Crossbows

Ron Scott · December 09, 2012, 10:19:13 PM

I never had any interest in crossbows, and never thought that I would ever use one, but after having shoulder surgery a few years back, I only shoot a 48# bow draw. Lately with the late season cold weather, it has been getting somewhat difficult to pull and hold the 48#'s smoothly. Old age may have something to do with it also. :(

Some associates have been advising me to try using a crossbow if I'm going to keep on hunting the late bow season, so i broke down and tried shooting a couple crossbow models at a major sporting goods store the other day while at a meeting there. I was amazed at their high speed and accuracy. They are really "tack drivers", but there are many styles and models, and they are quite pricey.

There has been some brief mention of crossbow use on other Forum Threads, but what are some preferred brands and models recommended for the ardent deer hunter for both on the ground and tree stand hunting? It seems that a cranking cocking system would also be beneficial for the older hunter with a bad shoulder when hunting from a tree stand.

Any suggestions and words of wisdom from the experienced crossbow hunters are appreciated.

Jeff · December 09, 2012, 10:38:53 PM

I'm in the same place you are Ron. I used Pete's crossbow a few days. I know one thing, I don't want his. Very heavy, a bear to cock, and not much you can do other than shoot it, to uncock it. I want to find something light, and that had an on-board mechanism for arming-disarming. I'm afraid I better put one on lay away now in order to pay for it by next season. I'm also going to get a recurve versus compound. There is an article/ad on the back of your 2012 Michigan hunting regulations for excalibur crossbows explaining why recurve. They sold me.

Ron Scott · December 09, 2012, 11:17:09 PM

I shot the Excalibur and Ten Point at Jay's while I was there on Tuesday. I also watched the 1 1/4 hour video on the Excalibur. It is one of the lightest crossbows and has been in existence since 1986 and has very low maintenance due to the recurve-limbed design. The string can be changed very quickly in the field. The recurve limbs make it a little wider and I wonder on the ease of cocking for tree stand and weak shoulder hunting. I was impressed by it also.

The Ten Point has an "on board" cocking device, but is heavier, more complicated with the compound wheels, but also narrower which may be an advantage for hunting from a tree stand. It has only been in existence for a couple years though so wonder on its reliability. It has to go to the shop to have the string changed.

What make and model does Pete have?

Cypressstump · December 10, 2012, 08:38:58 AM

The new crossbows today are simply amazing comapared to what I used before. I have a like new Barnett Wildcat 150# recurve crossbow. Bows today shooting upwards of 400 FPS are sick.

One thing to be aware of, there have been many,many new crossbow owners now missing thumbs from the knuckle joint to the fingertip. People not aware, while aiming for a shot, have put their thumbs in the strings' flight path resulting in a thumb being lost, and it's a nasty torn stump left..
Have fun, as with anything else, be careful!

Stump

WmFritz · December 10, 2012, 10:06:26 AM

Quote from: Cypressstump on December 10, 2012, 08:38:58 AM
The new crossbows today are simply amazing comapared to what I used before. I have a like new Barnett Wildcat 150# recurve crossbow. Bows today shooting upwards of 400 FPS are sick.

One thing to be aware of, there have been many,many new crossbow owners now missing thumbs from the knuckle joint to the fingertip. People not aware, while aiming for a shot, have put their thumbs in the strings' flight path resulting in a thumb being lost, and it's a nasty torn stump left..
Have fun, as with anything else, be careful!

Stump

That's a great point Stump.... I heard of that and can see it happening

Ron Scott · December 10, 2012, 12:02:23 PM

That's one of the first things that I was told. I notice that some models have guards on them to hold the supporting hand below the guard.

chain · December 11, 2012, 07:54:17 PM

You need every safety feature made for a crossbow. I have a Exocet 200, can't imagine ever cocking it in a tree stand. One big thing I would change is the safety on/off, it is too easy to accidentally flip to off position. Crossbows are dangerous devices.

Ron Scott · December 11, 2012, 11:55:09 PM

That's an Excalibur, right?

chain · December 12, 2012, 04:46:51 AM

Yes. Excaliber, otherwise an excellent crossbow.

treefarmer87 · December 12, 2012, 06:39:37 PM

i have a parker safari thumbhole. its been a really good crossbow, i have taken alot of deer with it.

Ron Scott · December 12, 2012, 10:18:28 PM

Is it easy cocking? Can you use it from a tree stand?

treefarmer87 · December 13, 2012, 05:49:11 PM

I got a hand crank because i only bow hunt in a stand. it has 150lbs draw, without the two cocking aids is is kinda hard.

Tom L · December 14, 2012, 03:31:10 PM

I own two crossbows, they are a lot of fun to shoot and tinker with

one is a middleton , like a excalibur with recurve limbs and the other is a scorpyd ventilator with wheels

the scorpyd is very light and very fast, tack driver for sure. killed 6 deer with it this year and it is easy to cock in the stand. only 150 lbs and short enough with the folding stock to redraw it in the tree.

I would say go for it, they are very fun to shoot and deadly in the woods.

not that much different than any modern day bow with 80 percent letoff and speeds over 350 fps

Corley5 · December 14, 2012, 09:24:02 PM

I watched a show on the Outdoor Channel a couple years ago where they were hunting black bear in Ontario with Excaliburs. I was sold on them then. Fast forward to this deer season, the Excalibur Ad in the Michigan DNR game laws, the relaxed crossbow laws in this state, a bit of my own research and I put an Excalibur Equinox on lay-away at Jay's in Gaylord this week. I figure I'll get it just in time for archery season next year ;D

Ron Scott · December 16, 2012, 11:50:07 AM

A top of the line Excalibur. ;)

Corley5 · December 16, 2012, 04:28:31 PM

I got the Shadow Zone Lite Stuff package with the illuminated scope, rope cocking aid, quiver etc. Jay's layaway program takes the pain out of it ;)

Jeff · December 27, 2012, 04:21:03 PM

Tammy and the kids got me a crossbow for Christmas.

However, it is the first time I have ever returned any Christmas present from anyone. I explained why, and they seemed to understand. I took the money to Jays in Clare today and was able to put a really nice down payment, and layaway an Excalibur Exocet crossbow with shadow-zone package. I've not been in the Gaylord Jay's but a couple times, so don't know if they have the same facilitis as Clare, but I was able to cock, and un-cock, and shoot the bow several times on the range, to make sure it was what I wanted.

Ron, most of the Excalibur bows are on sale right now at the Clare Jays.

http://www.excaliburcrossbow.com/uploads/manual.pdf

Corley5 · December 27, 2012, 04:44:06 PM

8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

POSTON WIDEHEAD · December 27, 2012, 06:25:54 PM

I've always wanted a crossbow, but never got one. I'm afraid I would see the BIGGEST Buck I've ever seen and he would be standing 5 more yards than my bow would shoot. >:(

Ron Scott · December 28, 2012, 11:31:21 PM

Jeff,

Are you going to bear hunt with it? What brand does Pete have, that you used during the late deer season?

I've also looked at the Ten Point and Carbon Express bands here at the FPS Archery Dealer, but he is all sold out until the new models come in. I'm amazed at the amount of crossbow sales in the local shops. I'm still trying to talk myself into one after I price them. ;)

LOGDOG · December 29, 2012, 09:07:15 AM

Ron,

I've been shooting and hunting with crossbows "with a permit" for 21 years now I guess. The entire time I've chosen Horton Crossbows and not regretted it. I can shoot 50 yards comfortably and usually stack the arrows shaft on shaft or at a minimum a super tight group. The durability has been awesome. They've needed nothing from me. I've actually taken far more deer with my crossbows than with rifles and I actually enjoy shooting the crossbow more. If I were to upgrade now, I'd buy either a Horton "Fury" or "Havoc". I really like the short, narrow chassis they're on. Yet they're built strong and they're fast and accurate. Some of these crossbows feel like you're holding one of those big styrofoam gliders that I used to have when I was a kid. Long and wide and bulky. When I'm up in a tree, or a house stand or a ground blind, I don't want to have to swing that around. Horton's always had a nice compact chassis that has allowed me to have lots of freedom of movement in pretty much every situation a hunter can encounter in 21 years of using them.

For me ... it's a Horton crossbow, Easton arrows, and Muzzy broadheads. That just my personal preference. Everyone has to find their own combination. Go find a store that carries Horton though and hold and shoot if possible the various models .... especially the Fury and Havoc. Compare the footprint of those to some of the others out there. You'll see what I mean.

Jeff · December 29, 2012, 10:03:44 AM

Ron, I was just telling Tammy last night that when I get another bear permit, I plan on using the crossbow to hunt, but that would depend on the day. I'd probably use a rifle if it was wet or raining. I could not think of the name of Pete's crossbow, so I called him down in Florida, and he's brain dead this morning too. He's going to call me if he thinks of it. It was only $299, so it might be an off brand of some sort. It did have a nice feature, that the bows I have looked at didn't, and that was an auto safe. When cocking, it automatically puts the crossbow on safety.

Magicman · December 29, 2012, 11:03:37 AM

Jeff, is there a problem with taking both the rifle and the crossbow, and then using whichever presented the best opportunity? I realize the bulkiness of both, but I was wondering.

LOGDOG · December 29, 2012, 11:15:15 AM

Horton crossbows have the Auto-safety feature. As soon as you cock it, it brings the safety back into the locked position. I've never had a misfire in all the years of using them. Not one.

I was reading the regulations down here in LA the other day and I believe I read that we're not allowed to possess a firearm in the tree with us while we have archery equipment with the exception of like a .22 pistol or something for snakes. Might want to check the regulations in whatever State you're hunting to see what local laws allow.

Also wanted to mention that I do shoot some of the Horton carbon bolts as well in my crossbow. Mostly for target practice though. I prefer hunting with aluminum. Years back there were some article on the carbon arrows and safety concerns from them shattering inside the animal and the possibility of ingesting the fragments of the carbon. Something like that.... Anyway, I made the decision to hunt with the aluminum arrows and stay with them and it's been good. Plus I like to customize my arrows with custom fletchings and such.

Jeff · December 29, 2012, 11:35:35 AM

Quote from: Magicman on December 29, 2012, 11:03:37 AM
Jeff, is there a problem with taking both the rifle and the crossbow, and then using whichever presented the best opportunity? I realize the bulkiness of both, but I was wondering.

For Bear Hunting, I don't know of a law that would prevent it. I know I would certainly want a firearm if I had to track a bear hit by a crossbow.