Tracker I did the same thing you are talking about a few years ago. My reason was that I didn't have the time or place to practice like I needed to in order to feel comfortable with my bow. I live in a subdivision in south Baldwin co. so I only have what trees I have planted when the house was built 3 years ago, so I would have to pratice shooting from the roof.
So wanting to ease into crossbow hunting, I got a barnett quad 400 b/c it was inexpensive and powerful, I will add if you get a barnett buy new bolts asap, I have some carbon express bolts that group much better than the ones that came with it. The pros, I topped it with a leupold scope and like a rifle once it's sighted in anybody can shoot it, no need to shoot all the time, practice bending at the waist from an elevated stand, practice while wearing hunting clothes, etc. basically I shoot it a few times before season to get my point of aim for certain distances and I'm done. Also I can hunt from the ground a lot easier with the crossbow. The cons, it's loud, unlike a bow your are not likely to ever get off a second shot b/c there is no good way to cock a crossbow from a stand. And it's just not the same as using a bow.
I still have my compound bow and I still hunt with it some, but normally I don't get a chance to practice with it until season is already in and I shoot it some midday between hunts. That way by mid-bow season I can hunt with either one, or take a friend, let them use the crossbow and I'll use my pearson.
