenge yourself or try something different. This is why the question is dumb.

After 52 years of shooting selfbows, longbows and compounds, foolishly shooting extreme draw weights up to 125 pounds for many of those years, my shoulders don't work properly any more. Rather than give up archery entirely, crossbows let me continue to shoot arrows. I would be lying through my teeth if I said I don't miss strolling through the woods with a sleek longbow in my hands, because I do miss it - terribly - but shooting a crossbow is better than not shooting at all.

This get's a lot of mention on the forums, most often by people who have never sat in a stand for a few hours w/ an 8 -11 lb xbow. Not their fault, it's a logical assumption, but the fact of the matter is raising the relatively speaking cumbersome beasts to shooting position entails plenty of movement. Some hang them on hooks, some rest the stirrup on the foot platform, few hold them for hours on end.

Some stands have rails around them that offer the possibility of shooting from a rest. Getting an often hollow composite stock to rest or slide on a metal tube steel rail is a lot like playing the drums while trying to be quiet, lol.

I stick to 30 yds on deer and prefer 30 feet. I use mine during gun season and for turkey because I like the challenge of hunting w/ a centuries old weapon.

Right on aweshucks
I held my relatively light Cyclone at the ready for a clocked 20 minutes while a suspicious doe worked back toward me. My arms were so tired by the time she got into shooting position that they were trembling. So, I missed her at some 17 yards. I just laugh about 'easy to hold' comments now.

AWshucks, I never thought of holding all that weight and a cumbersome beast that it is and to move it into shooting position to get off a shot still involves a lot of movement.

I now change my opinion there are no advantages IMHO thanks Awshucks for pointing this out to me.

Great reply

Thanks for that info.

I hope to be getting the desert stryker this winter to play with and become proficient with.

Brian