Crossbow Deer Hunting (The Definite Guide)
- Thread starter Robert Gate
- Start date
Cap'n
Active Member
Robert I'd be glad to help you if I can. I'd be glad to give you my feedback on something your posting.
Don't worry too much about any hard critiques on here. Most of these people are salt of the earth folks that are on here to both give knowledge and get it. You'd be lucky to have anyone of them as a neighbor. We're all just standing around leaning over the bed of a pick up talking about Deer and a whole lot of other things. Join us as often as you can.
Robert Gate
New Member
Great to hear that we have nice neighbors around 
Deadeye
Well-Known Member
It's funny that my SIL, who has never tried using a CB to hunt with, has some of the same opinions.
When I told him that having hunted with both, a Vertical Bow is MUCH MORE Easy to use he couldn't believe it. Carrying it in and out is much simpler that carrying a CB. I have found that with a CB the limbs tend to catch on everything you go by. They are Top Heavy and tend to swing down if you try to carry them with a Sling.
The Only REAL advantage is they are already drawn when a shot opportunity presents itself.
When I told him that having hunted with both, a Vertical Bow is MUCH MORE Easy to use he couldn't believe it. Carrying it in and out is much simpler that carrying a CB. I have found that with a CB the limbs tend to catch on everything you go by. They are Top Heavy and tend to swing down if you try to carry them with a Sling.
The Only REAL advantage is they are already drawn when a shot opportunity presents itself.
Gator
Well-Known Member
Which also means, you don't have to practice to be efficient. You don't have to get away with the movement needed to draw. You make it sound like its only a slight advantage. I used to carry a CB for youth's to use and don't remember it being so cumbersome to carry.
Deadeye
Well-Known Member
I'm sorry but I don't agree with you. Maybe you don't have to practice as much, but with any weapon that you chose to become proficient with you must practice with it.
As to Movement, there is still movement, it is just a different kind of movement. With a Vertical Bow the movement is with your arms as you draw backward (unless your one of those guys that point to the sky and lower as you draw), with a Crossbow the movement is both with your arms and head as you swing the bow into position and lower the head to sight. It is also easier to re-draw fro a 2nd shot with a Vert Bow than to re-cock a Crossbow, IMO.
Carrying with a Vert Bow you can let it hang down and carry easy with one hand. With a Crossbow if you tried that the bow limbs would be catching on everything you pass, unless you are hunting in open woods or fields.
To me they are both Archery and simply a Choice of the Shooter as to which one to hunt with and I really don't see why there is a fight among hunters about who uses what.
Now if your going to be set up inside a Blind and have the Crossbow setting in one of those Quad Pods where all you do is swing it into position and pull a trigger, then yes the Crossbow is much easier to use.
Gator
Well-Known Member
Hunt with what you want to but when I start reading the stuff you wrote above, it sounds like you are trying to justify your choice to shoot a xbow. There's a reason I choose a xbow for youth hunters and it wasn't because it was difficult to use
Deadeye
Well-Known Member
Justify?
This is where discussions start to get stupid. They are both Legal in my state. When I bought the Crossbow I had some serious back issues and I thought it might help me be able to still hunt. I gave my bow to my SIL because he didn’t have one.
I have no need to justify using a Crossbow to you or any else.
They are Archery Equipment that has been around for thousands of years. If you really want to keep Archery pure, then start hunting with a Long Bow only.
This is where discussions start to get stupid. They are both Legal in my state. When I bought the Crossbow I had some serious back issues and I thought it might help me be able to still hunt. I gave my bow to my SIL because he didn’t have one.
I have no need to justify using a Crossbow to you or any else.
They are Archery Equipment that has been around for thousands of years. If you really want to keep Archery pure, then start hunting with a Long Bow only.
Gator
Well-Known Member
I've already said, use whatever you want. But the minute you start trying to convince anyone that it's the same as a vertical bow from a difficulty standpoint, you are trying to justify it (maybe just to yourself but...)
Deadeye
Well-Known Member
Your entire focus is that since the Crossbow is already drawn, then it is easier to use for hunting.
Ok, yes having a bow already drawn vs drawing one when game is in range could be seen as an “advantage”.
Now what about all the rest?
If your in a tree you have to have enough clearance to maneuver side to side for a shot. Having hunted with both I can say I know it is easier to do it with my bow vs my Crossbow. You are able to work with your bow in much tighter areas.
As to weight most common era bows are lighter and just as fast or close to as fast as a Crossbow.
Balance is different. You are holding more weight with a forward tilt than with a bow.
In the end having hunted with both you will not convince me and you already have your mind made up so any further discussion is of no use.
And with that I am done with the topic.
Ok, yes having a bow already drawn vs drawing one when game is in range could be seen as an “advantage”.
Now what about all the rest?
If your in a tree you have to have enough clearance to maneuver side to side for a shot. Having hunted with both I can say I know it is easier to do it with my bow vs my Crossbow. You are able to work with your bow in much tighter areas.
As to weight most common era bows are lighter and just as fast or close to as fast as a Crossbow.
Balance is different. You are holding more weight with a forward tilt than with a bow.
In the end having hunted with both you will not convince me and you already have your mind made up so any further discussion is of no use.
And with that I am done with the topic.
Buckbuilder
Member
I have shot over a hundred and twenty deer with a bow, and around 40 deer with a crossbow. I now only hunt with a crossbow for many reasons. The form you must be able to achieve shooting a compound is a much greater negative than any obstacle shooting a crossbow, imo. Most crossbows are lighter than guns out there.
Unless you're Fred Bear I think your best bet would be with a crossbow...
Unless you're Fred Bear I think your best bet would be with a crossbow...
I went on a trip to OH last year. Everyone but me had a cross "bow". They were reading the directions how to use them when we got there. They were hitting 2" groups @ 40 yards in minutes. Calling them bows is a stretch. That said my Diamond doesn't resemble the 35# Ben Pearson I started with.
KSQ2
Well-Known Member
I love the quiet shot of my bow, I’ve done about everything imaginable, including shooting a very heavy arrow, to make it quiet. (I’ve had some bad experiences in the past with deer jumping the string.) My dad has hunted with a killer instinct crossbow for 3 years now and it is LOUD at the shot. I would never want to use one, but I’d rather use a crossbow than give up the archery season, if I could no longer draw my bow. That’s why I’m grateful for my dad’s sake they are legal. I do wish they were only legal for physically impaired hunters here in Kansas, but I’m not going to waste time getting upset about it.
Drycreek
Well-Known Member
All this hubbub about vertical vs horizontal bows is really unnecessary IMO. If it's legal, I'm quite sure an animal doesn't care which one sends an arrow through his lungs. I've hunted with a compound since the late eighties, but now, due to shoulder problems, I can't anymore. I'm gonna continue to hunt during archery season with the crossbow I bought this past winter because it's legal, and I enjoy it. Those are the only criteria that matter. I can legally kill two does and two bucks, (if one is a spike) in my county. I'll never shoot a spike because I don't believe spikes should be shot, but that's a personal decision for me, kinda like what tool I want to use to hunt deer. See how that works ?
Gator
Well-Known Member
And I have zero issue with you using whatever you want to use. I've said that repeatly but I'm tired of guys trying to make it sound like a crossbow is equal to a compound, they are very different and one is much easier to use and take animals with. I'm not on here trying to argue that a compound is the same as traditional, as they are night and day different and the compound is much easier than traditional.
Drycreek
Well-Known Member
Gator, I know where you're coming from, but consider this. The only thing easier about a crossbow is the fact that it's fired from the shoulder, thus more accurate for SOME at longer ranges. (I know guys that shoot compounds to 70/100 yards and they're pretty dang good at it. Not me)
My compound hangs from a hook in my blind with an arrow on the string. I can pick it up and shoot before I can pick up a crossbow and find the animal in the scope. I don't worry too much about movement because I'm fully concealed. If it's pigs I'm after, I sometimes get a second shot. I can do that with my compound while I'm getting the crank out to cock the crossbow. Going through the woods in the dark ? Advantage to the compound. Climbing up into a ladder stand ? Advantage to the compound. Getting set up in the dark ? Advantage to the compound. (Maybe when I get used to it I won't be paranoid that it's not fully cocked) Most crossbows I've shot have mushy triggers, my release is slicker than snot on a door knob. Crossbows are clunky.
And no, crossbows and compounds are not equal, but the crossbow is not as easy in some respects. Simple is easy. Clunky may not be hard, but it ain't easy either.
)My compound hangs from a hook in my blind with an arrow on the string. I can pick it up and shoot before I can pick up a crossbow and find the animal in the scope. I don't worry too much about movement because I'm fully concealed. If it's pigs I'm after, I sometimes get a second shot. I can do that with my compound while I'm getting the crank out to cock the crossbow. Going through the woods in the dark ? Advantage to the compound. Climbing up into a ladder stand ? Advantage to the compound. Getting set up in the dark ? Advantage to the compound. (Maybe when I get used to it I won't be paranoid that it's not fully cocked) Most crossbows I've shot have mushy triggers, my release is slicker than snot on a door knob. Crossbows are clunky.
And no, crossbows and compounds are not equal, but the crossbow is not as easy in some respects. Simple is easy. Clunky may not be hard, but it ain't easy either.
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
Zeek, you've made a very valid point; Vertical archery guys spend many hours practicing their shooting skills to be able to be proficient. One of the important things that defines a civilized society is that the significant amount of time required to attain proficiency in a profession, such as a pilot, physicist, boxer, PE, MD, or archer, is respected and recognized.
Shooting a weapon with a shoulder stock, fixed trigger, and scope, that can be fired off of a bench rest, with an average person being able to shoot 2" groups after 20 minutes of practice, is only in the same class as a vertical bow because it shoots the same style projectile. However, having their own separate seasons is seen as further complicating an already overly complicated regulatory process that already makes it difficult for sportsmen to stay in compliance with the myriad rules and regulations.
Before crossbows were legalized archery was a specialized sport requiring time. Now we're seeing multitudes of new crossbow archery hunters spending way more money and way less time, and killing a lot of deer, having a lot of fun, and making hunting a lot more popular, which is good for everyone.
To summarize; this is good for the sport of hunting, so let's recognize it as such. And if someone hunts with a vertical compound let's recognize that this individual has invested time to attain skills above and beyond what's rapidly becoming the normal (crossbow) archery hunter. And if you hunt with a stick bow, you are the elite of the elite in the archery world.
The picture of a hunter with his or her trophy says it all; to me, if there's a compound bow with that 140" buck there's a mental recognition of the shooters skills and proficiency that are several levels above a rifle, muzzleloader, shotgun etc, although for most of us, the actual shooting and choice of weapon is way less important than the thrill of the chase, which in itself is potentially higher for archery hunters because of the close proximity of the game being pursued.
So let's all stick together and celebrate that, for the time being, crossbows are helping to save the tradition of hunting for future generations. And vertical bow hunters are our equivalent of NFL quarterbacks, they are just very good at what they do.
