• Help Support TNDeer:

Bow or Crossbow

bshurette

bshurette

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2010
Messages
137
Reaction score
45
Location
Georgetown, TN
I have been deer hunting for a while but I played football in hs and college and never had an oppurtunity or desire to bow hunt. I am now wanting to give it a shot. So with that being said should I go with a bow or crossbow. I have plenty of space to practice and I would like to be proficent in it. My buddies who have a crossbow just brag on how sweet they shoot and how easy they are to use, but I am just wanting to test the waters of both. Is there much difference in performance, Im guessing with a crossbow and a scope accuracy would be easier. Any input or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Burt
 
I've tried both.I started with a new compound from bass pro,used it for 3 years,killed 2 deer with it,but wanted to try a crossbow.Got me a wickedridge invader about 2 months ago,and man,its almost to easy..LOL I like it alot more than my compound,its alot easier,you don't have to worry about drawing it back,you don't have to stand up,just aim and shoot,just like a gun.LOL I was proficient with my compound,I practiced out to 60yds. Some poeple knock crossbow user and say that its not bowhunting and that its to easy or there is no sport in it..I don't hunt for the sport or the challenge of deer hunting..I hunt to kill deer and if there is a way I can legally kill deer more easily,then im gonna use it.And that is what a crossbow does. On another note,there are more things to keep "in tune" with a compound,seems like I was always tinkering with my compound to keep it shooting good.
 
I have use both. Been compound bow hunting about 10 years. I tried Xbow hunting for two years. I have nothing against Xbows, it was fun but... To me they are bulky and clumsy to handle going into the woods and up in the stand (I hated that about Xbows!!!). They are easy to shoot. If you can shoot a gun you should be able to shoot a Xbow no problems. I get way more satisfaction and enjoyment out of compound bow hunting and shooting. Xbow hunting is like gun hunting for me. I would do both but I would rather compound bow hunt first any day. JMO
 
I prefer compounds. To me shooting a crossbow is like shooting a rifle that throws arrows. I am in it for the meat but I love the challenge of bow hunting. I would suggest what Carlos said and go shoot both and then decide! Good Luck!
 
I live five miles from turks sportshop and after I get through playing Santa for my boys then I plan on going and shooting just seeing which one I like. Everybodys comments are in line with what my buddies are telling me. Crossbow is a just like a gun and bows are more time consuming but are more fun to shoot. I think im going to shoot both and go from there. Thanks for the input. I know you can use a crossbow in Alabama and Georgia, but what about Kentucky? I was wanting to try and put in for Fort Campell next year.
Thanks
Burt
 
Personally, I hate everything to do with crossbows, I mean Cross-Guns--it was legalized only for revenue purposes. The main reason myself and others like me have such a problem them so much is the "it's like a rifle" mindset--if that be the cause then you can begin using it during the muzzleloader season. If a person is incapable, due to physical problems, of drawing a bow back then that is okay from my point of view. Cross-Gun users wouldn't get such a bad rap from us bowhunters if they practiced normal archery methods and started treating their weapon as archery equipment. I personally get so much more satisfaction from practicing good bowhunting strategies and making sure me and my equipment are at the top of our game than I would if I just pointed and shot--and I believe you will find that out too.

To grow as an archer from a bumbling fool that can't hit a target at 10 yards, to stacking arrows at 50yds is what keeps us satisfied and proud of our accomplishment. Also, there is a mutual respect and closeness felt between fellow bow users, as they have put the time in like you have--some of the nicest people I have ever met have been at bow tournaments and in the woods. Anyone can point and shoot, to efficiently shoot a bow it takes lots of practice and patience.

From a technical standpoint, a compound bow will out-shoot any Cross-Gun anyday. The energy loss from that heavy bolt is so much greater than a standard arrow. Compare speed and energy loss of a bolt compared to an arrow at 40yds and you will see what I mean. Also, there is a noise factor--I have seen two deer being shot within seconds of each other with a bow and neither knew what happened. A Cross-Gun on the other hand is so much louder. It will let everything within 100yds know that you just fired.

Cross-Gun ----big, bulky, loud, problematic at longer distances,
Bow ------- have to draw back, have to practice

Of course this is my opinion and I'm not trying to step-on toes. Buy and shoot what you want and feels good to you.
 
Having shot a compound for years and loved every bit of it from making arrows, paper tuning the two cams and the single cam compounds, It was great at the time. Crossbow are really easy to setup and shot groups out of the box. The crossbow will do whatever a bow can do and that's kill with shot placement. I love my excalibur but miss my compound. You will have to make the choice. If you are pushed for practice time go with excalibur exomax crossbow.
 
IF you have time to practice I would get a bow. Its a lot more fun to practice with. You can even get into 3-d shooting during the off season. I promise its a lot of fun. but if you only want to pull it out a week before the season. shoot it a few times and hit the woods. Crossbow.
 
I started off with a compound for about 9 years, then xbow one season, back to compound, and now to a recurve. The xbow was fun to shoot just wasnt what I was looking for.
 
bshurette said:
I live five miles from turks sportshop and after I get through playing Santa for my boys then I plan on going and shooting just seeing which one I like. Everybodys comments are in line with what my buddies are telling me. Crossbow is a just like a gun and bows are more time consuming but are more fun to shoot. I think im going to shoot both and go from there. Thanks for the input. I know you can use a crossbow in Alabama and Georgia, but what about Kentucky? I was wanting to try and put in for Fort Campell next year.
Thanks
Burt
Click to expand...

Compound only at the Fort.
 
My wife started out with a crossbow. She has now switched to a compound and is much happier and more successful. I never hunted with it but just target shot some with it and did not like it. It is very noisy, heavy for a long hike to the stand. I did not like the idea of walking around with it drawn. My compound would penetrate the target deeper. I see people thinking they can shoot twice as far with crossbow and loose deer. I guess this is just one of those things that is personal preference.
 
If you're going to get a crossbow, get the best you can afford. I think a budget compound is better than a cheap crossbow. However, a top of the line crossbow will be faster and generally more accurate (for the average shooter) than a compound.
 
Asking for advice on this subject is basically for opinions on which we personally prefer:

I have used both and each have their pros and cons
Me personally a compound bow is the challenge of archery hunting. Getting it tuned, keeping it tuned, getting your skills developed, getting the deer in closer for the ethical shot etc.Just know your limits and stay within them.

Crossbows have thier place, and just my opinion, they are great if you have a disability to draw a compound, etc. They are great for youth, elders, etc that a compound isnt applicable. Youth have a tough time drawing enough weight to be effective with a compound.

The things about a crossbow I dont like are the are bulky in and out of the woods, very noisey, a night mare if you are tugging a treestand at the same time. They are terrible to get a second shot or a follow up shot. THE BIGGEST thing I do not like about a crossbow is the misconception they are like a gun. So many crossbow hunters I have talked to think they can get out to 70 yards and kill a deer. There will be instances where you can I suppose, but for the most part, that blazing fast crossbow looses so much speed and energy by the time the bolt gets to the deer, the deer has heard the noise made by the crossbow and has moved causing a bad hit, the short bolt looses so much energy, the pentatration is cut down so much......just to many ways the deer can get injured or suffer a long death.

Just my 2 cents... I am not against either, if it is a legal method of taking deer, then its all good.
 
backstraps said:
THE BIGGEST thing I do not like about a crossbow is the misconception they are like a gun.
Click to expand...
Exactly. Crossbows ARE NOT Cross Guns!!!!! They require the shooter to be able to judge yardage, just like a Compound or Recurve shooter. The bolt does have a trajectory, the same as arrows, which requires the shooter to "see" the trajectory before they shoot. Most Crossbow hunters limits their shots to deer at 40 yards or less. Deer can "jump the string" with a Crossbow, just like a Compound or Recurve. However, the learning curve with a crossbow is quicker than with a Compound or Recurve. My suggestion to the OP is the same offered by others; go to a Archery shot that has both and "try" them out. Good luck and welcome to the crazy and rewarding world of Archery!!!!

I missed a buck this year when I shot him for 40 yards, and he was 45 yards. This with a Excalibur Crossbow, one of the best!
 

Latest posts

Back
Top