Skillet

Also, my gf was shooting 100 Spitfire expandable heads from her 10point. The ones made just for crossbow. Her accuracy wasn't there either & it's hard to practice with an expandable. She tried the Boltcutter & after slight adjustments, had accuracy matching mine. Lesson learned, low profile fixed blade, & heavier heads are the way to go.

I wasn't having great results with my Matrix 310, shooting 125gr Thunderheads. I was getting fliers and the grouping just wasn't there. Also, the trajectory of the bolts didn't match the 20, 30, 40, or 50yd marks on my reticle. So, I called Excalibur, & the guy said I needed to use a shorter broadhead to get less planing, as well as switch to a 150gr. He said heavier was better and the more weight forward of center, the better as well. He recommended the Excalibur Boltcutter 150gr 3 blade. I was skeptical because I figured it was just a way to sell their heads, but I bought them anyway. Long story short, the trajectory now lines up perfectly with every yardage on the scope, all the way to 50yds. The bow will now put every shot into a 3" circle all the way to 50yds, even with a broadhead. At 20 & 30, it's putting them in the same hole. Would I shoot a deer at 50? No way, there's way too much time for a deer to react. But I'll shoot to 30 all day long. Being so accurate at 50 makes the realistic ranges feel like chip shots. I love this thing!

Right on! We were shooting yesterday. With my Hawken 50, I can keep them in a 6" circle at 100yds. So, I'll cut myself off at 80yds for hunting. Happy with that. It's the only gun I'll be using from now on. Killed 3 with it last year.

Nope! Just the head & hide.

It was a 2.5yr old cow. Not too big as far as bison go. Around 1,000lbs. He said the truly big bulls are only good for burger.

I specifically requested the thread not become a debate on high fence. I was simply looking for input on my equipment. I've always wanted to shoot one with my bow. The opportunity came along, so I took it. I'm not trying to portray it as something it wasn't.

No lines at the Henrietta Walmart. We had no problem getting 8G & 8N.

50

After talking with my buddy (the owner), he encouraged me to use the compound. I was shooting well before the hunt, & felt confident. Took awhile, but got a 17 yard shot. Double lung, pass thru. Dead very quickly! Had a great time. We were shocked that it passed through. I was very hesitant, but it this was a real testament to shot placement.

Has anyone encouraged the late shot or poor hit? No. Nobody's saying he made a good choice. I'm saying don't treat the guy like he should go on a registry & have to notify parents of small children when he moves to the neighborhood.

So, some of you have never wounded a deer? Your self restraint and patience were well established on your first hunt? You came out of the gate well trained? Yeah, right. Keep telling yourself that. So he didn't sugar coat it, or beat around the bush. The guy was honest. It was a bad shot. It happens. He didn't intend to gut shoot the deer. To the OP, the deer is dead by now. Go look, & look, & look. If / when you find him, thank him for the food he will provide & apologize for making a poor shot. Make your peace within yourself, & disregard the bitch slapping you get on this site. Learn from it & move on. Most of all, when some new hunter tells you about a mistake they made, don't treat them like crap.

Awesome way to handle it. I couldn't do it. Very Buddha - like of you.

Rochester

And then leaving a big hole in it, when they go away.

I know, I'm a horrible person. Sorry. Couldn't help myself. Too soon?

There's been a lot of good points made here, so I've ruled the compound out. Ethically, I don't think it would be right. Could I kill him with it? probably, if the shot was perfect. But, you could also kill deer with a 22, following that logic. Just because it's not a whitetail, or a "wild" animal doesn't mean ethics should be any less important. Also, he's doing me a big favor, & I don't need to repay him by giving him a shot up, stressed out, adrenaline filled carcass full of gamey meat, to eat all year. Money is tight & so is time, so buying new arrows & broadheads is out. I'm going to use the crossbow if I'm able to get close enough, but my gf will be behind me carrying my Hawken. If I can't get into position for a perfect shot with the crossbow, I'll smoke him. Thanks a lot for the input! I'll post how it goes friday night.

I shoot 90gr of FFG out of it, pushing a 385gr conical. Flattens deer pretty nicely.

He's had people bowhunt them successfully, but he doesn't know what their setup was. He says he doesn't care what I use, but needs it to be killed cleanly.

Been there. Nothing anyone can say will help. I feel for you. Will add you to my prayers tonight.

I could use the Hawken, but yeah I had my heart set on the bow. Took the suggestion & went to the Archerytalk website. I'm gathering that this is a serious animal to be bowhunting. Definitely thinking crossbow. Not worth wounding it just because I wanted to bowhunt it.

Starting to think I should take the crossbow. I don't want to risk it.

I'm assuming I'll be stalking it.

28" draw. Martin Bone Hunter (package bow from Dick's)

Never chrono'd it.

A friend of mine owns a hunting preserve in PA, with a small herd of bison on it. Usually, he sells a hunt every year where the hunter gets the head & hide, but he keeps the meat. Nobody bought one this year, so he offered it to me. I'm going to shoot it this Friday. I know it's not a hunt like it would be out west, but I've always wanted to shoot one with my bow, so I'm going for it. Both times I've seen them at his place, they're pretty spooky & approaching them is tough. I'd be lucky to get a 20yd shot. I don't know a lot about arrow weight, kinetic energy, etc, so I'm not sure if my setup is enough. I'm shooting an Easton Carbon Raider 400, tipped with a Thunderhead 100gr 3 blade, @ 58lbs. Any idea if this is a heavy enough setup to cleanly kill a 1400lb Bison? This is meat he's putting in his own freezer, & he's doing me a big favor letting me shoot it. I don't want to botch it. Not looking for anyone's opinion on high fence, I just want some input on my equipment. If it's not enough, I will use my crossbow, but I'd really like to use my regular bow. Thanks.