DogDoc,
I have to hunt with a crossbow due to my right shoulder. It is baseball, tennis and age in my case.
Good news on crossbow: No draw, scopes improve your accuracy and equipment greatly improved from 10 years ago
Bad news on crossbow: Noise, Noise and Noise
I shoot the "Scorpyd" made in Iowa because it is less noisy. I use expandables too - rage. You will learn to adjust - I did.
If my shoulder was normal - I would have a normal bow in my hands but I am not able to tolerate the pain. So to hunt I use a crossbow.
With a crossbow - use a good rangefinder. I am good out to 50 to 55 yards when I use a range finder.
I pray your surgery goes well and recovery better.
Update after surgery ?I started having pain in my left shoulder about a month ago. Went to ortho and he saw a spot on the xray. MRI revealed avascular necrosis of the humoral head. Only option is a shoulder replacement. My first question was if I can shoot a bow again? He said sure but not this year. Guess it will be all x-bow this year. Surgery is set for Aug 3rd. No explanation why it happened. Idiopathic.
So I might be awol for a little bit after the surgery. Just hoping I get healed enough to deer hunt this season.
Todd
Update after surgery ?
Happy your first day went well ..I've had 3 shoulder surgeries and resulting PT ..my first PT trainer made my Army basic training drill sergeant seem like a pampering sole (not of course!) ..the other two were firm but positive ..you will make itAccording to the ortho doc the surgery went well. I had a hemiarthroplasty - which is a partial shoulder replacement. They replaces the ball of the shoulder joint with a prosthesis. The pain was intense. But now 3 weeks later I have about 20% function of shoulder. PT started today. Wasn't too bad--just uncomfortable at times.