do I get a cookie?

Traditional?

No Mathews, nothing... that's a hickory stick and some sinew..... some flint arrowheads made by hand...

I have both and will hunt with both during the year... I will probably crossbow hunt by myself and let the wife have taht one and use the compound when she's there...

Guess I am not much of a hunter....

And you dont like AR's tisk tisk... Are you even Texan

OOPS MY BAD!...... 6,473.5

I used to deer hunt when I was a kid with a shotgun and slugs. I then progressed to my trusty Winchester .30-30. Now I shoot a bolt action rifle with a scope and can hit a target I would never have considered years ago. So, improvements in the tools I use make me a more efficient hunter. But in the last two years, I have also bought a compound bow and a couple of black powder rifles, so in that area, I guess you could say I've regressed. The way I look at it, if it's legal, and I can become proficient with it, I want to try it. So one of these days, I'll probably go to a crossbow. Not because it's easier than a compound bow, but because I could probably do a better job of the one-shot kill I believe in. And the fact that the state has special seasons for archery and (in some areas) black powder, means I get to extend my season.
I used to hunt a lot when I was a kid, then put all my guns away for almost 40 years. Now, at 56, I'm rediscovering the joy that hunting brings. And anything that helps me extend that joy, I'm all for. If they ever decide to have a slingshot season, I'll be in the garage whittling on tree limbs and slicing up old bicycle tires.

X2

X2

You are wrong sir. I bow hunt all season long. I don't even own a rifle any longer.

If you have or do bow hunt, you must not care about it that much. Most of us who do bow hunt, it is an addiction and I bow hunt year round, I will only pick up my rifle if I am going somewhere that is NOT bow hunting friendly. I do not bow hunt to get out early, I bow hunt because I love archery and killin stuff with my bow.

Again, this is all a very slippery slope because even trad archery has technology now (fast flight strings, razor sharp carbon steel BHs etc) but when I say traditional I mean no wheels on the bow. When you pull back 50 lbs you are pulling back all 50 lbs.

Cool beans great for you, if you do it just because you love to hunting with a bow then I challenge the both of you to wait till rifle season starts.

I do love bow hunting, and have done it for a while now, but love my smoke poll just as much, and I have gotten very into realoading, so I gotta kill some critters with my home rolled stuff as well.

Give it try and see if anything changes. I bow hunt off and on all season. The only reason I hunt much in archery only season wiht it is because in brazos county the only way you could kill does was in archery season, and we were over run.

matt

i will be there! got my crossbow dialed in to 80 yards. shot a pig with it last weekend while everyone else was dove hunting at 68 yards and it ran 10 yards without both lungs.

incredible bows.

I bow hunt to extend my season and the option of tagging a doe as it is buck only during the general season at my lease.

The elitist mentality of MOST bow hunters is quite sickening and I'm tired of them whining about crossbows. If you do not like them then do not use them. If you do not want to hunt around them then buy some land and don't let people hunt your land with crossbows.

Do you really think you will change the law by talking down to people and informing them they are not "real" hunters? Or by making assumptions they do not know their equipment and will try an 80 yard shot just because you have pre-conceived prejudices against this "lesser hunter"?

In the words of the equally ridiculous Dr. Phil...."Get Real!"

I have an 8 year old that shoots a rifle like a pro, but wants badly to bow hunt. He can't draw the 45lbs to be legal so he will hunt with a cross bow this year along with me and the Mathews. No challenge with the rifle as he has put em down out to 384 yards with the .308. Cross bow will be an all new experience for him. No feeders invloved in our hunting therefore it won't be shooting fish in a barrel. I don't think the indians hunted under a feeder. The ole stick and string argument sucks wind when the braggers are shooting 10-20yards at deer contently feeding under a barrel of corn.

I agree with this^^^^^^^^^

exactly, or the elitist say that the challenge with the verticle bow is getting drawn!

+1

There is no poundage requirement any longer 2000cbr929. And yes, cross bow shooters are legit but just like compound shooters (like myself) don't have the same skill level as a traditional shooter, cross bow shooters don't need the same skill level as the other two. But that doesn't mean they aren't legit, or even outstanding hunters. If people like kilt it would quit trying to piss everyone off and let everyone enjoy yours the way you want this place would be a lot more friendly. Anyone notice he hasn't posted since? Stirred and is sitting back laughing at us kicking each others azz.

all i got to say is if you look under where it says bow hunting on the bow hunting thread it says compound and traditional!!!!! so why do we get so many pissed off crossbow shooters. its like me posting duck hunting questions in the deer hunting section...

Well then I stand corrected and I agree completely however I will limit him since the daughters first doe was shot and lost at 15 yards with a light draw and a well placed shot that did not penetrate as I thought it should. So at least in my case I choose to interject my own personal ethics and place my own personal minimum on him. She worked up to 49lbs, and I changed her set up and she got her first bow kill last year with a 20yard shot and short blood trail. Which is the important point here that no matter what one chooses to use one should view the "Law" as the minimum and that alone with a little common sense should even things out. I.E. rifle, shotgun, trad, compound, muzzle loader, cross bow, bowie knife, or blow darts know your limitations and stick to them, and be more successful, and less irresponsible. I know I have made my mistakes for sure, and I am furthest from being perfect. This is just how I do it not perfect but works for me.

Your ethics are commendable. What was she drawing that didn't get the penetration? Just curious as my son is currently drawing 40lbs.

45lbs said the scale in the barn, but I had her set up too long in her arrow, and shooting 100 grains trying to keep up with her growth spurts. My bad. I got her pulling more poundage, sucked it up and decided to cut her arrows down instead of letting her grow into them, lightened her to 85 grains and smaller cut, and problem solved.

In my opinion it sums up to this. if you are injured i encourage you to use a crossbow and keep the archery spirit. if you are ok and can pull a compound, GO GET A COMPOUND BOW! there will be someday when i wont be able to pull a bow back and i will switch to a crossbow but not untill i cant pull a bow back anymore.

I'm assuming all of you guys out there that are bashing crossbows dont hunt a feeder.You dont hunt out of a blind, or wear commercial made camo,use aluminum arrows or steel broadheads. As hunters we all should support each other whether we hunt that way or not. I have never used a crossbow but will this year along with my compound and rifle. I really dont care what Joe Smoe is using as long as its legal and they are having fun. The debate can go on forever but we should all stick together because we have enough idiots to worry about already.

I won't complain about what folks use... just now going back to the bow in oct instead of the rifle. Used to be the bow got put up until around Christmas.