Crossbow hunting

[Godsgunman]

I am wanting to expand my time hunting and being a firearms guy using a crossbow seems a pretty simple transition for use for archery season. For you who hunt with crossbow, which one would you recommend? I am looking for under $400. Thanks for your advise and would love to hear any stories you may have also.

 

[Patocazador]

I bought a Barnett package on sale after hunting season - $300 for a Wildcat 5, scope, sling, quiver, etc. It's heavy, awkward, and noisy when shot but it does the trick.

If my shoulders weren't screwed up, I'd toss it in the trash (or sell it to you) and use a compound or recurve.

 

[desidog]

It's been a while since i researched the market, so i can't contribute there; but i will say that when i got into crossbows i (ignorantly) thought that i would just reuse the same three bolts ad infinitum... Not so much. those bolts and broadheads are expensive...

 

[Captcurt]

Just saying.

I had a crossbow for about a month. It is akin to carrying a sawhorse thru the woods. People have it in their head that they shoot like a rifle. Sure, for the first 25-30 yards. Then the bolt drops off pretty quick and penetration is not that great because of the lite-weight bolt. If you pick your shots and keep them at a reasonable range a crossbow will work. I traded mine for a Marlin 39A and went back to my compound. I can shoot it as good as the crossbow.

 

[trapper1]

My wife shoots a Parker Enforcer. As do a few of my friends. All are happy with its performance, accuracy and light weight. If you shop around, you can get close to that $400 mark.

 

[illinoisburt]

Not as easy a transition as you might have hoped. Bowhunting is still a very different from any firearm hunting. The only advantage to a crossbow (and this is what gets bowhunters in a snit) is that most anyone can pick up a crossbow and hit a target at 25 yards without special practice since it aims like a gun. It does nothing to change the entire approach to bowhunting as a very short range stealth and camo affair.

Arrows cannot shoot through any leaves or twigs so you must have an absolutely clear shot. The arrows are slow enough that animals can and often do move when they hear the arrow released. Crossbows are much louder than regular bows, so string jump is more common. There is no such thing as quick follow-up shots so any hit needs to be a good one in the boiler room or else you have a very long tracking job ahead. Also, arrows do not make bang-flops or DRT so expect to blood trail anything you shoot.

Not at all to discourage you from giving it a try. It's a great sport and really satisfying when you are successful. Just expect to change tactics and be patient waiting for the right shots.

 

[115grfmj]

If your going to hunt with it get a nice light recurve (ala barnnet recruit recurve, Panzerv etc). Easy to service your self with out needing a pro shop. Also, don't expect a crossbow to shoot like a rifle. Arrows are not projectiles they are infact flying machines. The only benefit they have is in the first shot, after that good luck reloading one, and not spooking your game. Also they are LOUD, pretty much elimanting the chance for a second shot anyway. I sort of view them as hunting with an incredibly weak, really short range, muzzle loader. Once that trigger is pulled for better or worse it's pretty much all over. I hunt whitetail in NJ with a Barnett PanzerV(I highly recommend) and have for a few years. I also love it. I feel a real connection to history, hunting with a weapon that has been with us for thousands of year.

 

[g.willikers]

The arrow, especially the blade, does the real work.
The delivery system isn't nearly as important.
The main attraction of a crossbow is that it's easier to learn than any bow.
But it has its draw backs.
The speed of the arrow matters less than the weight and blade.
Heavier arrows (bolts) provide more penetration and wide sharp blades slice through the best.
And being able to judge distance and know trajectories is a plus, of course.

 

[jrdolall]

I was in Bass Pro yesterday and looked at some crossbows. There were several in the $400 range with the upper end having Waddell on them and being $1200.
I hunted with a Barnett Walmart special for a couple of years. It eventually got to the point that it would fire within a couple of seconds of taking the safety off which cost me at least two deer. I called Barnett and they told me to send it in and they would repair it...all at my expense because it was out of warranty. I wasn't real pleased to find that a critical piece of a crossbow could fail so easily so I put it in the attic and it's there today. I am not dogging Barnett. I bought a budget bow and enjoyed it while it lasted. I wouldn't sell it because I don't think it is safe so it is just sitting there.

You need a bow, a cocking mechanism ($20) heavy bolts and quality broadheads. With a little practice you can be very accurate at 50+ yards but I don't think that is a very ethical shot because of the loss of energy at that distance. I never shot over 30 yards with my crossbow and I never lost a deer. The only DRT I had was a spine shot on a deer that was 10 yards away under my stand. They are heavy and cumbersome. Mine was quite loud compared to my bow. If I shot with a group of deer nearby they always took off. With my bow they would often just jump and then mill about since it made so little noise. As mentioned above, my shoulder has dictated that I no longer hunt with a bow.

 

[T.R.]

I've been hunting with a modern crossbow ever since my elbow was badly broken in an accident. That was over 10 years ago. I bought a slightly used HuntMaster model. The company changed the name to Ten Point after a time but parts are interchangeable.

I would not buy a Barnett because of the significant amount of plastic within the trigger housing and safety unit. You're better off with a new Wicked Ridge "Invader" which is made and warranted by Ten Point. Check eBay for competitive pricing.

Most of my shots are taken at less than 30 yards. My crossbow is super accurate - I can hit a Dixie cup at 20 yards every time. These deer were are downed in northern Maryland; the season is long and generous.

Good hunting to you.

TR

 

[brainwake]

Go fondle them...you will quickly see the difference. Me, I had the same thoughts, but when I started holding them I soon turned to a Parker. It just felt good in my hands, was light and small....but it was pricey. Don't get caught up on stats. Crossbows are big and heavy and you have to carry that thing. How does it fit your grip? both the trigger grip and the forehand grip...I found that holding some that I liked from internet research...didn't quite feel right when I went to hold it......so fondle fondle fondle!

I will say this too...I have both compound and crossbow. I have more confidence with my crossbow....scope and trigger..hecks yeah...also it is just more powerful. But when the wife wants to hunt, I let her use the crossbow...or if I need to do some walking, I will go compound.

But yes as others have stated...archery is different than firearms....get yourself a range finder! All of a sudden, the difference between 40 and 50 yards means a lot. Can you really truly accurately tell the difference...as well as account for the angle and calculate it instantly....I bet not...but your rangefinder can. miss a deer and you will end up with one shortly.

And if you go archery...commit to practice!...you will need it.

 

[BudgetBucks1]

One other thing you might consider is whether or not you will be hunting all day sits or just short morning/evening sits. Most crossbows will malfunction if you leave them cocked all day. You will do damage if you don't let them rest. The longest I will leave mine cocked is 5 hours. My first crossbow snapped in the treestand due to hunting all day with it. I recieved wounds to both hands(fiberglass shards). It was a mid range parker brand bow. Parker did replace it with a new bow no questions asked. With a compound you won't have that issue. I use my crossbow for short early season sits. I use my compound for all day sits and I practice with both. For stalking on the ground I use my bow(killed a doe this weekend in that manner) due to it's light weight. For stand hunting I use my crossbow more often. I have hunted off the ground with a crossbow and it will flat wear your arms out trying to hold that thing up when a deer is coming in. A compound is probably best in most situations. One shoots about as flat as the other considering the weight of the arrow and bolt(bolt is usually much heavier). Hope this helps in your decision making.