WNYBuckHunter

I just Don’t see 10 yards, which is about all the difference in yardage I would Shoot, as a huge advantage. I do Understand what you are saying though. I just Don’t really mind if someone shoots a deer with a weapon that has a bit of an advantage over what I shoot my deer with as long as they have practiced at that range and aren’t just taking a Hail Mary shot because they think their weapon can do it.

Yes, anyone can do it. I’m not special and it’s not that hard. You just need to learn proper form and practice. I’m not sure what’s so hard to believe about that. I’ve never said crossbows aren’t faster and easier to become proficient with. In fact, I’ve stated that they are. Who cares. I’m not sure what your scope paragraph has to do with. You can use a bipod, they make mounts that work off your stabilizer. Have I seen Guys use them? Not in person, but the point is, you can use them. Read what I said In its context, don’t cherry pick things. Why wouldnt you hang it up? I like To have my hands free to do things like glass, have a drink, have a snack, itch my leg, etc. Plus I need To be able to get up once in a while, maybe turn around and look behind me? Crossbows do not lay flat across your lap like a rifle does. Why would you ask such a silly question. Nobody gets in a stand and sits there facing one direction and never moves lol. I do Not care about rests and how you can or can’t use them. I do not Care that people do not have to practice as much with crossbows. Bottom line is, if you don’t have the skills to get close enough to put an arrow through an actual live deer, it doesn’t matter what kind of bow you have. A crossbow is not magic, and it’s not a gun.

I’m not saying I’m an expert, but I have enough experience with it to know what the real deal is. Funny, but I thought This was a discussion, not an argument.

I could Say the same about a compound. Actually shooting the deer isn’t that hard when you do it for long enough. The challenge is really in getting yourself close enough to make a good shot.

Who said anything about it being too heavy to get off the hanger? Go back and read what I wrote

Lol yeah I wasnt whining. Before this year when I got mine, I was actually pretty up in the air about owning and hunting with one. I have always supported legalizing them and full inclusion, but after so many discussions with you, belo and others, I started to think “What if those guys are right, what if it is simply too easy. Might I have been wrong about these things?” I had shot a couple of them a couple times, but I didnt Have that much experience with them and I had Never hunted with one. This year my girlfriend surprised me with one so I started Shooting it. Man is it fun, and the more I practiced With it in typical hunting type situations, the more I realized That it just was not as easy as some made it out to be. Once I hunted With it, I saw That it really is, just another form of archery hunting, complete with the same basic challenges as when I hunt with my compound. The buck I shot With it was just as much of an accomplishment as the deer I’ve killed with my compound, I still Had to use all of my bow hunting skills to get myself into the right place at the right time and successfully make a good shot on him. I could Have done the same with my compound. In the end, it’s just a different tool that I have Added to my collection, that I can Use to fill my freezer and enjoy the challenge of getting in close to my quarry. Like I said, if you ever want to give one a go, let me know, I’d be glad to lend you mine.

Sure, I agree it’s a bit easier. I use one for the same reason that I sometimes use my rifle rather than a shotgun or muzzleloader. Variety is the spice of life. If there was a jump on a deers back and stab it in the heart season, heck I would probably do that too.

Exponentially? Nah. A little bit, and quicker to learn? Sure. Just like a compound is easier than a recurve or long bow. Big deal. It’s still a type of bow.

No one is whining about anything, we’re just pointing out that those of you with these preconceived notions of some super weapon that practically hunts for you, are wrong. Why don’t you give it a try and see? Hell, I’ll let you use mine for a few hunts. BTW, not hard to shoot a deer out of a blind. Just have to practice.

So how would a hunter using a compound out of a Redneck blind, totally concealed have anything to worry about? I sometimes practice off of an elevated platform, and can put arrows inside of a pie plate at 60 yards when I practice consistently. Same thing really. It’s not that hard with today’s compounds. Anyone can do it if they practice. I most Likely wouldn’t though. I also wouldn’t do that with my crossbow. I’m not using it any differently than my compound, it’s still just an arrow. It’s still vulnerable to the same issues like easy deflection, etc. Last year, I shot my buck at 40 with my compound, this year at 20 with my crossbow. The scope on it is your typical crossbow scope. Not much magnification, but harder to get on target than a compound. I dunno, It is what it is, and now that I have been hunting with it, I definately don’t agree that it’s any type of super weapon with much of an advantage over a compound besides being accurate with it faster than with a vertical bow. I also don’t see that as a bad thing. More clean kills by more people is good for the sport as far as I’m concerned. Even the big buck states like Illinois get it. NY will too soon enough.

You can put a scope and bipod on a vertical bow (neither are necessary for a crossbow), and most use a mechanical release with a trigger on their compounds. So yeah, stock and safety are the only gun specific items on a crossbow. Listen, I got busted by the buck I shot on Saturday trying to get my crossbow off the hook, I also got lucky the farmer at the road made a loud noise by chance and took the bucks attention off of me. Thats the only reason he ended up with my tag on him. Let me tell you, getting the crossbow off the hook is harder than my vertical bow, and getting it on target is not as easy as you seem to think it is. The scope is actually a bit of a hindrance at 20 yards, as it took longer to get the deer in the scope than it does to get my vertical bow sight on it. I also had to double check that my limbs were not going to smack the tree next to me (stand is in a clump tree), and had I not leaned back a bit, it would have. Sorry, but there simply was more movement involved than with my compound. Laying the crossbow on my lap the whole time? No freaking way, its too bulky and awkward.

I wanted one, and was going to wait until next year and then my girlfriend surprised me with one. To be honest, its not the one I wanted, but I love it. I wanted one just for variety.

I would take the sticks and the stand, and place a note in a sealed plastic bag saying he can pick the stuff up at the landowners place. Whether you take the stand down, or boot the guy yourself, you might have issues with the person. If the landowner does it, then the attention is off of you.

I actually think it looks like a pretty basic 8 point 2.5 year old. Its tough to see, but I outlined what it looks like to me.

For the first time ever, it looks like I will be missing the opening day of gun season. I have to take a trip to Nashville for work, and wont be getting back until next Saturday or Sunday night. What a bummer, I was really looking forward to opening morning, which may be my best shot at one of our remaining hit list bucks.

Was the blood trail from him or from you? That had to hurt.

My favorites in order: Muddy - Big platform, love the adjustable tilt feature to make them dead level even on a not completely straight tree. Gorilla - It really sucks they dont make them anymore, awesome wide platform, they were affordable and last forever. Millenium - comfortable seat, but I hate the more narrow foot platform and they are pricey. Rivers Edge - Great platform size, seat squeaks sometimes, seat will not flip all the way up with pad installed. Very comfortable with seat down, relatively inexpensive. Comfort Zone - Cheap, not the most comfortable, quiet. Least favorite: Big Game - every single one I own squeaks no matter what I do. Im thinking of picking up a Hawk to give them a try next season. Lone Wolf stands are great, but out of my price range.

6

Make that 5

Driving between Bristol and rush, ive seen 4 maturebucks out in fields so far.

I’m back to work today, figures, because we had a hard frost last night. Almost looks like snow on the ground out there. I was hoping to get a doe on the ground with Evan yesterday but it wasn’t in the cards. We saw a bunch of deer, just couldn’t get anything in range. This coming weekend will be Haley’s last chance, so we will be in the woods as much as we can be. Good luck to those of you who are out there today, the conditions look good!

Yes 12 is when they can start. He can take his courses when he is 10.

I didn’t read one single fact in this post. It was all opinion I will give you the FACT that 2 parts of a crossbow can be used with a gun but not a bow. A stock and a safety. That’s it though. Every single other part can either only be used on a crossbow, or is commonly used or can be used on a vertical bow. In fact, they have a riser, limbs, limb pockets, cables, a string, cams, a quiver, and arrows. Those parts cannot be used on a gun. That means they share 4 times as many pieces with a bow than they share with guns. The FACT of the matter is, they are far more closely related to bows than guns. No one is saying that they are vertical bows, they aren’t. They are traditional though. Wyoming has allowed them since their Game and Fish department was created in the early 1900s. Hunters were using them before that as well, but it’s just the first appearance of a formal law allowing them in the US. I’d call that pretty traditional. Modern crossbow design has been happening just about as long as compound bow design has. Those, my man, are facts. Anyone that chooses to dispute them is doing the same thing as people who believe the earth is flat.

Maybe. My buck tag has been punched though.

Just had a pretty good buck chase a doe through the plot. They were hauling.