I want to try hunting with a bow. Not a compound bow but a crossbow. The problem is that it appears that many frown upon crossbow hunting. I have a buddy that says that it's ok to hunt with a crossbow but only if you're handicap! TPW seems to think it's ok! That hell raiser Ted Nugent hunts with a crossbow!
So I'm coming to you guys for guidance. What is the big deal? Crossbow hunters frowned upon and why?

i see no point in using a crossbow unless you are handicapped or you are a youth hunter. my Compound bow can out perform just about any crossbow and i feel that its got a better distance on shots as well. once again thats just m opinion. My father in law bought a crossbow cause he thought it had a better range,until i showed him how accurate a compound is at 60-80yds compared to a cross bow

It really doesn't matter what we think. It is now legal to use in Tx during the archery season. So, if that's what you want to use, then by all means.

But, if you hunt public lands, might want to look into it. Some places like WMA's will not let you use a crossbow in archery season.

Yep. x2

I bought one a couple of months ago. It's fun to shoot, and will drive nails at 50 yards, but I don't know how much I will actually hunt with it.

I think bowhunters are afraid that a crossbow gives too much of an advantage. I don't think that's completely true. Bolts lose KE fast. Therefore, you have to keep the deer close. Although I could hit a deer easily at 60+ yards, I don't think it would be a good idea to do so. Plus...crossbows are HEAVY and noisy!!! Most, with scope and all weighs over 10lbs. They are also bulky - mine is 26". Keep in mind that's horizontal, not vertical like a traditional or compound. And anybody that has shot a crossbow knows that they are a PITA to [censored]. Crossbows to much of an advantage....I don't think so. In fact...with all this, I think a crossbow is a DISADVANTAGE!

I'm interested in knowing why crossbow hunting is frowned upon by bow hunters. What's the big deal?

the only real advantage you have got w/ an xbow is not really having an excuse for not being able to hold one steady and not having to draw and hold for a deer to present the right shot...other than that it's still about getting the deer within range.

cause its like taking a 10 speed bicycle to a tricycle race. i dont think there is any advantage to it but do you think a perfectly healthy person should be able to compete in the special olympics. CROSS BOWS are for handicapped people!!!!!!

Says who???? You??? Becuase that's the way the regulations USED to be?

i dont understand why you would want to use a crossbow. I cant use them when i shoot 3D competions but some one who is handicapped can, they should be for people who want to go bow hunting but cant cause they cant pull a bow back or they have one arm missing

I doubt that I will use it much, if at all. But if I want to...I can. It's perfectly legal and all the crying and pouting in the world isn't going to change that. I'm a hunter. I like to hunt to so if it's a legal means, I'll hunt with it.

so maybe we need to start a crossbow hunting section cause crossbow hunting aint bow hunting JMO and this is the bow hunting section of THF

ya know...I'm pretty sure an old-timer will chime in about it being the same BS similar to when compound bows started being the norm. Just got live with it, accept it and move on and pick what suits you.

Ok. So far I've got that the xbow is heavier therefore holding it steady is or could be an issue. That's legitimate. Fowlplayer says that xbows might give an unfair advantage but he questions those advantages. I'm still not following why xbows are frowned upon. Is it because you can mount a site? The arrows are racier? Then there is the handicap argument. Am I to believe that only handicap people can use these bows because they're easier to draw? What is it exactly that causes an argument between xbow fans and compound bow fans. Because simply stating xbows are for handicaps is not going to cut it. What is the big deal? Come one, some one on this forum can burp out the truth!?!?!?!?

x3 this^

As long as it's legal, I don't care what you hunt with.

btw, have you seen how much a good xbow costs these days? Holy smokes!!! Saw one in the Cabelas catalog the other day that was 2K!?!? For that I could get a hunting and a target bow...

"as long as it's legal, I don't care what you hunt with". I agree but the question is, what is the reason why compound bow hunters frown upon crossbow's?

cross bows are loud,heavy,have a crappy trigger pull unless you spend money for a good one,they are NOT any faster than a compound,plus the shorter bolts you shoot are no where as stabile as what my 29 in arrows are,plus they go to crap faster cause of them being cocked for so long its not good on the limbs,and hardly any bow shops really service them

I saw one at BPS for a grand! Holy smokes! I can almost afford one of those AR's for a couple of more $$$!

That's legit Kobeer.

Because some of the die hard bow hunters are pissed off that it is now legal to hunt with. No other reason. I will be buying a crossbow one of these days, and when I do my compound is getting sold. Buy one, and let me try it out.

Can any of you make a serious recommendation on a compound bow? Money aside, what would be the best compound bow for a beginner?

Bam! There it is compliments of the ragin canjun himself! I hear you're entertaining at your property this weekend Brad? What's the deal? Good to hear from you!

Yeah, are you coming? 1Fowlhunter, TexasLefty is coming over, and Twice 70 said he would stop in.

Many Year's ago a Ture archer had to draw a recurve bow capable of shootin a broadhead at least 7/8" in width over 150 yds to legally hunt in this state!Now with that said a ture bowhunter has to be skilled enough to set up his ambush spot in order to draw 28-30"s of arrow ie. movement to make a clean and humane shot.It's quite harder to do than sit in a quad-pad with a x/bow laying on the gun rest.this was the main grip of most ture bow hunters,but due to the need to have a higher harvest rate and x/bow promoters it's now legal.I think You should get one if that's what You want satisfaction is only gained by ones self just don't tell someone You shot a P/Y buck with a Bow !

i truly think it takes skill to be able to shoot a bow and be a good shot. a croos bow takes no skill to look thru a scope and squeeze a trigger.