School me on crossbows

justjeepin86

justjeepin86

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2005
Location
Winston-Salem, NC
Thinking of getting a crossbow for deer. I have a compound, but I don't really have the time it want to, to feel comfortable shooting at something alive. A copout, maybe. I could hunt behind my house some if I had something that didn't go boom. Not looking for the best, but don't want a POS. What can you tell me about them?

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I killed my first crossbow buck last year. It made a mess like I have never seen. Shot another one that got away. I will be putting Vaseline on my bolts this year to hopefully get less plugged exit wounds. An old physically disabled person told me that the drag of the shaft and Fletches can pull organ matter into the exit wound, forming a plug. Tracked the second deer for 300 yards of great blood. Then it just stopped. Searched 3 more hours. I believe my Excalibur shoots around 300fps.
 
They are nice but bulky. They also make more noise than a compound, which will make the deer jump or squat. But they are easier to get the hang of than a compound and give you a little more range. I have an Excalibur Axiom but choose my Elite Answer over it when I shoot in the backyard or go hunting now that my right shoulder has healed.
 
Thanks for the replies. I knew there would be that comment about old people. Not going to bother me, I just want some more meat in the freezer.

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I bought one just because my pops had one and loved it. After shooting it a few times at a couple straw bales, I came to realize that they are belong in a history museum unless hunting with it.
 
Make sure your foot fits the cocking stirrup. If it slips off it will hurt alot if placed right. Right up the inseam to the family.
 
W an Excaliber the only things that wear or need adjusting/replaced are the string and maybe the bumpers and you can do that yourself. Limit your shots to 30 yrds or less and should have no trouble w ducking deer. Always shoot razor sharp broadheads and not any that have been shot into targets unless the have been resharpened. Aim right behind the shoulder and a little below the center of the deers side on broadside shots, a little further back from the shoulder if the deer is facing a bit away from you. If you don't have a range finder you can measure w a tape and set some markers @ 30 yrds in your backyard etc. to know when the deer is in your kill zone.
 
After hunting with a crossbow for much of the season, it Really makes you appreciate a rifle hunt. Like he said, they are bulky and awkward in a treestand. I took the quiver off my axiom and would just leave an extra arrow in the stand. I find that the optics on them are all pretty much junk. But a 30 yard weapon, you can't expect a nightforce.
 
Got a crossbow for my Dad a few years back when he was diagnosed with ALS and was losing his mobility and we knew we would be doing some ground blind hunting from now on. Turns out everyone loves shooting it, even the wife! My boy wants to try to take a deer this year with it. It's stupid accurate and fast, even out to 60 yards. It's a TenPoint with a Nikon BoltXR scope and I shoot Rage broad heads. It's compact and is nice in the tree. Not bulky. Can cock it easily in the tree too.
 
Bushwhacker said:
Got a crossbow for my Dad a few years back when he was diagnosed with ALS and was losing his mobility and we knew we would be doing some ground blind hunting from now on. Turns out everyone loves shooting it, even the wife! My boy wants to try to take a deer this year with it. It's stupid accurate and fast, even out to 60 yards. It's a TenPoint with a Nikon BoltXR scope and I shoot Rage broad heads. It's compact and is nice in the tree. Not bulky. Can cock it easily in the tree too.
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Yea most all of them are "stupid accurate" to the point that you will destroy bolts if you shoot more than one of them @ the same bullseye. Better to shoot @ a different bullseye w each shot unless you like buying new bolts again and again.
 
My Excalibur is a recurve, that does account for a good bit more bulkiness. Those rage broadheads are mean. Be ready for the frustration of out of range deer though. I feel like hunting with the crossbow has made me more conservative in the shots I would take with a rifle.
 
Yeah, I know the shot length will suffer greatly. The ease of accuracy is what i'm looking for. Otherwise, I would be into a standard bow.
 
Theres one here for sale at the plant if you want me to send you some info
 
I know what you're talking about at least in nc anyway local game wardens always trying to get me but I'm always 1 up on him. Every since my dad laid him out and put him in a choke hold we haven't had any trouble at all. Tennessee now they are some fine folks, nice as can be.
 
anvilrubi said:
I know what you're talking about at least in nc anyway local game wardens always trying to get me but I'm always 1 up on him. Every since my dad laid him out and put him in a choke hold we haven't had any trouble at all. Tennessee now they are some fine folks, nice as can be.
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you must have a shitty game warden. i hunt with two or three from the local area. they tip me off on good places to grouse hunt and where not to go because of illegal set traps. i return the favor in summer and tip them off on illegal fishing.
It also helps to be friends with the wild life commission i find out about a lot of food plots that aren't mapped or easily accessed.
 
I'm glad to know there are some good ones in nc but they don't send them to Sampson county
 
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