I'm pretty uneducated when it came to bow shooting. Decided I really wanted to give it a try. After telling the sales guy that I have carpal tunnel and a little arthritis in my hands he told me go with crossbow for sure. So that's the reason I have a crossbow. All I got on that subject.

After a broken collar bone that never healed in 2010 I elected to go with a crossbow. Still have to get close but at least I'm hunting.

I'll be using both this year. I'll be using my recurve on whitetails but I have an opportunity to chase nilgai in November. I'm breaking out the crossbow on those bad boys.

Just another perspective. I chased snow geese for 25 years. Seven years ago I had an eye stroke and lost all my vision in my right eye. I am right handed and I had to learn to shoot left handed. It wasn't as bad as I expected. It was awkward for a long time, still is to some extent but my shooting accuracy didn't change much. I actually started dove hunting with a 410 after this happened. I retired from goose hunting and got into deer/hog hunting. The place I hunt doesn't allow does to be shot during gun season and I have plenty of them so I opted to hunt during bow season just to shoot does. I am not a bow hunter at all and the thought of having to try and learn to shoot one left handed didn't sound good for the animals sake. So, I opted for the crossbow. I got an Excalibur package deal and it was great for us beginners. Easy to sight in, accurate and lethal. I shot two does in one week on two shots. My stepson shot a buck the following year with it (he was 14). For me the crossbow allows me to shoot does when otherwise I would not be able to and I can reduce the does numbers slightly and have good venison to feed the family.

I hunt with the Excaliber Axiom, which is just a bit north of $500. But it's a damned fine and accurate recurve crossbow, with 200lb draw weight.

Excaliber Axiom Crossbow

Without the crossbow, I'd be sitting at home waiting for Nov 1 to roll around. With it, I bagged a nice buck on opening day this year.

I hunt with a crossbow and couldn't care less about what "bow" hunters think.

Hunt with what you are comfortable with. I rather see someone kill a deer with a crossbow than someone just wounding a deer with a compound bow.

I personally like compound bows but I have used a crossbow too. Each has an advantage. Compound bows are lighter and much quieter, while a crossbow is heavier and louder. Crossbows take a lot less time to be get good with, while a compound bow takes a lot of practice. This year Ive already replaced 2 D loops because they got worn. All my efforts were rewarded on opening day when I got a nice 8pt. For some reason I cant bring myself to use a recurve.

If you think the compound takes a lot of practice to get good with then a recurve is probably not for you. It takes a kit more practice than a compound for consistent accuracy,

What this Jackwagon said!!!!!

3 years ago at 66 I fell and damaged my shoulder to the extent that I was unable to draw my compound and hold it without terrible pain. This when I have been bow hunting ( recurve / Compound)since I was 16. Do the math. I also was a critic of the use of cross bows as I thought it lessened the purity of the sport and gave an unfair advantage to the user. Well I am first and foremost a hunter who tries to be afield as much as possible and now that I am retired it means I have way more time to do what I love. Needless to say my principles are not as set in concrete and I am now a cross bow user. There is a hell of an advantage in range as I never shot my compound hunting beyond 20 yards. With the cross bow a 40 yd shot is not beyond consideration.

I love traditional bows and compound bows, but several years ago I injured my left shoulder and can no longer draw either without extreme pain. I shoot a crossbow because it is the only option I have left and at my age I don't see it improving. By-the-way, I also hunt with a crossbow during the regular rifle season, none of that sissy rifle hunting for me.

I shoot compound gives a little more excitement to the hunt but I am getting older so I see a crossbow in 5 years or so

I have heard people say that hunting with a crossbow aint a "challenge". Funny thing is when rifle season rolls around they never hesitate to pick up a rifle.

Amen.

UPDATE: Now back to shooting compound bow for the first time in about 4-5 years, shoulder seems to have improved a bunch, shooting without pain......crossbow retired.

Concho, I still pull out the crossbow sometimes when a bad wind for my normal stands blows on a day I can hunt. With the crossbow I can sit against a tree in an improvised stand and still be effective. Otherwise it is the recurve or compound