You still have to pull the string, you are using an arrow (has vanes) not a bolt (no vanes), they are harder to cock, heavier to carry, noisier, and do not shoot any farther than a regular compound bow. Wide open fields are good location for crossbows.
Each has it's place and it's up to the hunter to choose.
I would agree with your take on things. To each their own, but be legal, safe and ethical.
I don't use one. I encourage those who do use a crossbow to hunt like a bowhunter as opposed to a firearms hunter. By that I mean, get close. And take shots only at relaxed stationary deer. If someone hunts safely, legally, and ethically I think that would reduce or eliminate most people's objections.
So you asked if it's archery, perhaps the best response is: It's hunting, so let's do it right, do it safely, and stick together.
I feel like they are a handicap compared to either of those options... but without having to manually draw the bow in the close presence of game, it just is not archery hunting to me.
That's the fundamental difference between cross bow's and compounds or trad bows. Cross bow's are held ready, while compounds and trad bows have to be drawn while the target animal is in very close proximity.
That act, is huge when bow hunting. I always feel like if I can get drawn without them seeing me / hearing me I have a great chance. But it's not easy. You need to time things well, you need the deer to look away or to go behind a tree etc. Likewise, if you screw up and have to hold to long, you likely miss (as I did a couple weeks ago).
That difference is big to me. Arguments can be made all over for and against, but if you dont have to draw the weapon while a deer/game is present, it's just not archery hunting.
So, I'm all for them for folks with injury or other health issue preventing them from drawing a bow (and would use one if I got hurt)... but I feel like they are more similar in terms of the practice of the hunt to a gun, and thus, should be open during gun seasons.
Opps, did I say that again?
Sorry!
Is a ballista a bow? https://www.google.com/search?q=ballista&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a&channel=fflb
Both string guns,IMHO.
Garbanzo,
I've seen a few crossbows, and not one of them was anywhere near what I would call silent, for hunting any distance.
firearm you can shoot deer at various angles that are ethical...through brush etc....neck shots frontal shots from 100 yards..you dont have to worry about branches.x bow you cannot, need to have a clear lane and make an ethical shoot...
YES YOU DONT HAVE TO DRAW BACK.....the 80 percent let down on today's bows whats the difference.....
its a form of archery....different than a compound which is different from a traditional bow
I have to take exception with your comment that you can "through brush etc you dont have to worry about branches" when it comes to firearms. Any ethical gun hunter would NEVER shoot through branches at a deer! I agree guns have a tighter shooting tolerance so windage and distance requires less compensation, but I would never shoot with even ONE branch in my line of fire.
I think the new hunters will read this and think that guns are like gernades, close is good enough.
I didn't think of that since I don't use a release. I dont care for them but at least you still have to draw your bow back while the animal is near with a release. Think I'm going to hang out at the leatherwall for a bit. haha. - Duncan
Who shoots the compound without a releae here?
Yeah, duncan got it right. Release has trigger just like a gun.
You want to be a bowhunter? Use a real bow not a compound.
according to the Cambridge Archaeological Journal the first REAL bows were made from:
Making the bow took 22 raw materials and three semi-finished goods (binding materials and multi-component glue) as well as five production phases.
So, if you're using anything else you're not using a real bow,.....right? :)
I absolutely think the guys with the most challenging to use weapons are the long bow/recurve trad guys. Some day I will do this, I simply can not practice enough now to do so ethically - thus, would not enjoy the action of hunting with a "stick" despite the romance behind the idea.
A compound certainly is easier. I use a release, I shoot a fast bow, I shoot expandable heads... I can practice a few times a week and be very accurate. The compound is enjoyable and fits my life right now, so I stick to it.
I respectfully disagree though that having let off and a release makes a compound more like a cross bow than a trad bow.
With a release aid, you can still "punch it" and have target panic and "pull" the release funny. With a compound you still have to draw the bow. Most of the time within 40-50yds of the animal, and almost always closer. Most of the deer I've killed were inside 20, and I was trying to execute a large motion - extending a 36 inch long object at the end of my arm, while drawing that object back 29.5" with my other arm - then having to position myself to make a good shoot - without the deer seeing me.
Now I have to figure out how to take an ethical clock while the timer is going - either that deer gets into a good position on it's own free will, or I run out of energy and have to let down.
I can not use a support to help me aim - I could with a cross bow.
I have to draw a bow in the presence of the animal, I dont the cross bow.
I have to time my drawing and aiming ideally with my compound (or stick bow for you stick bow guys), but with a cross bow, I dont have to worry about this.
I'm completely fine with people with disabilities using them during archery seasons. I'm completely fine with people using them during any gun seasons.
Personally, they just do not fit the spirit of what archery hunting is about. And I admit, this is through MY lens and MY world view - which is as good or bad as anyone elses... So just a discussion point really i guess.
After reading this thread I now realize that it doesn't matter to me what anyone uses, as long as it makes them happy. I enjoy the effort it takes to keep myself on target. So I'll Keep on Keeping on. - Duncan
compounds have sites to aim - longbows don't
compund you can draw when deer are not watching and hold(anybody can hold 15lbs) - longbow you can't.
I think that people that want crossBOW on rifle season are selfish.
As long as the hunter is SAFE, I don't care when they hunt, to some degree. I don't gun hunt for deer because I've found that the lazy,, unethical deer gun hunters are dangerous. Their weapons shoot farther than archers, so if they're lazy and unethical they're shooting at shadows and shapes, and not deer. Cross bows kind of fall into the category in my mind.
I like the challenge of being forced to get close to a deer, no matter if I can hold my draw or I need to draw at the last minute. I hunted with a recurve for about 35 years before I was forced to go with compound due to a shoulder injury. I was as accurate with my recurve as I am with my compount, BUT only after weeks of practice. I can take my compound out of the case and after a few arrows I'm deadly again.
I think arguements, discussions, bickering are healthy as long as education and understanding are the result. I don't have to agree with anyone else to UNDERSTAND their point of view. Through understanding comes tolerance, so it's not all bad to "bicker".
If it comes to name calling and personal attacks then nothing good comes from that. Just use the last gubernatoral election as your guide if you're not sure what NOT to do. :)
As for me, I like the compound bow, been doing it two years now and I liked it so much, that I didn't even gun hunt last year. Eventually, I will go to the crossbow, I'm 45 and I don't have any health problems to prevent me from using my bow. If at some point my health declines due to age in another decade or so, then I'll consider going over to the crossbow.
In the end, it's all hunting and as long as you're legal and ethical, I say enjoy and much success!!
thats why I shoot a 35 whalen with 200 Grain bullet
Like I said before...i dont think anyone that shOots a crossbow thinks its harder than a compound....but it is still a "form of archery".....
without a doubt a x bow takes less practice than a compound just like a compound takes less practice as a trad....isnt that the point...this helps the people who dont have time to practice and gets them proficient to make ethical kills...some due to life kids work dont have time to shoot all year round
REMEMBER ONE THING...Hunting is a dying sport...the more the better chance we have to keep things
I guess I wouldn't want to hunt somewhere that requires you to bust through brush for a shot opportunity, I would worry about 2 things. (1) Wounding too many deer. (2) The real concern for me would, if a "hunter" sees something through the brush and pulls the trigger, and it's me on the other side of his sights.
That's why I use my light the whole walk in to my stand and then go up the tree and hide from the deer,..... and other hunters.
Its a very ethical choice in my opinion. I shoot both the compound and the crossbow and each has its it place in my arsenal.
Its the experience of hunting your quarry at close range and the adrenaline rush that goes with it that makes bowhunting so exciting and addictive.
in the big woods you dont run into other hunters that is why you hunt the big woods..... especially if you are tracking and on the ground...you are miles in the woods
For the first time in many many years I ran across other hunters in the woods on state land (Salmon River and Day Pond). And guess what they were carrying...crossbows.
Sales of crossbows are through the roof at most pro shops. I guess the infatuation with - just pick it up, shoot a few bolts and you're ready to hunt is where it's at these days. You don't need the practice once you're sighted in.
there is a difference between a shot you would take with a gun and a shot you take with a bow....
bullets break bones arrows dont....they also go right through a SMALL limb branch covering a vital...small not a 6 inch limb but one that would deflect an arrow
there is a difference
watch a benoit video and you will see what I mean
I have the book "Hunting Big Bucks The Benoit Way" and that is a consistent theme throughout the book, tracking and shooting are completely different than stand hunting. As a stand hunter, I'd never shoot thru brush, that's just a choice that I've made as a hunter, but I completely understand where you're coming from, because different styles of hunting require different techniques.
