I missed archery season last year because of a Lawn Mower accident that ruptured my complete rotator cuff. My shoulder has been getting better and I was thinking I would have no trouble pulling my bow this year. I just tried and not even close. It is either switch to a crossbow or miss another bow season. I hate the thoughts of using a crossbow but have no choice if I want to hunt the upcoming archery season. What would you do?
A Doe walks out of the woods today and says, that is the last time I'm going to do that for Two Bucks.
I myself would get a crossbow. I think you'll get over the "hate the thoughts of using a crossbow" the first time you get in your favorite deer stand. If you want to make it a tad more challenging go with open sights and not a ranging reticle scope. In my book, being out there in the deer woods is more important than what's in your hand. YMMV
Charter Member Ancient order of the 1895 Winchester
"It's an insecure and petite man who demands all others like what he likes and dislike what he dislikes." szihn
I have no way of knowing what your shoulder is like but I'll tell you what happened to me. When I was 56 I had major Shoulder surgery and couldn't draw my bow. Was determined to hunt and no way was I willing to use a crossbow. Bought a new bow in the 40-50 lb. range. That year I hunted @ 42 lb. and had a complete pass thru on a mature deer. Now at age 65 have worked my way up to 50 lb. and average 1 nice buck each year. I use Beman carbon arrows with 50 grain brass inserts and 125 grain Magnus 2 blade stingers. Works great and if you can draw 40 lb. you'll be ok.
In my book, being out there in the deer woods is more important than what's in your hand. YMMV
...or in your head.
There's no way I'd NOT hunt with a x-bow if it meant not being in the game at all.
This
The government plans these shootings by targeting kids from kindergarten that the government thinks they can control with drugs until the appropriate time--DerbyDude
Whatever. Tell the oompa loompa's hey for me. [/quote]. LtPPowell
I can't have surgery because of the Blood Thinner I take. So I guess I will get an entry level crossbow and try it, maybe a Parker Bushwhacker.
Bob, I was completely against crossbows....until I shot one, aside from not drawing back, they really aren't much different from a vertical bow. They don't extend ranges, and while you lose the challenge of drawing back, you gain additional challenges
The government plans these shootings by targeting kids from kindergarten that the government thinks they can control with drugs until the appropriate time--DerbyDude
Whatever. Tell the oompa loompa's hey for me. [/quote]. LtPPowell
Just don't understand this argument. I've killed a buck with my bow since I was 13 yrs old. Got a crossbow a few yrs ago for the kids. I used it for two yrs because it was something new and exciting and different. No different in carrying a 30-30 with open sights one day and ur 7LRM with a NF the next. I have nothing to prove to anyone but myself. If u want to hunt than u hunt with whatever u want with whatever weapon u choose.
I tried a crossbow after 20 years of vertical bow hunting just because they had become a legal weapon and I wanted to try something different for a change. I now have 4 xbows and don't feel any different about them than my tricked out Mathews vertical. They are different, but the hunting and ranges are exactly the same.
Do the X bow, too close to season to learn another way to shoot your other bows.
There was a one-armed man in this area a few years ago who was shooting a compound and winning all the matches. He did it by fixing a leather strap to his string and pulling with his teeth. It worked great because he was looking straight down the arrow when he opened his mouth to release.
Some of the "sportsmen" he was beating wanted his method (and him) disqualified, but the officials told them to go pound it. If they thought he had an unfair advantage, they were free to shoot one-handed too.