Does anyone regret putting in the crossbow paperwork and miss using a bow? Is hunting with a crossbow as much fun or at least close to as much as a compound or recurve?
I would go back in a heartbeat.
It's not as much fun but I would be on the couch without the crossbow. Crossbows are heavy and shaped like a "T" square so they are a ball to move through the woods with.
I have tried every sling type there is and nothing worked well. I now use a bungee and strap gizmo I made to hook it on the chest strap of my backpack so that carries the weight.
Crossbows are loud and have the same effective range for hunting as the compound bow. Because of their weight they are much harder to shoot off hand and most use a rest of some sort. I use a monopod.
You will need to figure out how you are going to handle a cocked crossbow a the end of your hunt. Many people just throw a target and a practice arrow in the truck and shoot it off. Some carry a sacrificial arrow in their quiver and shoot it into the ground. Be careful doing this with carbon arrows as they can crack.
Make sure that you get a cocking rope. Cocking a crossbow by hand can cause the arrow to go left or right if the crossbow string isn't pulled back evenly. I also use the cocking rope to let down, or undock, the crossbow at the end of my hunt.
Crossbows are noisy compared to the verts. Some are noisier than others. You will be surprised if you have never shot one. The deer I have shot don't seem to mind the noise though.
I never shoot mine at the end of the hunt from my stand. I only shoot from my stand if I am shooting at a deer. Crossbows are loud and there is no sense educating any nearby deer.
Crossbows are heavy and cumbersome in the woods. I typically shoot mine from a rest of some sort. I use a monopod when hunting on the ground and the shooting rail on my Summit Goliath.
DFI (Dry Fire Inhibitor) Most, not all, have a DFI today. Just like compound bows crossbows do not dry fire well.
DFI's make it difficult to uncock the xbow with the cocking rope. DFI's mean that the safest (according to some people anyway) way to "uncock" the crossbow at the end of the hunt is to fire it.
There are two basic types of crossbows. There are compound crossbows and recurve crossbows. I have an Excalibur Exocet which is a 200 lb recurve crossbow (no DFI). Recurve crossbows are wider, typically noisier, but they are easier to maintain and less subject to failure (less moving parts) than the compound crossbows IMO.
I like my recurve as I can do almost any maintenance I need without needing a crossbow press. I keep a spare string and the string changer in the truck so If I need to change my string in the field I can. The string I keep as a backup has been used so that it has already stretched and stable.
The string changer is necessary to change strings, I know obvious, and just as importantly to maintain the proper brace height. Brace height can affect the POI vertically.
After many string changes over the years I can say that putting on a string that has been broken in and setting the brace height does not effect the POI out to 50 yards.
I did have to replace my string once during a hunt. I walked back out to the truck, changed the string, set the brace height, and had a nice afternoon hunt. If I had a compound crossbow I would have been out of commission until I had gotten it to a shop with a press and a range trip.
There is some great videos here on Excalibur Crossbows:
http://www.excaliburcrossbow.com/videos
I specifically bought an Excalibur Crossbow because you can "uncock" it using the cocking rope. It is a snap and only takes a few seconds. Watch the video on how to uncock your crossbow. One of the things you will learn pretty quick is that if you are not hunting it is much easier to walk with an "uncocked" crossbow than it is when it is cocked.
A few words about crossbow arrows. Yes, they are properly called arrows; bolts have only two fletchings and were used in medieval times. Modern crossbow arrows use three.
Crossbow arrows are much shorter 20" or thereabouts so the are much more unstable than standard arrows used in regular compound bows. To stabilize these shorter arrows a much higher FOC (Front Of Center) balance is needed. While the average vertical compound bow shoots an arrow that has an FOC of 10% to 15% a crossbow arrow requires more. My crossbow arrows are running 28% FOC.
http://archeryreport.com/2010/09/arrow-foc-basics-calculate/
When it comes to fletching a good strong helical or offset is recommended. Make sure that the fletching is short enough to clear the bottom of the groove in the crossbow rail. Also pay attention to the helical. Make sure that it isn't so severe that it rubs the inside of the rail.
I am shooting arrows that I make with a 4 degree right offset. I have tested Bhoning Blazers, 5" feathers, duravanes, turkey feathers, and Aerovanes. All of them flew very well out to 50 yards out of my Excalibur Exocet. My arrows are currently wearing Bhoning Blazers.
Broadhead selection is also critical. A low profile broadhead or mechanical is the way to go here. I have had good luck with Slick Tricks, Rage, and NAP Spitfires. My go to broadhead is the NAP Spitfire. A crossbow arrow launch is very violent, remember we are talking a 200lb draw here, so mechanical broadhead need to be tested to ensure that they will stay closed. Manufacturers now are specifically rating broadheads for crossbows. You should test the ones you are planning on using anyway.
A cocked crossbow is very cumbersome in the woods and you should never put any digits you want t keep. in the string path. Often referred to as the triangle of pain. People have actually lost the tip of their thumb at the joint by holding the forearm incorrectly. I have been nipped a couple of times, I am a slow learner apparently, and I will say that it smarts. Even a nip will leave a blood blister and take a good chunk of the nail. Been there done that.
At sunset I just take the arrow off the rail and I "uncock" the crossbow and walk out of the woods.
I hunt in my Summit Goliath with my Excalibur crossbow without any issues. I set the seat as low as it will go and I use the rail as a brace to shoot. I cock my crossbow on the ground and I pull it up cocked (no arrow on the rail).
I can and have "cocked"/"uncocked" the crossbow in the stand. Once legal shooting time has ended I "uncock" the crossbow and then I let it down. Crossbows are loud so you rarely get a second shot. I never have anyway.
They can be re-cocked in the tree but it takes a little practice. It pass it out over the rail and pull the butt of the crossbow up under the rail setting the stirrup on the bottom platform and cock the crossbow. I then reverse the process.
As far as brands go you will be fine if you stick with the major brands. Excalibur, Tenpoint, Parker, etc. My dad has a Parker Terminator and he has been happy with it.
Dan Miller is the US warranty representative for Excalibur Crossbows in the US. His business is called
Horizontal Archery in Sardis Ohio, (740) 483-2312. If you are in the US and you need something for an Excalibur crossbow call
DanMiller. Dan doesn't have a website and the best way to reach him is via telephone.
Another great resource is David at Wyvern Creations. David carries a full line of crossbows and accessories.
Wyvern Creations, LLC
235 North River Road
Lee, NH 03861
603-659-0575
http://www.wyverncreations.com/
I have done business with both many times over the years and have both to be honest, fair, and terrific people to do business with. Both are a true library of information when it comes to crossbows.
This should be a decent primer and get you off to a good start.
Bob
