Hunting crossbow made Fisher???

[theboyscout]

I am looking for the best information on a quality crossbow that I can use for hunting season and simply put a kit on for fishing on the off season.

I have a Barnett recruit tactical crossbow now but they don't have fishing attachment. Any input for furthering my outdoors experience is welcome. I don't want to buy two crossbow.

 

[Hookeye]

Would think water on a tracked X bow would really accelerate string wear.
Speed of reload and method of same, would be a problem.
Then there's the power............. what fish are you going to shoot?

I have killed hundreds of carp with 50-55# recurves. No fish over 25# though.
55# compound will peel your line out to the end (standard AMS bottle). Gotta keep shots close, and here, high # and steep angles w hard bottom.........very rough on fish arrows.

Dunno what power diff would mean safety wise.

Maybe somebody makes an Xbow that's suited for bowfishing.
Might want to check bowfishing.com and see what the guys like best.

IMHO unless handicapped or going after something of major size, I'd forget using the X bow.

Just wrestling fish in w a vert bow and reel is kind of a PITA.

 

[Hookeye]

Think some folks use Xbows for gators, but doubt they are shooting a lot LOL.
Carp spawn can be a circus.

 

[Hookeye]

Looks like it bolts to quiver attachment area

 

[troy fairweather]

i would think the draw weight is to high, you don't need much to shoot carp. i had old martin recurve bow that was 40 pounds, my dd made a mount for one of them big zebco saltwater push button real. i used old 30# andies pink line. my part off new york we has black dirt, it's like peat bogs where they grow some of the best unions in the world. these fields that can be a mile long have ditches and we would shoot the carp in them, they got big maybe from all the old ddt.

 

[Hookeye]

Llke 55# when using the glass arrows.
But that gets to be a chore.
This was a Cartel riser w Samick Sage limbs (often called a Car-sage).
Hyped on a trad forum, I built one. Riser flex sucked (funny feel at the shot).
62" length was too long. And it was pretty slow (when shot w reg arrows).
Poundage was 45#.
I hated it.
Whoever said it rivaled the feel and performance of a custom recurve was drunk or high.

Best bowfishing rig I ever had was my Blackwidow SA2 55#. I shot very high % with it.
And I slipped and fell and smacked it pretty hard too (BW fixed it, the repair lasted through deer season- they deemed it unsafe to repair again so built me a new one, under warranty- they didn't have to do that GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE

That was the end of bowfishing with a 1K bow though. Hence the Car-sage.
Think an old Bear K mag at 50# might be a decent rig. Haven't found one cheap enough yet.

View attachment 828302

I did take my '72 minty Blackwidow HF1225 out for a day, 48#. Paid $300 for that one LOL
Dunno if I have a pic of that one around

 

[troy fairweather]

Llke 55# when using the glass arrows.
But that gets to be a chore.
This was a Cartel riser w Samick Sage limbs (often called a Car-sage).
Hyped on a trad forum, I built one. Riser flex sucked (funny feel at the shot).
62" length was too long. And it was pretty slow (when shot w reg arrows).
Poundage was 45#.
I hated it.
Whoever said it rivaled the feel and performance of a custom recurve was drunk or high.

Best bowfishing rig I ever had was my Blackwidow SA2 55#. I shot very high % with it.
And I slipped and fell and smacked it pretty hard too (BW fixed it, the repair lasted through deer season- they deemed it unsafe to repair again so built me a new one, under warranty- they didn't have to do that GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE

That was the end of bowfishing with a 1K bow though. Hence the Car-sage.
Think an old Bear K mag at 50# might be a decent rig. Haven't found one cheap enough yet.

View attachment 828302

I did take my '72 minty Blackwidow HF1225 out for a day, 48#. Paid $300 for that one LOL
Dunno if I have a pic of that one around

i saw there is a new company making a bow real close to the sage, looked better and was a good bit cheaper, i have to see if i can find the video. i don;t bow fish anymore, the last 3 times i went out city people called the cops. and that was on my family's privet land, dam new york. there are the ditches there about 100 yards apart.

 

[Hookeye]

Found it. Little fish. First shot at one in yrs.......yeah, people at spillway saw me walking around, water high.........went way down to more quiet, popped it and was done. Let em think I always shoot 100% LOL Was there for a big gar but water not right.

Hate the rattle and pop of the AMS reels, so went back to old school. Forgot how much more I hated those reels. Killed my fish and threw that junk reel in the trash. Used Saunders shoot throughs 30 yrs ago. AMS line retrieval is pretty nice though.

Won't shoot anything lesser than an AMS now.


View attachment 828307

 

[Hookeye]

On private land and legal...........I'd bowfish just to spite those folks.
And get a lawyer for sportsman harassment changes (against those who complained).

 

[troy fairweather]

my dad has some photos and tells the stories of the big gar when he was stationd down at fort polk LA some of them are longer then the m88 tracked recovery vehicle he used. over 20 feet. many of the cops here believe they are above the law.

 

[Hookeye]

Hassled once, threatened another time.
DNR on speed dial, let them handle the nonsense.
File charges too.

 

[troy fairweather]

rifle hunting has become a hole nother can off worms to.

 

[Hookeye]

Tac 15 had some issues. For the price, and problems...........I'd not go that route.
If $ not a problem, might look at Ravin.
If wanting to spend half that, maybe a Mission?

For hunting that is.

Bowfishing, maybe there's something easier/faster to use.
Maybe an Excaliber with lower draw weight?

Seen some cheapy import recurve models at some big box stores.
Would not risk those.

 

[Hookeye]

I rather like an Oneida compound vertical bow.
They aint perfect. But are a top model in bowfishing.
Not cheap, if going for the last of the old fingers bows (Black Eagle) or new models.
I keep an eye out for an LFM or BE/BE2.
Once in a while I see one, prices are silly though.
A deal will come along eventually.

The cast riser new model only goes to 50#
I want 60# for deer hunting, would back it down to 50 to bowfish.
If they can be set at 50% let off.

Dislike 65% and shooting fingers.

I can do 20-22# holding weight OK, but every once in a while hang a finger. 25# or a bit more I'm clean without thinking about my release.

Buddy had his old Screaming Eagle power limbs shaved to 30#?
Thought that ridiculous, but he's got the boat with all the lights so shots are close.

 

[MCgunner]

I have a PSE Kingfisher whose limbs warped just laying in my closet unstrung. Didn't take it, but a year. PSE won't sell new limbs. I'll never EVER buy another PSE product based on this experience. YMMV

 

[theboyscout]

Looks like it bolts to quiver attachment area

I'm looking for a crossbow that can shoot for hunting deer but take that same front attachment or if a company sells a crossbow package as both