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?

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

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.

...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.

Get it fixed after the season. I had mine repaired 8 months ago and now it's just as good as the other.

This

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.

Turn your bow down to the lowest setting that's still legal and try pulling it.

Another option, using your current equipment with the addition of a Draw-Loc.

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

at least I will be hunting

I would rather use a crossbow

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.

Roy

What kind of bow were you shooting before the lawnmower accident?

Mathews Outback and Parker Ambusher. Plus my two long bows

I'd get a crossbow and hunt...

There is nothing wrong with crossbows, accept the lazy people who use them that believe they don't have to be a good hunter to be successful.

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.

Good Luck

loder

I only use a crossbow because I do not have the time to shoot my compound like I want to.

When I was shooting my PSE, I was shooting anywhere from 10-30 arrows a night, 4-5 days a week, from June until the season. I can't do that anymore.

What I can do however, is shoot a dozen or so bolts every Saturday/Sunday for July and August, and I can be comfortable and Happy.

I owe it to the deer to be accurate and true with my shot. I don't trust myself with my compound after not shooting for a period of time.

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.

For me,filling the freezer would be first and foremost

Exactly!

I used a crossbow one season when I broke a collarbone. Can't say I liked it, but I was at least hunting.

if you were shooting a matthews you were shooting a vertical crossbow for all practical..

Drawing is an issue, but if you've hunted any, you have that figured out, I've never not been able to draw when I needed to, IE on an animal I wanted to take.

I've never been able to get the right angle on em many times, and clear not to hit 2 or more at times, so I've never drawn or shot.

The crossbow thing is in your head. Hopefully you've gotten it out of your head.

I too, was once arrogant in my youth about things like bow vs crossbow.

LT has it right, as long as you treat it as you should, practice and distance, its all the same.

Good luck with it.

If I had a shoulder issue, this is one of the last bows I'd be trying to shoot honestly. I have one, the drop off is so steep it felt like it would rip my (healthy) shoulder out of socket letting it down. I replaced the cam with a Switchback XT cam (would have to find my notes but think a 1/2" shorter draw cam and a new length string was all it took), and it's a much sweeter bow. It has 40-60lb limbs, and am in the process of setting it up for my 13yr old now (I shoot a Switchback XT and a DXT).

something to look into , thanks

yeah, thats the ticket, try something that might re injure the shoulder just becuase you are to damn stubborn and arrogant about bow/crossbow.

Crossbow all the way and a crank to cock it.

Get over it. You hunt with a gun some too right.........

Jeff, you're too dam cranky man... ,

I got a crossbow last year basically because I don't have enough time to practice with my normal bow.

I can shoot inside of 2" up to 60 yards with the crossbow, but that's all the range you get.

Anyone who says you get more range with a crossbow doesn't own one, or was not too responsible to begin with.

I got a crossbow this year when my state made them legal for deer hunting. I like it. I can shoot it in the basement into a cube made to catch the bolts.

It's quiet and can't be heard upstairs.

The one I got cost just a little over two hundred. The styro cube target was not free however the entire thing is fun and something new.

I have already purchased a crossbow and have it setup, sighted in and ready to hunt with. I may like hunting with it, because it is much more accurate than I expected.

We have a winner.

My now late FIL hadn't bow hunted in many years. More than 10, and WI made x-bows legal for guys 60 and over. He bought one, started early fall hunting and fell in love with bow hunting all over again.