Issues Facing The Xbow

[kurt]

Yes I have, more then once with conventional bow. Arrow hits small unseen twig, - bounces off trees like pin ball, deer takes few startled steps, stops, looks in direction arrow "went. " Second shot right through boiler room. Xbow, - same thing, - "CLICK" on draw back, - poof, - deer gone !!!

[rreda]

I can agree about the second shot situation. Last week I did kill a doe after having missed with the first shot. However, I still believe that the advantage of minimum movement gives the Crossbow shooter a much bigger advantage for the first shot.

Over the years I have taken only 5 shots with the gun, and I have killed 5 deer. Being a bowhunter, even when I hunt with the gun, I tend to take only shots that I am very confident in making. I would expect that crossbow shooters would do the same, and therefore minimize the need for a second shot.

[kurt]

A "personal" statistic; - 36 years bow hunting, - number of second shot opportunities = (about) 12 (+ or -) or about once every three years. --- number of second shot deer harvested = 3

6 years hunting with Xbow, - number of second shot opportunities = 2 (or about once every three years) CLICK on draw back, - poof deer gone, - so much for opportunity

Kurt

[awshucks]

There's a facet of xbow hunting from a stand that alot of guys aren't aware of til they try it. What to do w/ the dang thing while sitting for 4 hrs. That 9-10# gets real heavy. Alot of times, I'll stand mine on the stirrup resting where my feet are. Lots of movemeny needed there when deer are spotted. Then you have the noise factor. Most of these things have hollow plastic stocks, and if you are in a stand that has a rail around it, one little touch of contact between the rail on the xbow and rail on the stand sounds like you are playing the drums while hunting, lol.

Not the easy can of corn they are cracked up to be by the unknowing who haven't tried them YET, lol

[BT]

kurt said:

Yes I have, more then once with conventional bow. Arrow hits small unseen twig, - bounces off trees like pin ball, deer takes few startled steps, stops, looks in direction arrow "went. " Second shot right through boiler room. Xbow, - same thing, - "CLICK" on draw back, - poof, - deer gone !!!

that's what I meant to say.....no second with a crossbow.
I would have been surprised (very) if you told me that you had gotten a second with the horizontal model

[BT]

awshucks said:

There's a facet of xbow hunting from a stand that alot of guys aren't aware of til they try it. What to do w/ the dang thing while sitting for 4 hrs. That 9-10# gets real heavy. Alot of times, I'll stand mine on the stirrup resting where my feet are. Lots of movement needed there when deer are spotted. Then you have the noise factor. Most of these things have hollow plastic stocks, and if you are in a stand that has a rail around it, one little touch of contact between the rail on the xbow and rail on the stand sounds like you are playing the drums while hunting, lol.

You are not kidding there!
My crossbow feels to be 14# if an ounce and there is no way in hell I could hold that to my shoulder for over a minute.....and that would be pushing it
Your spot on that there is a huge amount of movement as you attempt to move this huge contraption into play if you dont have a rail in your stand to lay that thing across.

I might just start bringing that crossbow with me to shoots so that some people can really see what it's like to sit in a chair for three minutes with it

[awshucks]

There's a gentleman by the name of "Jim C" that posts some on AT. He's an archery instructor, trains kids to compete, ect. Has a lengthy list of credentials I won't bore y'all w/, lol. He conducted an experiment some time ago where he mounted those little lazer pointers kids love to get in trouble at school w/, lol on both verticle bows and xbows. The challenge was rather simple, just hold the red dot on the bull, no actual shots fired. The compunds won every time, which is also shown in the competition scores.

Further proof, imho, is the fact that the harvest stats are the same per centage wise for the two, hence no net advantage/disadvantage.

[BT]

I wouldn't doubt that for a second.
I think that perhaps this discussion will have some people at least picking up crossbows where they can just to examine what you are saying here.
I know that I was under a totally different impression of the crossbow until I tried one

I have only hunted with the crossbow once and for me , the laser dot scope was the only superior factor.
The shot was perfect but then again....it would have been perfect with the compound as well
I do remember having to get all locked in , using my elbows on knee's to keep from wavering and that was it for me
To much to have to control for my liking.
IMO , the only advantage is the fact that you dont have to draw it and the rest is down hill from there ;D

I guess thats the reason I appreciate the fact that people hunt with them.
Heck!....I am looking for a lighter compound....couldnt imagen humping a crossbow over a long distance.