re: For the first time in my life, I'm tempted by a crossbow

I'm going to have to start the season with one. A compound is more fun but doc won't clear me to pull a bow for another couple of weeks. Give it a shot, some love them others hate them. I would rather a lot of hunters use them and kill a deer. Instead a ton of guys practice for a week to 'hit a pie plate' then go injure a deer and chalk it up to archery is hard.

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I'm going to have to start the season with one. A compound is more fun but doc won't clear me to pull a bow for another couple of weeks. Give it a shot, some love them others hate them. I would rather a lot of hunters use them and kill a deer. Instead a ton of guys practice for a week to 'hit a pie plate' then go injure a deer and chalk it up to archery is hard.

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That's a legit reason.

To your second point, I'd rather those guys stay home.

I've been recurve only since 2008 and can't get over people seeking approval in using a crossbow. It's legal. If it gets you in the woods, do it! For God's sake, keep your thumb out of the string's path!!

Here is how I look at bow season. Other than the peak day of the rut, it's the best opportunity to kill a good buck. They aren't as jumpy, and easier to bait them in. (Yes I bait during bow season). If I would have had a rifle during these bow hunts I'd have several more mounts on the wall.

It's a good trade off restricting myself to a bow to somewhat level the playing field. I have no issues with that. My biggest issue is the type of stand needed to bow hunt from. I have to find time to hang 3 lock ons this week where I already have a ladder stand. I could rifle hunt out of a bow stand but with kids that's not an option

Putting people on stands on your place that "bow" hunt and having them wound deer is way more frustrating to me than putting them out there with a crossbow and having them bag something they are proud of. A lot of people want to bow hunt, but don't put the time into it to truly be able to reach out consistently to 30 yards and hit the kill zone on a deer. I'd rather those people be on a stand confidently killing deer than slinging arrows full of hope and prayers.

You're absolutely right. I have an in-law that I've basically done all the work for. Found a couple spots and ran cameras and bait trying to find where the best spots are. Narrowed down two 3 spots and hung stands ( including bow hangers and all). Same guy called me today asking if I had a bow target so he could shoot before this weekend ( hasn't shot in 6 years) Now I regret getting this guy set up on some good deer if he is just gonna miss / make a bad shot. We all do it but a screw up isn't as bad when you've at least put forth effort not to

Hell compound bows are for weakling's too. Try being like the real Indians and using a beaten rock tied to the end of a stick if you really want to be a badass

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Hell compound bows are for weakling's too.

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Exactly, and crossbows are for Paraplegics, amputees, people with severe arm injuries, the handicapped and little girls. Scratch that, even my 15 yo daughter shoots a compound bow.

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Same people who use rifles as well. Unless you are hunting with a bow all year long and not picking up anything else then there is no reason to look down on a crossbow.

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Typically, before crossbows became legal for anyone to use during archery season, the only people bow hunting were the people going out there putting in work, getting in the stand early being cautious of wind, scent, and walking to the stand. Deer weren't as wise to hunters being in the woods, bow hunters had an advantage, seeing the animals before crowds start walking the woods, especially for people hunting in large clubs or management areas.

My personal experience, once it became legal, 4-wheelers started cranking up 15 minutes before legal shooting time, driving right up to a box stand over a corn pile. Deer aren't stupid, they can tell when hunters get into the woods. That's when their patterns change. Unless you bow hunted before it became legal, it's hard to understand.

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For the record I don't have one, just think it gets out of hand with people calling out those who use one as pussies then hitting the stand with any fire arm for that matter. If you're using a recurve or long bow as your only means to hunt I feel as though you have a right to talk shite to everyone else, to each his own though.

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This isn't the case with all crossbow hunters, just as it isn't the same with all duck hunters that have surface drives, but those that do act like lazy rifle hunters affect the way the animals act for everyone else. It isn't all bad, it's good for those with shoulder injuries, young kids getting into hunting, and it also teaches discipline with insuring that you can actually watch an animal get into close range because it doesn't have the ability to shoot an unlimited distance, but with saying that it proves that it is indeed easier than a compound, which is easier than a recurve, which is easier than a long bow, which is easier than a sling shot, which is easier than a spear.

I don't personally have a fundamental issue with someone using a crossbow, if they do it the right way, but I sure as hell won't stop messing with able body people about choosing to do so, and I will let anyone who hunts with a recurve, longbow, sling shot, or spear say whatever they want to me without my feelings getting hurt.