Good news and bad news
 

In Iowa we have a disability crossbow permit. You have to be judged disabled by your doctor to get a temp (4 month) or permanant Xbow permit to hunt deer and turkey. Went to see my doctor after 7 monthswith an orthopedic surgeon (gave me a temp permitlast deer season,because I will be ok some day)and 6 months of physical therapy. Seems I have flat lined as far as improvement of my shoulder goes (busted up bad in a MC accident last May). So the good news is I now have a permanant Xbow permit, the bad news is, I now have a permanant Xbow permit. Tough to think I'll never be without this ache in my shoulder but at least I can still enjoy hunting with the feathered shaft. Any one else dealing with a Xbow reason like this? Please do not get me wrong, I love hunting with the horizontal bow, just wish it was without the pain.

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In 2005 I had both shoulders rebuilt and back surgery, all within a 10 month period. Now I have 5vertabrae that are fused andbolted together and soft tissue permanently replaced bone in my shoulders. It's amazingwhat I can do and what I can'tdo. I can do 40 to 50 push-ups in a set, but I can't draw a bow without pain.Socoincidently with PA's new archery rules this year,I decided to buy a cross-bow. Can't wait to hunt with it.

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Wow, makes me feel like a whiner. I too have a soft tissue rebuild for a shoulder socket as well as a couple of screws and wire holding the whole rig in place and the face of the ball on, kind of a Humpty Dumpty assembly. Believe me when I say you will enjoy the use of the crossbow. Your bow hunting techniques will not change only the position of your bow. You may even get better as your bow may fire with more noise meaning you will have to be a little closer so as to avoid string jump. Thanks for the post and enjoy the xbow experience.

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Feel for you, two back surgs. and a shoulder myself. Now the left one is acting up, may be a bone spur or torn RC (fall with latter stand) but hey, I'm going to be in this game as long as I can heft a bow of any kind...and a rifle, and a ML and some single shot pistols...... At 69 I figure the light at the end of the tunnel ain't that far off, enjoy every minute while I can.

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Amen to that Cossack!

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I thought I was going to have a tough time cocking the bow, but I bought a cocking string which gives you a 2:1 mechanical advantage, and it was a piece of cake!

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I too use a rope cocker, unable to do it without it.

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Actually the mechanical cocker is even easier....albeit slower. I've even seen where someone attached a cordless palm drill to one.

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Mecanical for my bow was $124, rope cocker $18, saving money for hunting trips, priceless!

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I have a x-bow , started because of a bicep tendon tore off (3 surgeries) and a bad shoulder so I got a permit (Wi.) it was for 5 years that has expired but in the meantime I became a senior and am allowed to use one. I have an accudraw to cock mine, works good a rope wouldn't do it. I feel a big advantage of a x-bow is the scope and range finder. They are deadly however not any better than a good compound.
In Wi. the largest percentage of new hunters are young girls (guns)and menarchery hunters over 65. I am sure that is because a x-bow allows us ol'guys to hunt in nice weather.
Redclub

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Agree with the "not any better than a good compound" I wish more peaple realized it is not like a rifle in it's ability to kill game. Hate to say it but this thread makes xbow archers sound like guys who have lived hard and are now all busted up:D. Well I may have a few dents in my body work, and a few tears in my leather, but I still love to be in the timber looking for the big ones of what ever critter I am chasing. Hope to be able to continue right up to the minute I meet my maker. Hope it's a surprise when I go, hopefully huntin.

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Redclub,
As an "ole guy" I hunt nearly every day (my wife calls it 'deer watching.') But I can only shoot one buck, regardless what I use. I passed on so many deer last year I gave some of them names. But I did put a couple in the freezer, ultimately, just because l really like venison. In fact I'm cooking some now: Chicken breast over dried/smoked venison shaved thin, in mushroom soup and sour cream. Chunk of crusty bread, glass of white bubbly, little salad and I'm a happy man.

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Can I get another amen!

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Amen Amen. Cossack, you got my mouth watering! I am blessed to live in Iowa, Shot an old 7 pointer with my xbow, a 10 pointer with my slug gun, with an assist on a nice 8 with a buddy, and 3 does with a 100 year old Swede 6.5x55 mauser. We are able to feed the hungry here in Iowa so I only kept 2 in steaks and chops with 44 lbs made into sticks, summer sausage, and ground. All in all a great year. Looking forward to popping a Turkey with my Horton from my ground blind.

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Yea I hunt everyday (during season) sure is nice to be retired, I have been hunting with a bow for 45 years (longer with a gun) This past season I got the largest buck I ever got with a bow and it was the day after Christmas, I have a ton of pictures of him when he was alive


Redclub

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Test


Redclub

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I need both shoulders and 1 knee replaced in the near future to compliment my kidney Transplant and colon cancer (I'm getting treatment and should be fine).
Still just glad to be here.
I will pray for you all,I feel your pain

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Saxman1, sounds like you could use a prayer or 2 youself, soone is heading to Gods ear from me in your behalf. Take care my woodsy brother.

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Please bear with me tring to post pictures
RC