Geriatric Bow Hunting

[Caustic Burno]

All right boy's help me out here.
Due to Cervical Spinal Stenosis it is getting really difficult to shoot my recurve's and longbow's.
I never know when the left arm is going to give way on me.
This goes against my very grain, but I hate to totally miss bow season.
Here is the question.
Is there an ethical Crossbow?
What brand is good and why?
Has anyone actually harvested game with one?
Do you get pass through shot's?

I don't know if I can get there as it just doesn't seem like bow hunting to me.
I am the point of quiting or doing something different.

[rla442]

Up here in Ohio a whole lot of people use crossbows during the 4 month long deer archery season and harvest a whole lot of deer with them. I dont personnal hunt with one but, friends I've let hunt on my land have with no problems. I think their crossbows are all around or over the 150 pound mark. I've helped track a few shot with a crossbow and they all sent the arrow straight through. I dont think I've ever had to track one more than 50-60 yards...if a good shot was placed!

With that said, a crossbow with scope kind of makes many think they can make a 60+ yard shot because they can make it in the back yard on a target. Crossbow bolts dont carry the wieght for that long shot. My dad had to throw away a deer once he got during gun season because someone shot it with a crossbow bolt and the bolt never penetrated more than under the skin and laid right long the spine. Gangereen set in and when we skinned that deer out to butch...oh what a stench.

[HOSS]

CB, I have hunted with a crossbow in the past though I much prefer a conventional bow. I got pass through shots with no problem out to 30 yards. It seemed to me that the xbow started off much faster than my compound bow but shed speed faster as well. Probably due to the light weight bolt vs the heavier arrow from my compound. I am not sure what you mean by ethical but there are all kinds of xbows out there. Barnett makes a few models that are more traditional xbow with recurve limbs instead of wheels / cams. Xbows can be pretty accurate and an effective tool. If your shoulder bothers you I would invest in a cocking device. I think they are about 75 bucks but it utilizes a crank to draw the bow. You can get xbos from simple, midevil looking ones to high tech, super sonic, scoped xbow that launch a bolt in excess of 400 fps. Some of the brands are Barnett, tenpoint, Horton, Jaguar, Bear and others. If I ever get where I can't draw a bow I will go this route as well. Good luck and let us know what you get.

[M5farm]

I still shoot recurve and compound- My dad starting shooting crossbows about 10 yrs ago and loves it. Basically is like a single shot rifle at 50 yards or less. It still requires some skill to maneuver and shoot because of size. The bolt will be a through and through almost always. Big blood trails to follow. I will probably buy one in the next few years myself. With bow hunting, muzzleloader and general gun we can stretch our deer season to 5 months. If I were given a choice I would rather have 5 months of firearms. I have shot his crossbow and killed a doe with it last year and it was fun to me as my bow or rifle .

[Caustic Burno]

Hoss in ethical I should have worded the question better.
I will never shoot at a deer no matter if I was using a recurve,compound or xbow past 30 yard's.

What I am worried about is the K/E light bolt.
What is the min poundage you recommend?
What FPS due to lighter arrow/bolt?
Is the recurve or compound better?

They even have some with the bow mounted backward's.
I don't have a clue what is better and why?
Would you start out used to learn on ?

[M5farm]

if you have a prosop near by go there and shoot some different ones they will of course try and sell you the latest and greatest model. i know a few people that have gotten some great deals on last years bows because someone with more money than sense wants the very best every year and up grades. all of this is coming from a guy that is still shooting a 1990 pearson renagade- i just cant see spending 500 on something until i need it.

[HOSS]

Hoss in ethical I should have worded the question better.
I will never shoot at a deer no matter if I was using a recurve,compound or xbow past 30 yard's.

What I am worried about is the K/E light bolt. With the speed of todays xbows and durable carbon bolts you have no worries here out to 40 or 50 yards. Probably in the 70 ft lb range.
What is the min poundage you recommend? 150
What FPS due to lighter arrow/bolt? You should have no problem getting one at 150 lb draw to shoot 300 fps.
Is the recurve or compound better? Compound is faster and easier to cock but recurve is simpler and cable replacement is cheaper. The recurve ones are probably lighter weight as well.

They even have some with the bow mounted backward's.
I don't have a clue what is better and why? Supposedly it is supposed to be more efficient (less stroke length) and better stored energy. I don't know much about those however.
Would you start out used to learn on ? The cool thing with an xbow is the learning curve is minutes and not months like a compound or recurve bow. It is as simple as a firearm. I would buy a high quality used one and go from there. Let someone else take the depreciation. Check it over good though in case it has been dry fired.

[dun]

Ethics comes from the individual not the tool he/she uses.

[Ouachita]

Ethics comes from the individual not the tool he/she uses.

Yep. A 21/17 shaft slides right down the barrel, and fits real nice in a 410 wad

[Deepsouth]

CB you said you are going from recurves and long bows to a crossbow, why not try a compound with a light pull and a lot of let off? They have them now that will really smoke without putting a lot of pressure on you.

[Caustic Burno]

CB you said you are going from recurves and long bows to a crossbow, why not try a compound with a light pull and a lot of let off? They have them now that will really smoke without putting a lot of pressure on you.

What do you suggest? I haven't picked up a compound in years, like a decade or more.
I don't even know who the players are anymore.

[houstoncutter]

Quit wasting those arms and shoulders on them poor deer. Theirs big ol trout and bruiser reds just waiting to wear you out that time of year....lol My favorite weekend to fish is the openig day of gun season...

[Caustic Burno]

Quit wasting those arms and shoulders on them poor deer. Theirs big ol trout and bruiser reds just waiting to wear you out that time of year....lol My favorite weekend to fish is the openig day of gun season...

Boy's were wearing them out last week. I haven't seen my boat in month's youngest son had it, oldest son used it for a week and now it is at my daughter's. I do like October through April best for chasing those sow trout. My back just won't let me chase em like I would like. It has to be pretty calm or I aint going.
Have to take the gooseneck down later this month as my youngest is moving in a new house.
Granny is watching grand babies while I haul. I am not loading or unloading anything I am just driving. I was hoping to get enough suggestion's that I would hit the archery shop down there after some research. I might get to sneak off before coming home and try and knock some paint off a mirrolure.

[HOSS]

A modern compound can be deadly at 40lb draw weight. A 40 lb high-performance bow today is equal to a 60 lb bow 20 years ago. My wife shoots 45 lb draw at 80% let-off so she is only holding back about 9 pounds at full draw. She shoots completely through a deer broadside at 20 yards. The brands I would entertain are Matthews, Bow-Tech, Parker, PSE, Hoyt. In that order. Most of these bows are pricey but if you can find one gently used it will save you a ton over retail.

[Deepsouth]

CB, Hoss is describing exactly what I'm talking about. Any bow shop should get you on the right track. I personally would at least look into this before buying a crossbow.