Question for you crossbow hunters.

Oldcountryboy · #1 01/07/12, 07:21 PM

I'm an experienced compound & recurve bow hunter and I know that the higher up in a tree you are, the trickier it is to shoot down toward a deer. So what's it like when using a crossbow high up in a tree?

Today I took my youngest daughter squirrel hunting and we seen 8 doe deer all together. I haven't seen that many deer since the beginning of bow season back in October.

I haven't bow hunted in several years but have been thinking about starting back up again. Plus this year is the second year that it has been legal to use crossbows here in Oklahoma and I've been thinking about getting one, thinking I might could stand a better chance of shooting some deer late in the bow season like now with a crossbow. I've heard they reach out a lot futher then compounds.

Bearfootfarm · #2 01/07/12, 08:25 PM

Quote:

I've heard they reach out a lot futher then compounds

I don't think that's true

http://www.huntersfriend.com/product...rformance.html

Quote:

A FAIR COMPARISON:

Regarding range and accuracy, the modern crossbow is actually more similar to the modern high-performance compound bow. Take a look at a popular 175# crossbow (Horton Legend HD) vs. a 70# top-of-the-line compound bow (Bowtech Allegiance).

Quote:

As you can see, the outputs of these two weapons are similar. Of course, not many compound bows are as fast as the Bowtech Allegiance, and some crossbows are even faster than the Horton Legend HD175. Yet the point remains the same, a crossbow's output is much closer to that of a modern compound bow ...

big rockpile · #3 01/07/12, 08:40 PM

30 yards is my Limit with my Crossbow.If you can use a Compound Bow they are much better.

big rockpile

Oldcountryboy · #4 01/07/12, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

I don't think that's true

http://www.huntersfriend.com/product...rformance.html

Thanks for the good reading Bearfoot. After reading that I'm a bit more convinced in using a crossbow.

Quote:

Originally Posted by big rockpile

30 yards is my Limit with my Crossbow.If you can use a Compound Bow they are much better.

big rockpile

20 to 30 yards is usually my limit too. However, during days like it is now, it's hard to keep from being detected by deer since there's very little cover out there. That's why I'm thinking maybe a crossbow will let me shoot a bit more acurate if I'm shooting from higher up in a tree. Cause this time of the year you got to be eiher really high up there to keep from being detected so easily, or be able to shoot a much futher distance out. And I'm thinking if I could rest a crossbow on a shooting stick, (if I'm on the ground) I'd be much more acurate then trying to hoist up a heavy compound bow and aim acurately at a long distance.

One thing I've been starting to really notice in my older age is I'm loosing muscle strength. I've even gotten to where I use my daughters little .22 cricket rifle to squirrel hunt with instead lugging around my 18 shot bolt action .22 rifle.

So anywho, I'm looking for something to acurately reach out futher on winter days when there isn't much cover left out there. This morning, I might could have easily shot one of those does if I'd been able to sling some kind of a arrow about 50 yards or so.

big rockpile · #5 01/08/12, 09:26 AM

Well Crossbow won't give you anymore distance,plus they are so loud Deer are more likely to Jump the String.You can get a Compound Bow with 80% Let Off,they are Lighter,Quieter and Cheaper.

I hunt from the Ground,depend on my Camo and Cover,make all movements very slow.

I really wish i had bought a Compound instead of Crossbow.

big rockpile

pheasantplucker · #6 01/19/12, 05:51 AM

I have both compound and a crossbow. Since I limit myself to 35 yards, distance isn't an issue. My compound is set at 52lbs. and my crossbow is 160 lbs. Obviously the xbow is much faster, and it probably would shoot farther, but since 35 yds. is my max, it's a moot point. Big Rockpile is exactly right...crossbows are much louder, and if you're shooting more than 20 yards, "jumping the string" could be a factor...
As far as shooting from a treestand, I only use my xbow from the ground but anytime you're shooting down (or up) at a significant angle, you have to "shorten the sight pin" to adjust for the change in distance. I would guess that it would be about the same for crossbow or long bow. Good luck.

poorboy · #7 01/19/12, 09:01 AM

A "Drawloc" compound bow, a compound bow with a device that holds it in a drawn position with a safety and trigger....Have an older friend that got one so he could continue bow hunting...they can even be used by one armed people...just sayin

Oldcountryboy · #8 01/19/12, 09:20 PM

A Drawloc! I'll have to check into it. I know in our new hunting regulations we can now use devices that will hold your bow in a draw position. But I had no ideal of where to get such a device. Thanks for the info poorboy.

JonnyRevel · #9 01/20/12, 04:20 PM

http://www.pullinarchery.com/

Pullin makes the absolute best system for archers with issues that might impede the ability to pull and hold a bow. My buddy used one to test a prototype for another archery product. He left the bow in his basement, in the drawn position, for over a year. It worked like a beast! Anyhow, check it out if you like.