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BTW, isn't "vertical crossbow" kind of an OXYMORON?! : )

Most who face the choice either get a crossbow or quit bowhunting.

I tried a crossbow, actually bought three of them while seeking one I liked well enough to make the switch, but was able to practice enough to regain enough of my former strength and control to resume hunting with the compound until last year, when a full spring and summer of practicing several hours a week still left me just at the edge of regaining an ethical draw weight and ability to hold for a clean release., and when the cooler weather came along, that nailed the lid on my bowhunting for the year.

I had bought a crossbow again the year before, and finally began practicing with it when I could simply not draw my compound in even moderately cool weather. The crossbow was accurate, but I just couldn't warm up to it as a real substitute for my bow, and I particularly disliked the noise level.

I looked for other alternatives and found the maker of the one this fella is using, Hickory Creek. They also make conversion kits to add their draw-lock feature to the regular bow of your choice, which appealed most to me because I would then have the ability to draw with both arms, back at my full draw weight the bow was capable of, and probably hold on target to make a responsible hunting shot again, maybe using an aide to add support for the bow arm like s shooting stick.

Seemed like about as close as I would be able to come to continuing to bowhunt, but as I was about to order a conversion kit, the idea came to me that I might even come up with a DIY device that I'd like a little better, and I'm working on that now. It will be similar in use to the draw-lock kit, but without incorporating their trigger assembly.

I think the one in the video above is the complete 'vertical crossbow' from Hickory Creek, and is shorter in ATA than conventional bows and is available in considerably higher draw weights. The conversion kits would allow a guy to use his own favorite existing bow, and my version would allow me to also use my own release as well, just adding the ability to draw the full 70 # weight that I did for over fifty years, and hold it at almost full draw until the game is approaching.

I know, some will be using these devices out of laziness, but some of us have fought the battles against the age or injuries that have taken many of our old hunting partners out of the game and have slowly lost that battle. When the choice was between using our regular gear and an x-bow, we chose our regular gear, too. When it becomes a choice between using an x-bow (or something that provides some of the same benefits) and staying home on the couch, some of us are choosing the devices that allow us to get back out there.

As for the choice between the x-bows and one or another of these conversion devices that use the original bow with a draw locking addition....the device wouldn't be adding the accuracy or range that the x-bow does, but solves the noise problem of the x-bows that has the game sometimes ducking the string at thirty yards or more. They're more of an in-between option for the guy whose draw arm strength and/or bow arm stability is pretty much gone, but who can still handle the release and the draw weight at the reduced level at full let-off.

Not as good as turning back the clock fifteen years or so, but it beats sitting on the porch until gun season.

I believe most hunters agree scoped and cocked crossbows have their place with advancing seniors, and those with physical limitations.

I still held that position as being the correct one, but by the time they were included here I had also encountered a few guys carrying them in the woods and heard some of their excuses, which mostly sounded like baloney, and I realized that the "doctor's note" was really not a workable solution to the problem, as it would be misused at will like so many other well-intended regulations, and would simply be another hindrance to honest that didn't affect the dishonest. At that point it seemed to be a fight no longer worth fighting.

I know the full inclusion has hurt our numbers of "real" bowhunters, but there have also been some who have begun archery hunting now with x-bows and switched to compounds because they are lighter and easier to carry, and the young hunters are still the ones who like to walk all day and wear out their boots, like most of us did those first several years. The added challenge of "doing it the hard way" has also drawn some from those who have started out with x-bows, just as we've had some guys start with compounds and sights and take up trad gear after years of hunting, for the challenge.

And there's the fact that the additional numbers of people in our season does help to retain the seasons that were being nibbled on by the gun hunting majority constantly.

There's usually some silver lining to almost any dark cloud. I don't think the full inclusion has been the disaster some if us had expected. Still would have been better if it could have been really restricted to those with legitimate needs, but realistically, maybe as good as could be expected.