[TatSoul]

I love to hunt with a compound bow but i have been having some serious shoulder issues.I cant seem to hold the bow straight out without it hurting in my shoulder real bad.Decided it was time to move to a cross bow.Purchased an Excaliber exomax today and it seems like a nice bow.I did some research on it and when i picked one up i loved the way it felt.I liked the safety and trigger the best also.The other ones i looked at seemed kind of mickey mouse.
Any of you guys ever hunted with crossbows and is there any kind of advantages or disadvantages that you can point out.Any pointers?I read somewhere you have to aim a little low cause the deer will load up before they jump.Bow has a rated speed of 350 FPS.we will see i guess.

 

[Try'n Hard]

You should probably see a doctor for that shoulder... I have seen way more injured and lost deer from crossbow users than bow users.... I really think it is a result of not knowing the limitations of the crossbow and not PRACTICING! They usually show up on opening day and haven't shot it since they shot "that deer last year that we looked all night for and could never find" I'm sure you will get some good tips, and Im sure that you dont need to do anywhere near as much practicing as with a bow, but I gotta figure that at least some amount of practice (not just sighting in) is required

 

[afishanado]

IMO they are a pain in the rear-end to carry in and out of the woods because they are heavier than a bow and seem to snag on every damn branch/briar; plus you need to discharge the bow after every trip. Other than that, they are killing machines. Never had one jump the string, but my shots have been 20 yards or less. Also some mechanical broadheads will deploy prematurely when shot, so make sure you are shooting a head designed for crossbows.

 

[Gnwdad]

Wirelessly posted (My Phone)

Last year was my first year hunting with a crossbow for similar reasons to yours. I shot/killed 4 deer with it. My farthest was 48 yards and he never knew the bolt was headed his direction, it was a double lung shot. The closest shot was 8 yards and was poor shot placement, she ran off 50-60 yards before the crash. I practiced up to 80 yards, there was about 4 inches of drop and still buried the bolt to the fletchings in my target. I love mine and have nothing negative to say about it. I have the Horton Vision 175 and it is not heavy or awkward carrying through the woods.

 

[TatSoul]

You should probably see a doctor for that shoulder... I have seen way more injured and lost deer from crossbow users than bow users.... I really think it is a result of not knowing the limitations of the crossbow and not PRACTICING! They usually show up on opening day and haven't shot it since they shot "that deer last year that we looked all night for and could never find" I'm sure you will get some good tips, and Im sure that you dont need to do anywhere near as much practicing as with a bow, but I gotta figure that at least some amount of practice (not just sighting in) is required

Im very proficient with a compound bow.I would never shoot at a deer blind not having confidence in my shot beforehand.I plan on making multiple shots at different ranges to make sure my shot is on time in the targets.I can pop a deer between the eyes at 100 yards all day long so im pretty sure i can make a good shot thru a crossbow scope.Just seeing how many people use them and if there was anything i could run into beforehand.Thanks for the tips

 

[Jason]

I love to hunt with a compound bow but i have been having some serious shoulder issues.I cant seem to hold the bow straight out without it hurting in my shoulder real bad.Decided it was time to move to a cross bow.Purchased an Excaliber exomax today and it seems like a nice bow.I did some research on it and when i picked one up i loved the way it felt.I liked the safety and trigger the best also.The other ones i looked at seemed kind of mickey mouse.
Any of you guys ever hunted with crossbows and is there any kind of advantages or disadvantages that you can point out.Any pointers?I read somewhere you have to aim a little low cause the deer will load up before they jump.Bow has a rated speed of 350 FPS.we will see i guess.

You'll hear folks talking bout jumping the string.....anything that fast you don't have to worry bout that! just hit the broiler, and you are good!:thumbsup:

 

[Try'n Hard]

You'll hear folks talking bout jumping the string.....anything that fast you don't have to worry bout that! just hit the broiler, and you are good!:thumbsup:

I agree.... Out to about 30yds, which is getting close to the widely accepted maximum range of about 40 Yds for a crossbow. A crossbow bolt shot at 50yds will take about a half second to get to its target... Plenty of time to "jump" the string. The drop in kinetic energy makes a shot at that distance unethical IMO.
I'm not against xbows, just hunters who shoot at anything they see at any distance. Just because you can hit a target at 80 Yds does not mean you can make an ethical shot on an animal of deer size. Don't mean to be "preachy" about it, I hope when my shoulder craps out I can transition to an xbow... And yes I will probably be a little "bummed" also

 

[jasoncooperpcola]

My dad bought a Parker crossbow when he started losing strength due to his health. He could not cock it, hell i could barely cock it. But we got it sighted in and we practiced together for a month. Come bow season, I would get dad to his stand, load the Parker and hand it to him. When I picked him up, If it was not still cocked and loaded I knew 100% he had a deer somewhere. I can thank crossbows for giving my dad three years longer to bow hunt before he passed away. That being said, they are a little awkward. I reccommend the pulley rope cocking device. I have hunted with it, and between me and dad, never had a deer jump it. What scope did you get? The Parker has a reddot and sometimes it gets left on. Carry extra batteries and check the sight when you get on stand. Try carrying it on your back but with the bow pointing down. Seems to catch less that way. Maybe try the Rage crossbow broadheads? I use Rage for my compound but have not tried the crossbow version yet. Also I shoot 125gr heads. They seem to group better than 100gr.

 

[TatSoul]

My dad bought a Parker crossbow when he started losing strength due to his health. He could not cock it, hell i could barely cock it. But we got it sighted in and we practiced together for a month. Come bow season, I would get dad to his stand, load the Parker and hand it to him. When I picked him up, If it was not still cocked and loaded I knew 100% he had a deer somewhere. I can thank crossbows for giving my dad three years longer to bow hunt before he passed away. That being said, they are a little awkward. I reccommend the pulley rope cocking device. I have hunted with it, and between me and dad, never had a deer jump it. What scope did you get? The Parker has a reddot and sometimes it gets left on. Carry extra batteries and check the sight when you get on stand. Try carrying it on your back but with the bow pointing down. Seems to catch less that way. Maybe try the Rage crossbow broadheads? I use Rage for my compound but have not tried the crossbow version yet. Also I shoot 125gr heads. They seem to group better than 100gr.

Just got the scope that came with it.Its an Excaliber brand.The bolts and broadheads are the ones they reccommend.150 gr. boltcutters.
Sighted it in yesterday.shoots the center of the target every time out to 40 yards with no thought involved.Shoots really flat out to 25 yards than starts to drop a little.

 

[WACKEM&STACKEM!]

Are you popping the deer between the eyes at 100 yards with a bow?

 

[TatSoul]

Are you popping the deer between the eyes at 100 yards with a bow?

No just using a reference as to the kind of rifle shot i could make.I would never ethically do that but im a very good shot with a rifle.

 

[Try'n Hard]

No just using a reference as to the kind of rifle shot i could make.I would never ethically do that but im a very good shot with a rifle.

Used to know a guy that could shoot the stink off a gnats butt at 100yds.... At least he said he could... I never smelled to be sure!