Educate me on hunting with a Crossbow please.

[teddy12b]

I'm very new to crossbows/archery.  If it didn't add a few weeks of hunting at the end of the season I wouldn't be getting into this at all, but it's the price I have to pay to go out and hunt some more.  I have so many questions, but I can only relate them to what I'd look for in a rifle, if that makes sense.

1.)  What do you look for in a crossbow for accuracy?  (free floated barrel, accu-trigger type of things)

2.)  What are the brand names that people follow and trust?  (like people argue over remington & savage)

3.)  What power level do you look for?  150lbs or FPS?

4.)  What is considered good accuracy with a crossbow?  (the archery version of a 1" group at 100 yards)

5.)  Bolts/Arrows, where do I even start?  Does the aluminum or carbon fiber really matter?

6.)  What type of Broadheads lend themself to the best accuracy?

7.)  I know this is debatable, but what's the generally accepted max range of a crossbow for deer hunting?

8.)  Are low power scopes the best thing going for a crossbow?

9.)  Are shoulder shots doable with a crossbow or should it be avoided?

If you have a crossbow package in mind for a rookie like me feel free to suggest it.  I'd say more than anything I want accuracy, then power & range.  Thanks in advance for any and all help!

[rickyp]

1.)  What do you look for in a crossbow for accuracy?  (free floated barrel, accu-trigger type of things)
Most top brand bows are very accurate  right out of the box.

2.)  What are the brand names that people follow and trust?  (like people argue over remington & savage)
The brands I trust is Tenpoint and Excalibur they are at the top of the line of crossbows ten point being made in the US and Excalibur made in Canada

3.)  What power level do you look for?  150lbs or FPS?
any of the new hunting crossbows have more then enough energy for hunting find what poundage that works best for you. The higher the draw weight the harder it is to cock the bow. I have a tenpoint phantom with the accudraw on it so I do not have to worry about draw weight.

4.)  What is considered good accuracy with a crossbow?  (the archery version of a 1" group at 100 yards)
First off you will not get 100 yards with a crossbow and have enough energy to make a clean kill. about 1" at 30-40 yards is good for hunting

5.)  Bolts/Arrows, where do I even start?  Does the aluminum or carbon fiber really matter?
Most of the top bows come with a package deal that includes arrows. I personally use 2219 arrows that are cut to 22" and flat knocks installed. I go to wal mart at the end of hunting season and buy all the 2219 (and 2216) arrows they have left then cut them down and remake them into crossbow arrows

6.)  What type of Broad heads lend them self to the best accuracy?
This is what you will have to find out what works best for you. I like the100 gr. mechanical NAP  spitfire 3 blade. They have worked well for me. However check your laws to see if they have any restrictions.

7.)  I know this is debatable, but what's the generally accepted max range of a crossbow for deer hunting?

what is considered by most is 35 -40 yards as the furtherest and about 50 yards being the very max with the higher draw weight bows. I do a lot of shooting at 50 yards and I am getting about 1" groups as that distance but I am loosing a lot of energy at that range.

8.)  Are low power scopes the best thing going for a crossbow?

First check to see what is legal for you to use. Do not use a normal rifle scope on a crossbow it can destroy them in short order due to the way they vibrate when fired. And they do not have the multi lines for range. I I have a 3x on my bow and have not had any issues with it.

9.)  Are shoulder shots doable with a crossbow or should it be avoided?

They can be done but not a good shot you would be better off shooting right behind the shoulder.  The lower draw weight bows may not give you a complete pass trough and the  higher ones will if the range is closer.

Now before you buy a crossbow check your state , county, town and even on the land you intend to hunt on. The laws can be different even from county to county. some places you must have some disability that will prevent you from using a vertical bow. (I have issues with my shoulder and can not draw a vertical bow so I got a cross bow permit)
some places tell you what kind of sights you can and can not use, some places will not let you use a maniacal B.H.  When you think about hunting with one consider what it really is it is nothing more then a bow that is fixed to a shoulder stock. all the rules that apply to hunting with a vertical bow apply to hunting with a crossbow.

[teddy12b]

Thanks for all the information.  I don't bow hunt now, so this is all new to me.  Last year I got my buck at 60 yards and I was hoping to be able to make the same shot with a crossbow, but it doesn't seem likely.

[Jimbo47]

I'm not a fan of those fast crossbows, as they make a lot more noise, are usually bigger because you get the speed from a longer power stroke, and you don't gain that much over the slightly slower ones, which are usually more compact, and I've found quiet is better as to not startle the deer on the shot.

I've always used Horton as they are one of the originals and still build a quality crossbow.

In your case I'd cut that 60 yards in half and limit myself to 30 since you have never bow hunted before.

The problem with making long shots of 40 to 50 yards, is they may be doable in the hands of someone who knows their bow and has experience, but anything over 40 is really pushing the limit, and more than likely you will have a long and usually unsuccessful tracking job.

You have to be dead on in your yardage estimation beyond 35 yards, even with the fastest bows, or you increase the chance of a miss, a wound, or kill the animal if you are correct, so you have to know the distance exactly, and know that you can put the arrow into a vital area at that given distance, so if you can't judge distance then don't even consider a long shot.

Most crossbows you can zero at 25 and be able misjudge the distance by a couple yards either way and still hit the vitals up to 30, so anything beyond that it's too risky.

Range finders help, but remember you are shooting at a living breathing animal, and they have superior senses, and can jump out of the way of even the fastest crossbow arrow at even close range.

[Hunter2]

How far you shoot depends on deers alertness, your ability and how flat your bow shoots and the weather.

[longwinters]

You've gotten some very good advice.  I shoot an Excalibur Exocet.  Have their light stuff package which comes with a vari-zone scope.  It has a crosshair plus chevrons (mildots).  Mine, with 420 grain (22") arrows shoots right at 300fps.  All Excal bows have recurve limbs.  Mine are 200 pounds but are easy to pull back with their rope cocking aid.  It also works great to let the string down when you are done hunting instead of having to shoot the xbow to unload it.

Both 10 Point and Excal have websites and forums that you can ask questions til you are blue in the face.

Excal says you really should not shoot much past 30 yds.  Not only do the shorter arrows lose energy faster than longer arrows but crossbows are noisy.  Deer can jump the string a lot easier at 30+ yds than under 30.  They recommend aiming for the heart and if the deer does not move great.  If it does jump the string you are still in the lungs.

Bow hunting is a close range deal....thats just the way it is.

Long

[Mohawk]

  Everyone about covered it. The only thing I will add is my PSE Viper Copperhead (budget crossbow), 150lb draw, works and kills as good as a higher priced bow that I also own. I killed my first crossbow deer with it this fall. It came with 17" 2216 aluminum bolts(arrows) which are shorter than standard but they worked just fine. It is so basic it still uses pin sights which is why I bought it. The vibration noise is a bit loud but it didn't jump the deer at all. The velocity is rated at 260fps. Good Luck!

[preventec47]

in one of the top posts here a guy mentions using
"maniacal B.H."

I am new and dont know what the acronyms mean.

What is a B,H. ?  why is it maniacal ?

[Hunter2]

It means mechanical broadhead, it does not have fixed into postion blades. They extend upon impact of the target or game.

[DennyRoark]

9.)  Are shoulder shots doable with a crossbow or should it be avoided?

Thought I would comment on this one...Had a really good buck sneak in on me at 10 yds this year.  Aimed at the sweet spot, but forgot to hold under for the closer range (still get buck fever from the big 'uns) and shot him dead square in the shoulderblade.  Did not penetrate past it and broke arrow off just below ferrule.  Shooting a Barnett C4 Wildcat/150# and have had passthru's on ribs at 50 yds.  Was sighted in dead on at 35 yds.  Slightly elevated at 7 feet from a box blind.

[Skunk]

Excellent thread. Good questions Teddy, and good answers from all. I'm also quite interested in hunting with a crossbow and I learned a lot of very useful info in this thread.

[Blue Duck]

Very good thread.  I have alway been interested but never shot a crossbow.  Might have to consider getting one.  Thanks for the great info and conversation.