What do I need to know? What Do I need to avoid?

What do you need to avoid?........................... CROSSBOWS!

Those elite bowhunters strike again. lol.

parker and tenpoint are good ones. i preferred parker when i was using one.

Excalibur

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO..... get a bow

or a sling shot

My dad bought a Barnett Predator last year and seems to like it pretty good!

X2

I will always shoot a bow as long as i am capable.. If i am ever injured will consider a crossbow.. i hate em

Why the hate for crossbows???

X2

Please list legitimate reasons to hate crossbows. Thank you.

Stay on topic guys. MCW wants some advice on crossbows. If this thread keeps going in the direction it's heading, it's going to get locked down. Let's don't start this compound vs. crossbow argument again. Ya'll want to do that, take it to PM's.

I'm a Barnett man, all the way. I have owned 3 and they all shot faster and just as accurate as the 10 points. They are a little heavy but wonst in the stand makes very little difference. However, I will point out that I am a tight wad of sorts. If that were not the case and cost was no object I would get the Excaliber simply because of the "simplicity". But they have their draw backs too, they are wider than most others.
Also, I have found the CS with Barnett outstanding.

I am by no means an expert on them. But, here are a few things I have heard from friends that use them.

They are not near as maintance free as most people think they are. You must read and follow the instructions. I can't tell you anything about brands, except I hear you get what you pay for. They are loud, heavy, and very cumbersome. But, they do allow you to get out in the woods during archery season and they will kill deer great if you keep it in great shape and put the bolt where it needs to go.

I have a couple good friends/BHA members that hunt with them and I will be glad to get you in contact with them if you would like to talk to them in depth about their crossbows and how they hunt with them. I think they killed about 20 deer last year combined with their crossbows.

Wicked Ridge is making some nice bow that aren't too expensive. I like Excaliber too! Long as you are hunting that's all that matters! Watch your thumb, thats the #1 problem is people getting their thumb in the way of the string.

"They are loud, heavy, and very cumbersome. "
Unfortunately, that is so true, but probably not heavier than most rifles.
My biggest concern with the crossbow is the tendency to carry it by the stock as one would a rifle and this puts your hand inside the cocked string. That's sort of like carrying a shot gun on your shoulder, by the barrel, and putting your finger in the barrel. Should the cross bow fire with your hand in that position I think it might cut your hand off. The best thing to do is put a strap on it and use it.

Jacks right they are loud but they are fast and inside 30 yards the noise is not really a handicap. I bought the Excalibur for 2 reasons. Its much easier to maintain and it weighs less than the others. Its still some what heavy but not near as bad as the others. Like jack says get a strap and don't cock it till your ready to climb into your stand. I pull mine up in the tree cocked but with out a bolt in it.

Well I just bought a Parker Hornet, under 8lbs and 335fps. I have only shot it a few times but very pleased so far.
It has the scope with yardage lines and ilumanated dots green or red.


I went to a crossbow due to having very poor eyesight in my right eye. I do have a compound bow but I can not see the sight pins thru the peep sight any more.

MCW
If you want to discuss crossbows just email me, I doubt you will get any real help in here.

workn4livn@yahoo.com

Have you tried shooting with both eyes open with the peep? Your dominate eye will pull the pin in focus. Thats what I do, I can't see jack with my left eye closed.

MCW I just bought a wicked ridge crossbow so I can take some younger kids bowhunting. Will report how it does next week for ya!

I bought a Horton Hunter about 4 years ago for under 400.00 I have killed about 12 deer with it so far. Shoot them close and you will have good results. The more compact crossbow you can get will be better for tree stand hunting. I would recommend get a mid price range one first to see if you like it. Then if you do you can shell out a grand for a high tech mumbo jumbo one. Still shooting and killing good deer with my 375.00 Horton.

Thanks for the input guys. I understand the comments from the bowhunting "purists", but I am having some problems with my shoulders and pulling a bow hurts! I just want to keep taking advantage of the early bow season and I was just exploring this as a possible option. Some good information here.

I had a traumatic cataract in my right eye, I have a plastic lens in now and had lasic surgey. Leaving both eyes open does not help but thanks for the tip

I bought a Wicked Ridge Invader made by Ten Point, shot it yesterday. Here are my thoughts. Good overall bow compared to what it and the others cost. Speed is great and built in cocking aid works well. Balanced. Don't know if it was coincidence but it was zeroed out of the box! Ambidextrious safty but you have to use thumb and index finger to turn it off without a loud click. Has a dri-fire inhibitor which saved my butt yesterday, not used to a crossbow and tried to shoot without a bolt. Foregrip is flared at top to keep thumb and fingers away from string. Trigger isn't bad don't have anything to measure it with I'd guess 4-5 pounds. Cocking aid saves a lot of tugging. It's loud like any crossbow I've shot.