Specifically hunting whitetail. I purchased one last year about september, for the specific puropse of upping my chances of getting more meat in the freezer. And it worked. I moved further away from my ranch and don't get to hunt as often, so I went fom a compound to a crossbow, in order to maximize all efforts. I only hunt with it during october and switch to a rifle for the rest of the season.

Do you see it as cheating a little? I can see all angles and opinions on the matter, just curious to hear some opinions.

Not really. An experienced archer, compound or even traditional, can shoot as accurately and as far out as a crossbow shooter can/does.

Whatever floats your boat I suppose

[quote=chital_shikari]Not really. An experienced archer, compound or even traditional, can shoot as accurately and as far out as a crossbow shooter can/does.

Whatever floats your boat I suppose

I agree, i guess the crossbow takes a bit of the skill out of it. As it is much easier to get a shot off with out near as much movement or motion

I put it in there with lever guns, black powder, handguns etc.. except its a very good tool for getting a lot harvested with little noise to an area... I have no problem with anyone hunting with them.. got an old-school recurve with irons on it myself...

I still will mainly hunt with a compound though.. just me

To me its just another option, and I like options.

I don't care what other people hunt with. I'm not competing with them.

Any legal means....

It is not about which weapon you use, it is about getting that close to them for the opportunity. I bought a crossbow a few years ago to try. I tagged out in Texas due to friends and landowners wanting some deer meat. There are advantages and disadvantages to them compared to compounds. I really like my compound better, but it is a great way from my girl to get into archery hunting. When she is big enough to pull enough weight to effectively harvest a deer with a compound, I am sure she will switch over.

You put together a popup blind, Caldwell field pod and crossbow....you got a great combination to harvest deer and hogs.

I started out using the crossbow and than expanded to include the vertical bow a few years ago.

For me it depends on the weather. When it's miserable cold and snowing I use the ground blind and the crossbow. In decent weather I use the vertical bow. Like others have said it increases the options and when legal - why not?

And right there is the best reason. Anything that brings more hunters and/or introduces young hunters to the sport is welcomed in my book. Same reason I like to see the youth shooting sports doing so well. Someone has to carry on the tradition AND the battles after we're gone.

I think they should allow iron sighted shotguns, black powder, and pistols in there.

I use a cross bow to extend my season. I have a physical disability that makes me unable to pull and hold a compound bow of any strength. The crossbow, with a windup mechanism, gives me one shot at a deer within the 40-50 yard range that I feel competent in shooting. I still have to get them in that close, so it isn't a given. I'm glad it is available as a legal option for me.

interesting topic!!! where do you even start on looking for a cross bow, features, arrows, accessories, etc.???

Yup

c'mon sneaky thats no fun, you know this is all a competition, its what drives all the good arguments on this site.... competition with a splash of ego to taste.

And crossbows aren't a big advantage like people think anyway!

In my opinion hunting is hunting. If you can shoot deer in October with a bow you should be able to use any means legal, crossbow, muzzleloader, centerfire rifles and whatever else there is.

If you wish to challenge yourself by bow hunting good for your. I do all 3.

All the sports stores have them now. I'd get one but I don't get to hunt as much as I would like with the guns and bows I have now. For those who can't draw a bow, its fantastic to get a longer season, which is great by me.

I'm thinking about switching to one from my compound for one reason.........practice! I don't have time to shoot my compound like I should. I don't want to take the chance of wounding an animal for lack of my ability. Fortunately I have never lost an animal with my bow but I find myself struggling for time to shoot off season. Not saying you don't need to practice with a crossbow.

Its way more time consuming to practice with a crossbow than it is a compound.

I disagree

How do you figure this?

X2 Sighting in with a crossbow might be more time consuming but once it is sighted in it is much easier to practice with for me.

In a tree stand or open tripod bringing a horizontal bow from your feet or lap to shoulder creates as much or more movement than bringing a vertical bow that is held, cradled, or hanging in a ready position and then drawing.

Holding a horizontal bow that is inherently poorly balanced in an unrested shooting position for a long period of time will cause fatigue and get shaky as fast or faster than holding a vertical compound at full draw considering todays lighter high let-off vertical bows. Especially using a release.

For a new bowhunter buying a compound bow, mounting accessories, choosing correct aluminum arrows, broadhead weight that balance correct with the arrow, paper tuning, and trial and error used to be difficult. Today's bows are better designed, bow shops readily assemble setups for customers and most manufacturers offer package bows ready to go with correct matching arrows. Not to mention better designed arrow choices and the trend of faster lighter arrows with more lethal broadheads. A beginner can easily pick up one of these entry level packages and shoot well enough to hunt in a very short time.

And consider the trend of hunting from pop up blinds and shoot through windows becoming more poular thus movement no longer becomes an issue. Crossbows and vertical compound bows are near equal for that use.

Both have circumstances were one is a benefit over the other. But on average I would consider the crossbow to present the greater handicap. I have hunted with both for many years.

Well for me personally I can shoot my compound probaly at a 5-1 rate faster than my crossbow. Well I could when I had one anyway. I sold my crossbow because my compound is way more user friendly and fun to shoot.

By all means do I believe a crossbow is a legal, ethical, and efficient weapon, but my frustration lies with the culture of some users who buy one, sight it in the next day and hit a 1 foot by one foot square target 3 for 3 bolts, and assume they are good to go come season. Especially worse and most alarming is the mind set I have seen, heard of "it has a scope and is advertised as shooting 400 fps, that makes it just as good as a (fill in the blank - .30-30, muzzleloader, shotgun slug, etc.) out to 80 yards. I have heard this and face palmed so many times in the past few years. I don't have a problem with a crossbow, but am beyond irritated with the ignorance and laxadazial nature of some people who want to cut corners in archery (learning animal anatomy, limiting shot distances to ethical reason, and taking the time to hone skills of self and equipment), and yet wish to believe they have an "advantage" over a vertical bow.