5 Things I Learned from Exclusively Hunting with a Crossbow
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- Опубликовано: 3 янв 2024
- This video is more for you guys that are interested in going the crossbow route. Since my two shoulder surgeries, I have been hunting exclusively with a crossbow for the last 4 hunting seasons. In this video are 5 things I learned from exclusively hunting with a crossbow.
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I am 63, live in Arkansas in which we have a 5 month season with no breaks. I have been working for Tenpoint for the last 18 years. I started with a Crossbow several decades ago not because I am disabled, but I truly love the weapon. This video proves several good points but the main point is this. The USA 🇺🇸 allows the freedom to choose. Any weapon is a choice. I personally choose to shoot & hunt with a Crossbow, others may choose a Compound Bow or Traditional Bows. It’s a choice. As long as the weapon chosen is used legally & ethically, then just hunt. Don’t be guilty of bashing anyone who chooses to hunt with a Crossbow or any weapon as long as what they choose is legal. We all enjoy the Outdoors & what it offers. We enjoy the Bounty supplied. And if that means hunting with a Crossbow then that is the choice of the Hunter. Great video, excellent presentation, phenomenal message. Enjoy the journey! And congrats on your success!
You are right on the money. Nobody should bash anyone for using a legal and ethical weapon of their choice. We have enough problems with antis, that we don't need to fight amongst ourselves. Thanks for the kind words!
Well said !!
Hey, I'm in Arkansas too! I'm thinking of getting a crossbow for the very same reason. I spent lots of time and money working on reloading for my two main deer rifles only to find out they're banned on most WMAs. Sure is a bummer.
@@taylorharbin3948 Oh man that is a bummer!
I personally don't have a problem with crossbows. The reason I watched this is because I'm considering getting one. However, I do not think anything with a scope mounted on it should be legal during the regular archery season.
I don't hunt much anymore but i had an excaliber crossbow that i loved. I shot 1 doe with it. I used the stringer to decock it but i do like your idea of shooting it after each hunt. Btw, i think everyone and their brother had a Bear whitetail hunter back in the day! I know i did. Great tips in this video!
Yes I did know a lot people that had that now. Looking back now that thing was huge! But hey I killed game with it and so did a bunch of folks for sure. What part of PA are you in. My dad is from Berwick on the Susquehanna River.
@@BooneDownSouth Sw near Pittsburgh
Great video ! I was a bow tech for some years and I’m a traditional bow shooter only now. Love the fact you understand the shooting you bow and being cup close and personal with your prey is the most exciting part of hunting ,as well as the most challenging. One thing I’d highly recommend is getting some limb dampeners for your crossbow. They are worth using to quiet your bow . Keep up your enthusiasm and love of hunting,as it is contagious!! Great advice for all hunters!! Keep it coming!!
God Bless 🙏😇
Thanks Anthony. I actually built a laminated take down recurve bow 2 years ago and learning how to shoot that. It definitely takes dedication. It is super fun to shoot traditional archery. I hope one day I can achieve mastery of the art. Thanks for the nice comments!
Thanks man - I appreciate the thoughts.
Thanks man!
Great info. I haven't hunted for a long time but considering it this fall with my new crossbow. I just switched out the scope to a truglow 3 dot non magnified unit. I just sighted it this morning at 20. Even tho it isn't magnified I'm already much happier with it.
Looking forward to watching more of your videos.
That is awesome! Yea that is what it's all about. Setting the crossbow up for your style, not about what someone else does for sure. Good luck this next season!
I’ve hunted with a compound bow since 1996, I’m now also hunting with a crossbow, and I still hunt with a compound!
I hunted with a compound bow for over 30 years and truly enjoyed it for sure.
I like guns, everything about them. That’s why I took up hunting. Can’t say the same about bows or crossbows. Tried them, still use them, but gun season gets my heart pumping. All my rifle, muzzleloader shots have been well under 100 yds.
Absolutely NOTHING wrong with that my friend! All of my rifle and muzzleloader shots have been well under 100 yards as well. In fact I would venture to say most have been under 40 yards.
Good point on the decocking
Great video and I’m 68 years old I’ve been crossbow hunting for couple of years now and it’s getting me back out there during archery season
Thanks Mike. My dad is about to turn 79 and he is still getting out there with his crossbow! That's awesome! Keep it up.
I enjoyed sighting in and using a crossbow the year following shoulder replacement surgery. The biggest benefit over vertical bows was being able to shoot left or right handed - effectively doubling the width of the shooting window. One disadvantage was inability to vary point weight and FOC.
thanks for this info, my city just approved hunting in city parks so i'm gathering as much info as I can, hoping to take part in that this fall.
That would be pretty sweet. I know another guy who does suburb hunts and its pretty wild watching his videos with all these houses behind them.
Amen! I'm in much the same boat. I've been hunting with bows (and rifles) all my life. I even owned an archery pro shop for a while. But for the last three seasons I've been hunting with a crossbow (and occasionally a rifle or muzzleloader), but I'm the same person I was back when I hunted with a longbow and compound. I've loved it all! Now I hunt primarily with a crossbow, and I still hunt exactly the same way. My average shot on whitetail deer, over 40+ years, is 27 yards. My average rifle shot on whitetail deer is 29 yards, and my average bow shot on whitetail deer is 21 yards. I'm tired of all the negativity toward crossbow hunters. My feeling has always been that if you're legal and ethical in your hunting, you're okay in my book. Great video!
Thanks for the comments Ron. Whenever I do hunt with a rifle which is rare, I still setup like I am bowhunting, up close and personal. I agree with you, we don't need in-fighting amongst hunters as long it is legal and ethical we should all move forward together. There are enough anti's out there that we don't need division among our ranks.
I'd like to try just hunting with my crossbow but I'm afraid all my guns would get jealous. As you know, our season is long and may be getting longer soon.
Great video.😊
Yea ya can’t let your guns get jealous! So what are you talking about the season getting longer? I have not heard that yet.
Good info Boone. Im 60yrs old & bought my 1st Crossbow last yr. Havent shot anything with it yet.
When I was 15yrs old, I bought. $5 RAFFLE TICKET ON A PSE COMPOUND BOW. I HUNTED 17 YRS WITH THAT BOW & SHOT WELL OVER 50 DEER WITH IT. AFTER 17YRS BOW HUNTING, I DECIDED TO GIVE IT UP & JUST RIFLE/SHOTGUN HUNT FOR DEER. BUT, MY SON & HIS BEST FRIEND NOW BOW HUNT & THEY CONVIENCED ME TO GET THAT CROSSBOW. YES, ITS FUN & BRINGS BACK A MANY OF GOOD MEMORIES OF HUNTS WHEN I WAS YOUNGER. IT'S DEFINITELY A MIND SET WHEN HUNTING WITH ARROWS & LIKE U SAID, U HAVE TO SET UP CLOSE ON THE DEER TEAIL. LIKE 20-25 YDS CLOSE. I DONT HUNT IN TREES ANYMORE SINCE MY 30'S. STRICKLY FROM THE GROUND SITTING ON A CUSHION. THAT'S WHAT I CALL: UP CLOSE & PERSONAL. 😊
That is awesome man! I started with a Bear Whitetail Hunter, which was a huge monstrosity, then I had a Martin Lynx, then I had a PSE for several years, can't remember what model though. I then had an Arrowtech, what a heavy bow that was but it was cutting edge when it came out and then finally got myself a Mathews DXT and had that till the end ;) I am glad you are getting out there with your son and friend. You got good memories from your youth and now you are going to give them good memories hunting with you as well. Good luck with it!
I just bought my first wicked ridge, it’s the Blackhawk 360 from 2021 and man for only $399 it’s absolutely amazing, I definitely agree about the de-cocking aspect, I just have the cocking rope and I like to shoot my bow to unload just to make sure it’s good to go 👍🏻
I have been very happy with Wicked Ridge so wish you the best with your new crossbow. Congrats!
Thanks I love my crossbow
Me too!
You did a good job man.
I appreciate it. Thanks!
great video Bud
Thank you sir!
shows your thinkin.....i like your info....im gonna subscribe and like...thanks
Thanks and welcome!
It's hard to go back to the boom stick after shooting and being successful with a bow. It's so much more fun and challenging to try to hunt as close as possible. I have a system I've been using and the deer walk about 5 yards up to the blind I have set up and they never knew I was there. This guy is spot on. Get a good broadhead for sure like he says because it'll save you a lot of heartache trying to track one unless you have a good blood trail. I've used "iffy" broadheads when I started hunting and ended up tracking deer until 2 in the morning and never found them and you never ever want to shoot an animal and not recover it. That makes me feel so bad and it's wasted effort and meat.
I agree it is hard to go back after bowhunting. But what I found is that no matter what legal method you are using it is still exciting to be up close and personal with the game you are hunting! Thanks for the comments Tater!
Good one Boone! I love the lighted sight comment for old eyes and this old BOOMER even with cataract surgery, still could benefit from a lighted scope for sure! Just don't have one on the M-370, but maybe I should swap it out with my old Barnett Raptor which does have a a nice lighted KI scope?
Thanks boomer! Yea the lighted scope makes such a difference in the first 30 mins and last 30 mins of light. It is amazing.
I haven’t used a rifle on my farm in 11 years due to enjoying the crossbow. I do use a rifle when out of state!
Yep I really do enjoy quite bit and that is exactly where I am now. Only using crossbow on my property from now on.
@@BooneDownSouth you say you hunt in Alabama… our camp is just south of Camden lol!
@@jeremywhittington7605 Well I am actually on an out of state hunt in Alabama with Ironman Outdoors just north of Camden right now. 😊
What's the name of that rage broadheads you use
What cross bow your using
Lighted knocks is another huge advantage to have. The speed of your cross bow depending on what you hit when you shoot, will pass through and keep going and it’s hard to find your bolt with out a lighted knock. Also it gives you a good idea of where you hit so you can judge weather you need to back out or follow up in 30 minutes like a good hit. I have killed 40 plus deer with a cross bow and I love it. People say it’s cheating but you still have many of the limiting factors a bow has, range , your bolt can be deflected just like an arrow. There are some advantages like you don’t have to move to draw your bow, it’s sitting on go minus taking it off saftey and anyone. An shoot my cross bow you aren’t limited by draw length or their ability to pull a certain poundage . There are a couple of disadvantages cross bow is generally speaking louder when it goes off and repeatability or second shots are slower with more noise involved than a compound bow.
Yea you are right on the money on your pros and cons. I just recently switched to lighted nocs and definitely a believer!
It is not cheating if you are following the laws in your area. Make sure you practice with your lighted nocs some with change your point of impact. Shoot straight shoot often
@@KGPNBK you are on point the lighted knocks are@ different weight than what comes in your bolts.
When I was a kid when crossbows were new to me and my dad how we would unload it was I would pull the trigger and my dad would hold up on the string lookin back now we shoulda shot it into a target but my dad taught me lots of things one of em is to go in early and leave late.
Oh man that does sound a bit dangerous. But when it comes to hunting he was on the money with go in early and leave late. I killed one of my biggest bucks with the get in early thing. I figured out where he was early morning, but it was like just before legal light or just after legal light when he would show up. I hunted that spot 7 days straight, getting in that stand a solid hour before any daylight. I felt like I had to get in earlier than that buck and let things settle down. On the 7th day, about 10 mins after legal shooting light he stepped out for his last time.
Very true.i agree with you 🇧🇷🇺🇸👍 I prefer my crossbow to hunt is very good.
Man, you really sold me on going from rifle to crossbow to extend my season, now that I just closed on 30 acres of mostly cut-over land. I'm on the wrong side of 50 and my right shoulder is hamburger that PT hasn't been able to fix. I'm still inclined to get a de-cocking model though, in case there may be an odd situation where I can't shoot a target or dummy bolt to "de-cock." You can always just swap in a target bolt for the broadhead in a de-cocking model and see where the scope adjustment is anyway, right? That point about rifle and food plots is critical. My son took his first deer ever (a doe) on my realtor's clover food plot at dusk in early Nov. Never saw another when I came back to his shooting box in the weeks since.
Worst case keep a bag at home and shoot it when you get home, I can’t think of a situation where you couldn’t decock with a docking arrow, they’re 20$ and worth it
Oh yea you can always swap in a target bolt for sure. I mean there are definitely times when de-cocking makes sense for sure and is a nice option to have.
Seems to be the best of both worlds fr..
It's all about what you want to get out of it.
Agree with all that.. Glad I went to crossbow into archery. 💯 nicer hunting in October when it’s warmer and not bone cold in Indiana Nov-Dec. plus less hunters around… I still hunt opening day of firearms as traditional thing.. My thing is get done in October then I won’t have to hunt in Nov-Dec…
Oh yea I have never hunted up there but I but it does get bone cold end of season. It is nice to get that deer early!
Good video, I agree (mostly.) The part about gun noise scaring deer off for days is not always true. I have taken deer on consecutive days from the same stand with my muzzleloader. This past season I shot a buck with my 30-30 from a ground blind and 3 more deer that were with him didn't leave. In any case, I love your videos. I am just up the road from you in the NC foothills. I hunt in all three seasons but use the crossbow more often than not. Thanks, Bro and keep on huntin'!!
Thanks man! Yea I have actually shot two deer two days in a row out of the same stand with a rifle. But in general on my place, which I have a lot of hunting pressure around, it seems like the majority of time, once you pull the trigger, that place will be dead for the next few weeks during the day. I am sure it is not like this everywhere. I think pressure has a lot to do with it. Thanks for the good words and for watching my vids!
@@BooneDownSouth Hunting pressure does have a LOT to do with it. I guess that I am spoiled. My place is 30 acres that is surrounded by a several hundred acres of private land that has very little hunting pressure. My immediate neighbor and his family hunt (mainly gun season) and not too extensively at that. Every location is different and I consider myself blessed to have this 30 acres. It produces mature bucks year after year. Keep up the videos, Bro. I'm getting ready for next season!
Hey Ken, have you heard of the Hickory Creek Mini Vertical Crossbow? It looks pretty impressive
No I haven’t. I’ll have to look that up and check it out!
Ha... Bear Whitetail Hunter was my 1st bow (I was 18). Also have had surgery on Both shoulders.... Still using a compound though. Eyes not worth a darn any more... so I am interested in that lighted reticle :-)
Yea that Bear Whitetail Hunter was such a big behemoth compared to what is out there today, but hey I killed game with it. At this point, I could probably shoot a compound bow again, but I sold it and now I am working on honing my skills with a recurve. I have found the recurve to be so much fun. Nothing to worry about, just pull and release. No sights, no peep, no all the extra stuff I used to put on my compound bow.
My husband works in the emergency department and he wants me to have a bow I can unload before climbing out of a tree stand even if the safety is on. I do shoot it about three times before I hunt though usually. I agree it would be so annoying to miss bc I knocked the site out if wack and I didn’t know it. You can imagine I’m on a safety harness as well. Safety safety safety.
What you mentioned is the #1 benefit of the de-cocker. Definitely safer to de-cock before coming down from a stand. I know most manufacturers have plenty of safety features to prevent it firing without a bolt. But definitely the safer option. I am in 100% agreement on the safety harness. I think everyone should be wearing one no matter if they are in a hang on stand, climber, or ladder stand. Accidents happen. Can’t be too safe!
You might want to take the bolt out of the crossbow and put it in the quiver. Most crossbows have an anti-dry fire feature today. Then just lower the 'empty' crossbow down. Just a suggestion. Good luck and be safe.
@@rexrice4496 yes that is a definite must before lowering it for sure!
Last year new to crossbow , still think it's a let down from compounds bow , me shot compould almost everyweek all year crossbow sighted it in . decock my by shooting into the ground . like the lighted scope , Put Rage on too new to me no shotlast year so ?? My crossbvow is loud to me after compound bow ? Thanks time will tell with me .
Hey Steve. I felt the same at first. It just isn't the same, but as you spend more time with it and still hunt close you will regain the thrill of it all. No question about it being louder than a compound bow though.
I think it might not only be the sound but also the smell of the gunpowder that puts off deer.
You know I have pondered that myself as well. I think there is some truth to that as well. I mean we can smell it in the area after the shot and a deer's sense of smell is far greater than ours. It if doesn't rain, that smell of residue could be enough to keep them out of the air for awhile as they most likely associate that smell with the loud bang.
What cross bow do you recommend or use?
I really like my M-370 but they discontinued it and replaced it with the Commander M1. I have not put my hands on that model though but it looks almost identical to my M-370.
Well, different experiences for guys, but fire and bow equal excitement for me. The suggestion that rifle is less of a challenge, not my experience. Thanks anyway.
Yep everyone is different. Best of luck to you this season!
What part of Alabama you hunt in
Well this was my first time hunting in Alabama. It was near Camden. I just got back from there and got a 10 pt Saturday night so I am still on cloud 9. :)
What kind of scope
This CVLIFE scope: amzn.to/48Lu2OG however, there were a few design issues I found and they were going to rework, and then they released this model: amzn.to/48Mph7t which I assume addressed the issues, but I have not seen the new model.
Give the Swhacker 3 inch crossbow broadheads, unbelievable!
Golly I bet a 3 inch hole is massive!
I dont care whag anyone says. I love mechanical broudheads. They leave massive holes and Ive never had one not expand
I think they got a bad stigma from when they first came out. I was testing mechanical broadheads about 30 years ago and they were garbage back then. Ended up sending one right through my Jon boat because it caused the arrow to go way off course. It was crazy. But I have been using Rage for the last 15 years or so and they are amazing!
Very good info thanks, good hunting and God bless. 👍 🫡 🤜🤛🙏✝️👼
Thanks for watching and wish you the best of luck for this upcoming season as well!
Loved the video, but have to disagree with your tip #5.
We have shot deer with a rifle out of a blind, in our food plot in the morning, and then shot ANOTHER deer out of that SAME BLIND AND FOOD PLOT that same day in the afternoon. And not just a "one time thing". We have repeated this numerous times.
I just don't want people thinking they have "ruined" their hunting spot just because they shot a deer using their rifle. If they believe this they may be missing on another opportunity.
Thanks Lonnie. I appreciate that, and I am sure that happens. Just for my experiences and the circle I hang with, what I described is what we see happen pretty much every time. And it's not that the deer don't come back in the area, but the activity and specifically the day time activity drops dramatically for a couple of weeks in our area. We hunt mostly in SC and that is a heavily pressured state. We have lots of deer, but we have a long season with liberal limits and it might be that our deer are more pressured than the area you hunt. And man you just never know. The only for sure missed opportunity when hunting is when you stay at home and sit on the couch! ;)
@@BooneDownSouth I should have mentioned that locations can have varying results. My farm does NOT receive too much pressure, nor the surrounding area. People hunt around me, but not near to the extent that you experience with your long seasons.
Yea I think it makes a difference. Sounds like you got an awesome place to hunt though! Best of luck to you. Our season just ended on Jan 1st, and then i took off to alabama for a rifle hunt and just got back so now my season is officially over.
Well, I learned is people would do anything to make their life easier to kill deer rather than trying to challenge themselves!#TakeoffTheTrainingWheels
I have also learned as you get older sometimes it becomes necessary to make things a little easier to continue enjoying this great sport we have.
Wrong Turbo charge it
You are just completely wrong. You don't know what other hunters are going through in life and health. I crossbow hunt now because of health and eye site. So it's more ethical for me to CB hunt to make a good killing shot. I never compound bow hunted. I used a recurve for 39 years, and my old traditional smokepole never owned an in-line muzzle loader. And still hunt with my Marlin lever 35. What do you hunt with????
My experience the past couple years using a crossbow is zero different than hunting with a compound, same stand set ups ect. If you're shooting a crossbow further than 40 to 50 yards you shouldn't be bow hunting .
Yep I agree with that. I can see that some people can shoot a crossbow that far, but I would only recommend that in an open field, not in the woods. Too many things out at that distance you can't see that can deflect the bolt. And if you are shooting that far in a field you need to be practiced up.
If you have a high end compound bow with 85 percent let off at 40 pounds its extremely easy to pull back.Crossbows ruined archery season they are a small range rifle.
So people are always going to say that man. Back in the day, when they went from 50% let off to 65% let-off you had people saying the same thing about compound bows. In those days, 85% let- off was just thought of as nuts and people said these higher letoffs (even 65% were going to ruin archery season). And here you are touting an easy to pull back compound bow telling us that crossbows ruin archery season. What you are doing is trying to limit what everyone else can do. Not everyone has the time to practice - a compound bow takes much more practice than a crossbow. Not everyone has the same physical abilities - think of older guys, think of guys who have bad shoulders - like myself. You are going to tell me I can't hunt archery anymore cause I use a crossbow, even though I might mess my shoulders up by still trying to shoot a compound bow? Really? Come on man. As hunters we need to stick together and allow each person to use whatever weapon they are capable and comfortable with as long as it is legal. I have been hunting my whole life and I see no evidence to show how crossbows ruined archery season for anyone. If anything, they brought more people in to the sport of hunting which is in fact what we need.
@BooneDownSouth There's a huge advantage between drawing a bow and pulling a trigger,there should be a seperate season for them.
There is an advantage no doubt, but there is absolutely no evidence showing any detriment to allowing crossbows during archery season that I have seen. On the contrary there are a lot of reasons to allow them during archery season. We will just have to agree to disagree on this one.
@@laurelhighlandoutdoors3257 You need to get a life. How dare you try to tell me I shouldn't use a crossbow. I have used both, and I hate to tell you, but it's not that easy with a crossbow bud
@jonathanyates5198 It is easier to use a crossbow that's why alot of people went to one.They belong in there own season.