Let me start by saying I use to bow hunt (back when I deer hunted) but have since transitioned to 99% bird hunting. However; we've got a couple of nice deer on our property that need to be taken out and I don't really want to buy another traditional bow. I've become left eye dominant (right handed) so everything I shoot is left handed. With that being said, I'm entertaining the idea of getting a crossbow to use for this occasion. Any advice y'all can provide me would be appreciated. I don't know anything about which brands are good, I don't want to spend a ton of money, just need something semi-reliable. What say ye?

I purchased a barley-used Barnett Ghost 360 crossbow I located on this website. It is awesome. The crossbow came with soft case, bolts, broad heads and was sighted in perfectly. A used bow worked great for me!

I just purchased an Excalibur 380 love it, very simple and easy to operate.

I love mine. The Excaliburs are more expensive but I think they're worth it.

any brands to stay away from? What makes one cross bow better than the other than quality of materials? Has anyone shot the Cabelas branded crossbows - sounds like these may be rebranded barnetts?

For the purposes you describes I wouldn't worry too much about brands - just keep you fingers below the strings when you shoot!! You'll find that a CB is really fast and accurate, but very loud. I don't take shots over 25yds due to the loudness of the CB.

JR

I have an Excalibur Equinox Litestuff that I like. Bit bulkier and heavier than the newer Excalibur xbows but it shoots well. I chose a recurve style xbow for several reasons. One is I can take the string off and on myself to change the string or relax the limbs in the offseason. You can dry fire it by mistake and not hurt the limbs. They are very accurate.

ok - sounds like I've got some flexibility. Thanks for the input. Gonna go check some out tonight. Other than keeping your hands out of the way anything else specific to crossbows I need to know about?

I would recommend one that shoots 350fps or faster, they are a little noisier than a compound so you need extra speed!

Get a good scope with it. Some have a built in mechanical cocking device or you can buy the manual rope type aid.

I just bought a Wicked Ridge Invader G3. Great reviews and they are made by Ten Point.

Most crossbows you buy nowdays will get the job done, but the lower end ones use a lot of plastic and I prefer metal parts in the latch and safety.
As mentioned keep your fingers away from the rail area when shooting, and also keep your range at resonable bow range of a compound bow.
Lot of false conception regarding a string gun that you can shoot long range.

I figured as much - I'm looking at a 25 yard shot max

Crossbows are loud, and if there is no wind and dead calm even 25 yards is a far enough range the deer can easily duck the arrow even from the fastest crossbow.
Usually the faster the crossbow the noisier they are. I've got an old slow Horton that is over 20 years old and it's fairly quiet, and I've taken a lot of deer with that bow. So speed isn't everything.
A slight breeze and leaf russle can muffle the sound a little, and the closer the better

Ok - so spent some time talking to the guy at Cabela's last night and he recommended the Parker Enforcer. It's not the fastest bow (315 fps I believe) but he said it's reliable, accurate and comes with a lifetime warranty. He said he hasn't seen many come back for repairs. Said he's seen a ton of Barnett's come back broken so he couldn't recommend them. I bought some luminoks, a target and some rage expandable broadheads. Took it off the shelf, cut the tags off of it and shot it twice at 15 years free hand and hit bullseye so I guess the stock scope it comes with has already been bore sighted. Gonna practice a couple times with the practice broadhead that comes with the rage package, make some adjustments and hopefully go seal the deal so I can get back to bird hunting! Thanks for the info guys

Oh - and you are correct, they are loud. Last question, and probably a dumb one. With a typical compound bow you don't sit there the entire time with it drawn. I'm guessing it's ok but is it fine to leave it cocked throughout the duration of the hunt. I guess it wouldn't make sense to try and [censored] it while you're staring at a deer.....

Second dumb question - I'm guessing the best way to decock the bow is to shoot it. However; what if you don't want to shoot it with the broadhead you have on for hunting?

They make a decocking bolt and some take a field point bolt along to shoot into the ground. With my Excalibur I use the cocking aid rope and to decock the bow after every hunt. Just reverse the steps that you would do at the beginning.

PSE-Fang Crossbow. Got one for my 16 year old daughter and she loves it. Very well priced to!

I bought a Ten Point from Cabela's lat year and same experience - bullseyes at 15, 20, 30 and 40 out of box. I use the decocking bolts and kind of a pain, but probably the safest and easiest way for me. I thought about leaving cocked coming out of field, and then shooting field point bolt when back at base, but not crazy about walking back, or throwing in back of Mule while cocked - either have to leave a bolt in, or risk a dry fire - both are bad solutions. The decocking bolts are pretty cheap, and biodegradable, so that is what I choose to do - some may find an easier solution to share.

I typically [censored] mine as soon as I get into stand and leave it that way 'til I'm ready to head in. Not sure if leaving cocked for long time would cause any mechanical issue, but I don't feel comfortable leaving it that way between hunts, so as said above, i fire after every hunt to be on safe side.

So far, I haven't shot anything with it, other than target, but maybe soon!!!!

so let's say I have a bolt with a broadhead on and don't shoot anything - is it safe to pull the bolt out while cocked before using the rope to decock it?

Excalibur is the only brand crossbow that recommends not just shooting the crossbow to take it back to a rest position. On compound crossbows just shoot them either into a target or into the ground preferably with a bolt made for the purpose.

so take bolt with broadhead out - put trash bolt in and fire it to decock?

Yes or just use a practice bolt. Some take a small crossbow (block cube type) target along to fire into after a hunt. Just another practice shot if you look at it that way.

Just remember to be sure the safety is on so it will not misfire if you are changing bolts out. I have hunting shows where guys walk around with a cocked crossbow that does not have a bolt in it. They load it right before they plant to get into the stand or if stalking, to take the shot.

gotcha - thanks for the info. Hopefully I can report back with a pic of a nice buck