This is my second year hunting during the archery season on public land (but with a xbow). What's surprising to me is how many deer I'm seeing, including more bucks last season than in years of hunting the same ground with a rifle. They just behave much more naturally and predictably than they do after the pumpkins show up. Follow the advice from the up'n down bow guys about making the most of your opportunities, and you should prosper, especially if you're more into making meat than hanging big horns.
A crossbow doesn't require as much movement as a vertical one, and two of the four deer I've whacked so far have been from the ground; one from a tree seat, the other while walking out of the woods just before dark. By moving very slowly and when a deer is looking elsewhere, it is possible to raise a weapon and get a shot off, especially if you keep it directly in front of you to minimize the silhouette.
