So, when I get back to deer hunting I want to start bow hunting. I am trying to decide whether to get a compound or a crossbow. Opinions? (UH OH)

Very touchy subject, alot of compound bow hunters consider using a crossbow as cheating. Personally I only hunt with a compund bow. But I know there will come a day (Already have bouts of tendonitist) that I may not be able to pull a compund with enough draw weight to get the job done. At thet point I will most likely go to a crossbow. If your phyiscally able to pull a compound of at least 50 lbs of draw weight, I would probably give you a real hard time in my group of hunting friends. Might ask for your man card back and stuff like that.

I hunt with a compound bow, but there are many days I wish I had a cross bow. We can't shoot compounds out of any of our blinds, so it's rifle or nothing if you want to be out of the rain and cold. We will eventually build new blinds that will work for bow hunting, but for now its tripod only.

Three shoulder surgeries,Im thankful we have an option of using crossbow or else i would be sitting at home for that month.

A lot will depend on where you are huntin. If you hunt public, some places don't allow x-bow during archery season. If you hunt out of state, some don't allow x-bow in their archery season. If none of this matters, and you want to get started this season, x-bow will get you there quicker than the compound. And if you really want the thrill of taking a deer with a stick and string, then get a compound.

If your physically able then compound. To me a crossbow is a lot like shooting a deer with a handgun. It just isn't the same as with a compound. There are so many factors that you have to get right to make that perfect [censored] with a compound rather a crossbow. To me it's so much harder and that's why I love it!

I shoot a very old (80's) PSE crossbow. It has a falling block trigger so it shoots like a rifle.
Most say its cheating, but I say, if it gets more people (rifle hunters) in the woods earlier in the season, great!
But, I shoot a vintage crossbow, so at least i am not as bad as those guys with $800 dual limb mega crossbows with scopes. I still have a challenge.

Already had shoulder surgery 11 years ago and looking at having to get both done in the next few years and approaching 60 years old. It’s either a crossbow or sit at home as I hunt an archery only area. Wish I could still pull a vertical bow.

We have two older gentlemen on my lease who both shoot crossbows, I am all for it and cheer them on. I am 42 and can draw a compound bow and hope too for a long long time, when it comes time to hang it up I will go to crossbow. But seeing someone physically able to draw compound and shoot it with reasonable confidence pull out a crossbow, instantly leaves a bad taste in my mouth aboiut that person. I know it is politically incorrect to be judgemental like that but that is just the way it is with me.

I think it just depends on what you want out of the experience.

Crossbows are going to be way easier to pick up and hit with, and are going to require a lot less dedication and practice.

If you want to get out during the early season and have a good chance to bag something, then dont hesitate to go with a crossbow.

If you enjoy archery and the whole package of lots of practice, a bigger challenge, and a more difficult skill to master, then go with a compound. If you want an even bigger challenge, go traditional and shoot a recurve or a long bow with fingers and no sights!

It's funny to me some of the guys that say that a crossbow is "cheating" will pull out a rifle during the general season.

Shoot whatever you enjoy and are accurate with.

All the compound guys complaining about the crossbow guys really gets me. Most of the guys I hunt with have gone to traditional gear. They bitch about the compound guys the same as y'all are bitching about the crossbow. It's really all a matter of preference.

Crossbows are loud though. You may want to take that into consideration.

I wont shoot a crossbow because I shoot a compound. I also wont shoot a deer with a rifle. Ive killed my fair share of deer with a rifle and now all I want to do is bowhunt. It has to be down right miserable before I will get a gun and go sit in a box blind and then if I were to shoot a deer he would have to be a stud, like 160" or bigger. Im all for crossbows on people who are physically able to draw a compound but I dont like the idea of them being allowed in archery season for everyone. I think they should be allowed for people who need them and youth.

WHAT EVER GETS YOU BACK IN THE WOODS!!!!!!!

Thanks for all of the input guys. It kind of confirmed what I was thinking, go with compound to get started. As for getting back in the woods, it is killing me not hunting right now. I am trying to wait until I can buy my own land (maybe next year).

I don't care one way or the other if someone wants to shoot a crossbow or compound. To me it will be a compound until I can pull one back.

The only exception to my first statement here is that my 13yr old nephew wanted to get a crossbow to be able to hunt the early season. He has very limited experience and not a lot or parental involvement. Much more from me on hunting but I am 4 hrs away. I wanted him to get a compound bow because I think they area safer. Maybe I am wrong on that IDK??

I hunted archery with a compound for years before a series of injuries to my right shoulder resulted in 3 surgeries, and the permanent loss of my lateral right biceps tendon. I can no longer draw a compound bow without the possibility of my remaining bicep tendon snapping off, so I took up the crossbow. Compared to the compound, it is easier. When a deer is coming in, you get set up, and very little movement is necessary when the deer comes close enough to take a shot. The speed of the bolt makes for a flat trajectory, but drops like a stone past 40 yards, Crossbows are also much noisier than compounds. You can reload a compound quickly and quietly if necessary. Try that with a crossbow in a treestand!

Agree 100%

Shoot both and find out what you are most comfortable with. In my opinion you're still using a sharp stick. I still hunt with an old PSE compound bow given to me years ago, and my younger brother well he is a little more andventurous and uses a longbow.

I think, use whatever you can shoot efficiently. Bow or crossbow - you still have to aim and hit target right. Otherwise you might never recover your game.
If you never shot a bow, or did it long time ago, go to archery club and practise for 2-3 days. Then check your shoulder. Mine shoulder joint started to hurt day after. Took month to get almost normal. Tried bow again. No bueno. It is crossbow for me. Even though I am able to pull 60-70 pound bow, it is just not worth it to hurt yourself into surgery.
Plus my hind quarters can stay in the relative comfort of a blind when hunting crossbow.

Well stated.

BTW, I was glad to see this post didn't get ugly.

when you can use a scope to bow hunt that is not bow hunting to me, now if your not physicaly able to pull a bow then im all about a person using a crossbow. Crossbows are just as accurate as a rifle when you can use a scope, might aswell wait for rifle season. I wouldnt be as pleased to take an animal with a crossbow as I would with a compound.

Branden you make a good point about the accuracy which is another reason I am glad I can use a crossbow. My trifocals make it hard to see my pins. I have tried numerous sights and gimmicks trying to find something that works. I started with a recurve then a compound but after 40+ years the crossbow is my only choice other than quitting.

I think hunting with a crossbow would be just like a rifle and you don't get the huge adrenaline rush of drawing back on the animal with a crossbow like you do with a real bow. Sounds boring to me. Nothing like waiting for the moment that buck looks away and pulling that bow back.

And crossbows are very loud and probably don't allow for follow up shots or multiple shots on pigs and such