I’m old with a bad shoulder, so if it wasn’t for a crossbow with a crank attachment I wouldn’t be able to hunt. Also when the weather gets bad, many of us older folks pull out unless we have a good blind to get in out of the cold. Things change when you age.
I agree. When I was younger I shot trad bows and compounds. Plus back then you couldn't hunt with a crossbow. Now that I'm older arthritis and lowered strength limits me in poundage. I still shoot them some what, but the crossbow has been a Godsend.
Agreed I have come full circle on the crossbow from.being a hater when I was younger to shoulder and muscular issues that means quit archery hunting or go to the x bow . Had to eat the words of my younger self.
Well, a crossbow is not a rifle. Also when you have compound bow hunters, crying about crossbows when they have no right to at all with $1500 compound bows with auto ranging pins 90% let off and a trigger style release. Most likely he will only be able to get off one shot no matter what equipment you use. But I have successfully reloaded a couple times in the field with Deer around using a crossbow… and what some compound bow hunters fail to realize is that you need to practice religiously on shooting and a lot of people just don’t have the time to do it if you are shooting 50 arrows a day and continue to do that you will have more practice under your belt than 90% of the compound bow hunters. There is a lot of them who only pick up their compound bow a month before the season starts and starts shooting it… but you started with the crossbow. Just don’t forget where you started before you get all high and righteous because now you’re a compound bow hunter.
@@twincam103I was going to call you out as being needlessly inflammatory, but then I stopped because I read the whole thing. And I shoot 80% let off with a thumb button. And I practice all year round. IMO, if you don't shoot farther than compound guys do, regardless of what crossbow you shoot, you're just wasting the benefit. If I had a crossbow, I'd shoot 80 yards daily. There's no excuse for missing a shot within 100.
@seanyoung1875 🤣🤣🤣 missing shots within 100 yards? You obviously have never shot a deer farther than 30 yards. A skittish deer will duck a string and a crossbow bolt loses energy faster than a regular arrow. By the time 100 yards comes around. Your aiming feet above a deer with a crossbow... too much time for a deer to duck and run. Definitely an unethical shot...
I have hunted with a compound bow for forty years and taken many deer with it but my shoulders have arthritis and cartilage loss and was forced to either stay home or use a crossbow so i chose a crossbow
Getting drawn on deer with vert bows is the biggest challenge when they are 30yds or less, which has been my shooting range. Crossbow comes up and is held in place as the deer closes into range. It's all good and thankfully more states are legalizing crossbows, so more folks can get out and hunt more. Happy hunting.
Yep... many people cant draw a compound or long bow or dont have time to get good enough to make a good kill shot, so the crossbow gives them the power and accuracy to make a clean kill and put meat on their table. in many cases the crossbow is a much better option for the person and for the game being shot since a bad shot with a compound or longbow may result in a seriously injured animal who dies a long painful death and goes to waste basically.
@@mapbike Yep... I've been a life long firearm enthusiast but never a hunter before taking an interest this year. While I'm very comfortable with a rifle, I haven't shot a bow since taking an archery class in college many moons ago. Due to safety concerns where I hunt on my property a rifle was out. Friends suggested a bow. I considered it but in the end decided on a crossbow for the reasons you mentioned. The LAST thing I want to do is take an unethical shot on an animal and make a bad hit. Not saying that a compound bow is a bad thing. Just that for me, I feel comfortable with my ability to make good hits with a crossbow that I'm not comfortable attempting with a vertical bow. I did also just purchase a compound for just backyard recreation though. So, who knows, with a lot of practice, maybe I'll change my mind next season...
This was nicely done. Thank you for that! Vertical & horizontal hunters need to co-exist rather than attack each other. Crossbows are here to stay. I've been an avid bow hunter since 1986. I own a used Centerpoint crossbow, and I have a new crossbow just sitting in a box (picked it up on sale). I used a crossbow one evening two years ago, & I felt like a fish out of water. I went back to my compound bow. At age 60, I know my days of using a compound may be limited. A sore shoulder & wrist inspired me to pick up a crossbow a couple years ago, but thankfully I recovered from that. I hope to shoot my compound bow as long as I can! I love practicing with a compound bow, too. I really don't like crossbows all that much. If they keep me in the woods longer, however, I will embrace them eventually. My first archery buck in 1986 was with a recurve that came from a garage sale.
Interesting, you and I are going in different directions. I'm a trad bow hunter that has only ever shot longbow or recurve. For me, hunting into november up in Alberta where it's often -20 or colder it's hard to control a 3 under arrow release with a tab over a glove and i've had some sloppy shots as a result. I recently bought a crossbow as my "Plan B" when it's just stupid to hunt trad and I need meat in the freezer. Each to their own. Good to see you're exploring the process of archery. Nothing but good will come of that.
I have been hunting mostly with a crossbow for the past 7 years. I have a simple excalibur crossbow (I think it is a 380) and that thing is just a brute. I have a tree stand and with my setup I am shooting at about 30 years. I can shoot wherever I want in the shoulder and pretty much always get a pass through. The usually fall over after about 50 yards with a decent double lung broadside shot. I recently sold one of my rifles because I am seeing myself crossbow hunting hopefully for a long time. My kids want deer jerky again so hopefully we can do that soon. Cheers
I started both compound bow and xbow at the same time and moved to a recurve several years later. I love bow hunting with a recurve. It's challenging and exciting and practicing is a hobby for me. It's rewarding enjoyment in a way. Never got that out of the comp or xbow. Rifle and muzzleloader are for filling the freezer to me. If you want to get into a traditional bow, don't let anyone fool you. An inexpensive bow like a Samick Sage can kill very efficiently. You really don't need to spend a ton on a bow.
Those are all fair reasons. Hunting is a journey not a destination. I started with a compound and struggled with tuning and got frustrated at the complications of the cams and arrow tuning. I got into traditional archery and learned the fundamentals of archery form, physics, and tuning which I was able to apply to and drastically improve my compound skill. Now I have work and family obligations that restrict my time to practice and hunt, so on the few days I get out I need to harvest game to feed the family, so I use a crossbow.
Do what you gotta do. I'm in my late 40s and have always had physical labor jobs. I have also spent the last 20 plus years in an automotive assembly plant. I have already had to give up riding motorcycles due to my hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders being pretty much worn out. So I can't pull back a bow string. But a crossbow with a crank system is perfect for me. At least I can still keep in the game this way. Good luck with your hunts.
I respect that. I think if we want to revert more and more to a primitive style of hunting might as well grab a stick and fashion a spear head out of sharp stone and go that route. Each step backwards becomes even more challenging it just depends on how much you want to handicap yourself.
I started with recurve bows 5 yrs ago. Moved on to compound and just bought my first crossbow. Gotta admit. I like them all. It started out as physical therapy and now it's mental. I just like to hunt and the meat is good for the family.
I'll never be able to be efficient enough to hunt with a compound bow. I tore my rotary cuff in my shoulder a few years ago and it seems like it never healed all the way. I can't pull and hold the draw weight of a compound bow so I'm gonna have to stick with a crossbow. I owe it to the animal I'm hunting to be efficient. It's good that you're expanding your skill set. Good luck and stay safe man.
Hunted with a compound for a long time. Took some of best bucks with them. The only thing I miss about compound bows is practicing all summer. That's a lot of fun... Other than that crossbow is where it's at in a lot of different ways.
And, reloading a xbow in a tree stand? Very tough. I shoot a longbow. Hunted with an xbow a few years back. I had issues with windplanning and went to small broadheads. I lost a doe and went back to my longbow. I too hated humping that contraption through the woods.
The easy reloading of a compound bow is a great feature to have when your aim is bad and need to take multiple shots. Personally, I’m done with all forms of projectile hunting as it’s all cheating anyway. That’s why I’ve transitioned to knife hunting.
I too have shot trad and compound but the older you get the eyes start going bad your shoulder so now I shoot a crossbow that gives me the ability to still hunt the bow season that all bow hunters enjoy so kudos to you for taking that step to become a better hunter
I have recurves, longbows, compounds and a crossbow (380 fps). Not THAT much difference between my crossbow and compound (Hoyt Carbon Defiant Turbo) if I'm to be completely honest. The real game changer is shooting trad. That crap is HARD. Some people on here are wanting a separate time in the season for crossbow hunters, but I think there should be a trad season to start then a wheeled season (compound and crossbows) to follow.
Everyone must follow what inspires them. That’s great! The good thing too is that I suspect no crossbow hunters will judge you negatively or put you down for whatever choice you make. Unfortunately, this may not be the case with some vertical bow hunters. I’m also excited about hunting in general! I have found love with crossbows!! Good luck!
@twintwo I think there are a small number of vertical bow hunters that are just bad! That minority group appears entitled and they engage in judging and even name calling of those that don’t do things the way they think it should be done. They appear selfish. They often alienate hunters or interfere with some ever getting started . Some even post in chat rooms dedicated to the hate of crossbows. They did some of the same things when compound bows first emerged. They complain sometimes about dwindling hunter numbers, but they can’t have it both ways.
@twintwo For the record, I must say that your skill of your craft is legendary. What you do is incredible and you have likely put in tons of time to be where you are! You are a consummate sporstsmen! I was an expert with a bolt action rifle. I don’t wish to put the time in for archery . I work 60-70 hours a week.
@twintwo I don’t disagree with you that there are bad apples in every group, but I’ve seen a trend. It’s not been crossbow hunters leading the charge. The same minority group launched criticisms at compounds when they appeared. To say that it’s just crossbow hunters too is rewriting history.
Advance capabilities + Dead deer. You want to learn recurve? shoot a recurve. Weight? If you exercise it wont matter. Get in shape...challenge yourself. It is not hard to carry a crossbow nor are they loud to carry....never had a problem. You could challenge yourself and hunt without a bow if that's your thing. If you shoot your bow, the deer is gone whether it's crossbow or regular bow. Crossbow to me = dead deer. Not wounded, but dead....which is the goal. Good luck with your new hobby and please learn to shoot and be exetremely confident before you hunt! Way too many people shooting regular bows injure and maim deer.
Interesting perspective. I will shoot a recurve eventually but this is my personal next step toward that. I feel that mastering a compound bow is a prerequisite to recurve. Just my opinion. Being in shape isnt the issue, ive been rucking a pack and crossbow for 12 years and I'm in better shape now than ever. It's a matter of efficiency. I could throw dumbells in my pack to make it more challenging but why? I agree that advanced capabilities of crossbows mitigate wounding animals which is why i started with a crossbow.
Never had an issue with my crossbow making too much noise while walking. Prefer walking with it as I am then ready immediately when a deer presents itself. You have to fumble around and noc an arrow with a bow. I can take longer ethical shots too. Too many positives to drop the crossbow.
100% correct on all points made.... Unless someone had a ton of time to practice with a longbow or even a compound bow, they will struggle to make good shots which is gonna either end in misses of seriously injured game that may die a long painful death. A good crossbow will get the job done better and more accurately for most people and for myself the entire point of the hunt/harvest is for the meat, im not into all the "sport" of it and I dont have time to spend hours and hours in a day, week etc... just teying to get to where Im confident to take shot at a deer. I have a compound bow and I have long bows, but Im a working man who doesnt have time to practice anymore so the crossbow gives me an accurate, confident and quiet way to put meat on my table. Many advantages to the crossbow that are not pointed out in this video snd its advantages actually out weigh the so claimed advantages of the compound bow and especially a longbow which causes many lost and injured animals each season because they lack the power and in many cases the accuracy from the shooter to make a clean and humane kill.
@@homerangehuntsmen1298It is not a prerequisite. There is nothing that a compound can teach you about traditional archery. Compound hunters learn very quickly that they are starting from scratch when they pick up a recurve.
after 40 yrs of pulling trad and compounds im starting 2025 with a jacked sholder so im going to crossbows. im happy for them because they keeping me in the woods.But i hope ye injoy compound archery as much as i did.
I grew up taking deer with rifle/shotgun as well. Now at 42 years of age, and countless deer in the freezer over the years, I only hunt using muzzleloader (hawken style percussion) and recurve. Sure, I own crossbows and compounds, and all the other things that go boom ... and if my life depended on the meat, I would use them. But there's something about the nostalgia of the older ways. Compound and recurve are very different animals, so if your goal is to learn recurve, my suggestion is to go buy one and start practicing. I'm a fan of the Bear one-piece bows ... not terribly expensive and well made. Learn to shoot it instinctively ... all this BS on string walking and aiming methods is nothing but complicated mumble jumble. Start at 10 yards and work your way back to 40 ... but only when you can group consistently at the distance that you're at starting with 10. If you're good at 40, then randomize the distances between 10 and 40. You can go beyond 40, but for me, that's what I hunt at so I don't unless it's just for fun. When you build the muscle memory (it takes lots of practice), you'll be able to hit anything you want, at any reasonable distance without sights, and without the heavy extended draw holds. Good luck.
I’m switching back to compound bow for the main reason you stated that carrying a crossbow through woods it catches everything, and there is just no good way to carry them comfortably and quietly
I hunted with a recurve for 30 years then used a compound bow for about 15 years. Now I am considered an older hunter, I no longer walk miles through the woods and find using a crossbow is best for me. I always strive for clean quick kills with fast recoveries and I am able to accomplish that with my crossbow. I am a meat hunter and have never been a trophy hunter. Good luck in your journey.
I had to switch to a crossbow this year. I started shooting my compound this year and started having serious issue with my elbow. Excruciating pain. I thought I could do but I hit a deer bad because it took focus away from my shot. Still have to meat in the freezer still.
Thats unfortunate about your shoulder! Crossbows are very fun and effective tools. Glad you picked one up and didn’t have to stop hunting! Good luck to you!
All valid points I have harvested a lot of deer with a compound, a few of them were on the second shot after a deflected shot or other miss . I have only taken 5 deer & a turkey with a xbow that I got 3 years ago. In my experience I shoot as well with my old 3.5 lb MQ32 as I can with my Barnett Ghost 360 . Best of luck to you in your journey to becoming a truly proficient Archer!
I started shooting archery when compound bows didn't exist... I was a junior in high school when Allen compounds first came to the market. I was Missouri Pin Sight Champion 1985. Killed dozens of deer throughout the years.... and at 75 yrs old I still shoot my Hoyt Infinilty 1000. But now I hunt with Crossbow.... It may not be the top of the line $$$$$$$$$$ crossbow, but extends my hunting years... I passed up a shot on a small doe this morning..... Still totally enjoyed the hunt..... I had already got a much larger two weeks ago. I may still use my compound in the future to get one more deer with it..... but in the mean time , I'm not going to look for something in my equipment.
I think if you use a trigger on your bow, you’ve got no reason to complain about crossbows, and those that do were probably the kids who blame gear, and took their ball and went home when they couldn’t win. If you trad hunt, complain away! I have nothing but respect for you! That all being said there are real advantages to both a crossbow and compound bow, and each have a place in hunting today. I think with modern compound bows performance, all states should allow crossbows as well. The real limiting factor isn’t compound of crossbow, it is dollar bills, there will always be some one with more money and better gear than me. Good for them. I say learn to use what’s available to you, both budget and ability, and stop complaining about the other guys.
I have been wanting to switch to compound bow. But I have a 31.5inch draw length. Most bows I find they want $1300 barebones with that draw length. I don’t have that kind of money.
Good rationale, I use both, for similar reasons. Even a crossbow is a short range weapon, louder, get string jumping past 30 yards. Main reason I went to a crossbow, don't have to deal with busy archery shops, when there's an issue with my bow. Crossbows aren't as sensitive with tuning. It's part of the fun, good topic!
Tbh just my opinion I don’t hunt but I’ve been doing archery for years but tbh I’d recommend u actually going with a recurve an skip the compound it’s totally different but u will learn the form
i'm perhaps younger than you but for some reason i get shoulder joint aches after some time moving around but if i could i'd use a bow, it's more portable than a crossbow and honestly looks more fun
I can’t wait to switch to a crossbow, I have one, and can hunt during the archery season in two units in my state. Just waiting for my home unit to open up!
It's been hard to use compounds I am right handed but shoot left because I lost my right eye. So cross bows have been the way to roll. I am giving another compound a try tho
I'm not a hunter but an avid bow shooter. First yes a coumpound is a really good idea if you want to be out and hunting with a bow this season. I perfer recurve but I'm not trying to kill anything so draw weight can be light. But you will want to work up to a heavier draw weight on a recurve and work that into your shooting regiment now. Getting a decent cheap recurve with no frills like the Black Hunter will help you develop the back muscles you need to draw heavier poundage. Also, it will get you familiar with issues such as noise. Don't start higher than 40lb. But lighter draw weight may be better. Get used to finger tabs. Pulls aren't commonly used on recurve makes it difficult to string walk. And shoot 3 under. Until you can hold a bow steady with 60lb you probably don't want to go hunting deer with a recurve. (Maybe 50lb) Recurve is more of a shooting challenge. Compound is more mechanical and going to be closer to the cross bows you're used to using. There's going to be a lot of naysayers and comments from the keyboard experts. You just do you. You will know what's best for you. Good luck! Bag a big buck.
I appreciate the input! There is a lot i have to learn on the archery side of things, for sure. Ill do as you reccomend and pick up a cheap light draw one in the off season.
Well as a person who hunted with a compound bow for 40 years as years go by it’s harder for us guys to keep hunting injuries and illnesses sometimes you gotta switch to continue hunting
If you want to shoot recurve bow just go get one and practice. It’s all the same. It’s lobbing an arrow at a deer. Just depends on what you practice with
I’ve deer hunted for 48 years, killed my first 2 deer with a recurve bow. I’ve hunted deer with shotguns and rifles. I classify the bow ( compound or recurve/long bow) as a 2 handed total form and follow through weapon. Rifles, shotguns, crossbows can be fired with one hand if necessary by placing the weapon on a rest. The skill level to master the bow is much greater and the effective killing range is less. Sorry but crossbows are closer cousins to guns than a bow. Other than firing an arrow type projectile that’s where the similarity ends. If you can master bow hunting, the form and practice, taking deer at much closer ranges it will make you a much more effective Rifle, Shotgun, Muzzle Loader, Crossbow hunter. I believe Crossbow and Muzzle Loaders should be joined together in the same season. If a person is abled bodied and can draw a bow of legal weight then they should use a bow during bow season. If they are handicapped or hunted with a bow and then became disabled then they should be granted a permit to hunt with a crossbow during bow season.
if you eventually want to go hunt and shoot with a recurve bow you dont start with a compound first. You go staright into recurve. There is no middle step there. It is completely different. I would go as far as to say that the switch from crossbow to compound is easier than the switch from compound to recurve.
I completely agree. There is nothing that a compound can teach you about traditional archery. Arrow tuning is almost non-existant and you can have garbage archery form and still execute a good shot with a compound. The form I see half these compound guys using wouldn't even get them to hit a target at 5 yards with a recurve...
I started with compounds. They were always too easy to fire accurately and I was constantly breaking arrows believing you have to shoot tight groups. I learned to fire at different targets but it got boring. I hung up the training wheels and began shooting recurves and a long bow. I hated the long bow, but fell in live with recurves. Then I got into firearms and stopped shooting my bows altogether. I now have a crossbow, its like the bastard child of all my previous endeavors. I have the archery aspect, which I loved, mixed with the muzzleoader reloads, which I also loved. It has the familiarity of my rifles with the assistance of a telescopic sight to help my aging eyes. And I don't care what people think, everyone thinks they're better than everyone else and people always hate each other. Gear guys hate fly fishermen and fly fishermen hate gear guys. Black rifle shooters call traditionalists fudds and traditionalists call black rifle shooters mall ninjas. Its what makes the world go round I guess.
Grew up with a Browning recurve. Was good for the basics. Self-taught. Moved to a compound and not looked back. Sure, getting set in a blind can be a pain but, I like a compound. Good to be an all-around hunter. I have used a couple crossbows including at 1700.00 one but, the wind up is very long for the pitch. Complicated and you are right about a follow up shot. A process to go through. Well-made and thought-out video.
I'll deer hunt with a cross bow when I can no longer pull my bow back. Why you can hunt with cross bow during archery season baffles me( unless your handicap in some way) same thing with black powder. Inlines and scopes, it used to be iron sights only and either black powder or pyrodex.
If your end goal is to hunt with a recurve then you will not reach it by shooting compound. Just because it's vertical doesn't make it much different from a crossbow. You can have bad archery form and still execute a good shot with a compound and the arrow tuning aspect is almost nonexistant. Compounds are completely removed from vertical bows.
When you get to be 63,and have torn both shoulders over the past ten years, it's a problem to pull a compound bow, let down a little on a long hold and the snatch will ruin your day.
You might eventually have to go back to a crossbow, I did. I miss shooting my bow, but I'm just not able to nomore. I shot and hunted with a bow for 50 some years. Crossbow hunting is way more aggravating and difficult to maneuver, especially stand hunting..
Just look at weapons as tools. I hunt with both trad recurve and a crossbow. The crossbow is more effective in 90% situations. It is a more dominate weapon than verticle bows. Way more accurate too. I like the trad bow during early season and when stalking or when in-season scouting. You can pull-up faster and get on target on an animal when it jumps and moves. The xbow is great for a ground ambush and late season when movement is more easily detected. Just a tool. You brought up good reasons for a compound too. Well done. The main point is these are all tools that are more effective than others in certain situations. Screwdrivers don’t work when you need a hammer.
Speaking of reloading a crossbow: you should consider the Steambow Onyx. Its probably the easiest (and safest) way to reload a crossbow. Amazing tech aswell.
Not sure I fully agree with your logic? You owe to the animal to make the Most humane kill as possible which I feel the crossbow does. Please perfect your recurve skills before trying to take an animal. It isn’t easy! I messed around with one for a few years and never felt like I was accurate enough to hunt with? Good luck with the compound? It’s fun for sure.
My advice is to test out various compound bows (brands) & select the one you really like the best. After that, just enjoy it & tune out all the marketing hype related to bows. These are the factory specs for my current 2013 compound bow - 35" ATA (prefer long ones like this), 6.25" brace height, 340 fps IBO, & 4.5 pounds weight. I still love my bow. It has a rock solid backwall. It's quiet & accurate. I wouldn't change a thing about it after 11 seasons with it. If I replaced it with the same brand current flagship bow, the specs would be 34" ATA, 6.25" brace height, 340 fps IBO, & 4.6 pounds weight. Buying a new bow would be a waste of money. I personally feel my current bow is superior, and the new one would be a downgrade. My point - compound bow specs haven't changed much in recent years. Buy a good quality bow & enjoy it for a long, long, time.
You can fire a bow faster then a cross bow I use a recurve cause the compound has to many parts I got a compound and traded for a recurve then got 2 more 35, 50 and 60 I got the 35 for my wife the 50 I got in the trade the 60 I got Cuse it was pretty and just fit my hand right.
Great plains bows American company make some great hunting bows. My Cottonmouth 2 bamboo 40lb recurve bow weights nothing. My other Ash longbow 80 inch that weights nothing either.
In truth, there are differences between the budget style crossbows and the higher end. I’m not saying the budget bows are bad. Not at all! They will kill deer all day long. Nonetheless, they frequently don’t last as long and the material quality of parts and construction is better. They do cost more, so if you’re “all in” on crossbows, perhaps you go with something like that. That’s not the only qualities of high end crossbows, but you get the point. The high end crossbows are pretty much made up of the “Big five.” TenPoint, Ravin, Scorpyd, Mission, and Excalibur. (Not necessarily in order)
You know, to really be honest? I am used to compound for many, many years And as you get older and your job changes a crossbow Really works well for me. I am a truck driver. I am 56 years old. And I am not able to practice with a compound bow Like I used to when I had different jobs so a crossbow was a real Blessing to me if I wasn't able to use a crossbow. I would not be able to deer hunt anymore. And as you get older, you will see this Add my opinion Crossbows are easier to operate they perform better. You could miss judge yardages and still Make a good shot. And they are just better all the way around
As a crossbow hunter, I don't disagree with you. My two crossbows are older. An Excalibur Phoenix (305 fps max and open sights!) and a TenPoint Turbo GT (330 fps max). Both are older 'traditional' crossbows. Meaning wide and long, and heavy, and slow by todays standards. Both kill deer and turkey at common archery deer and turkey hunting ranges just fine. Meaning point blank to maybe 35 or 40 yards MAX. I don't like todays crossbows that consider 400fps 'slow' and need cranks to cock them. I really believe the 400++ fps speed xbows that HAVE to be cranked to cock, unlike using your back, arms, and legs to cock with a rope cocker, are crossing the line from a 'primitive archery season' to Ravin's infamous saying "your next rifle".
Or people that want to be ethical archers and learned and would never look at a bow again because of the stupid hateful comments like this one and others all over social media(s) nah that can’t be it that’s just my own personal reason for leaving the all mighty high horse club of misinformation and crap!
If you are truly sincere ,because I no nothing of you. And I'm literally a major proponent of elimination of weight in all my gear. And I'll say am majorly successfully at it. It's made ALL THE DIFFERENCE!!!
I'm unsubscribing to your channel right now. I mentioned if you are sincere. Well I don't believe you are. I'm not looking for credit, I'm looking for honesty. What I see is you give all a heart ❤️ for all comments. Good riddance!
Then you didn't try all crossbow because there is cobra rx what is very easy to load have a look at it it's a tactical crossbow and cobra adder can shoot 5 botls in 7 seconds faster then bow and arrow
The biggest difference IMO between a compound and a crossbow is pulling and holding the string back without startling the deer, and that is really the only thing compounds have in common with recurve and longbows, besides being vertical obviously. In that scenario, the crissbow is much closer to a gun, than archery.
why not touch on all the advantages of using a crossbow also ? I live in Texas" most hunting is from a blind of some sort, for those people who do not have a lot of time to pratice with a compound or long bow, the crossbow gets them hunting and a better chance for putting meat on the table, also with the faster crossbows, it's also easier to take game at farther distances which can be another advantage. We all have our own reasons for what we use to take game and put meat on our table, so if its ethical and works for you, there is no wrong way to do it in my opinion.
Good point. I hadn't really considered it having crossbow hunted for so long, I felt the advantages are self explanatory but there is much that could be demonstrated and discussed.
Yeah I’m just ready for everyone to cut the shit and just be supportive rather then crying baby’s. I shot my first deer with a bow in 1993 and I have shot many since. I own a crossbow as well and I really enjoy that weapon too. It doesn’t matter what you hunt with as long as it’s legal and the laws are followed. I have said this many times that everyone just freaking hates to hate and it all boils down to jealousy and fear. I’m most cases it’s guys who fear that a crossbow hunter will kill the deer they are chasing because the crossbow is like a gun and it’s not fair blah blah blah! Or they secretly want to hunt with a crossbow too but they are not strong enough to stand for what they want more then what others think of them and there opinions. At the end of the day crossbows do not change woodsmen ship. They don’t change any of the other challenges now hunters face in order to get into bow range of a mature animal that is wise and hard to kill. It’s all still just as damn hard. The process that the hunter goes through to shoot the animal changes some yes but it all has different challenges that one weapon may have that the other weapon doesn’t. You can blow a shot with a crossbow too! I’ve seen it happen many times with some of the guys I’ve hunted with or guided. At the end of the day it’s a tool and it’s a free country. People are working endlessly to take hunting rights away and here everyone sits eating each other. It sucks to see this. My goal is to kill big whitetail deer and I have tools to do so. I have no shame in harvesting an animal on public ground that I’m chasing with any legal weapon for the given season we are in. The way I seen it is the haters can hate on me all they want for what ever weapon I choose but that will never take away the smile on my face when I look on my wall at the goal that I achieved. Every aspect of hunting has evolved beyond ever imagined due to technology since man started hunting with a stick and string. But yet know one talks about that. I mean back in the day we had long bows and recurves. Now we extremely fast compound with high let off and sights with range finders and all this technology!! But nothing is said. This the same bitch that came on the scene when the first compound came out. This is the same bitch with diehard muzzleloader hunters Vers a rifle hunter. Lol it’s the same bitch a muzzleloader hunter that uses a flint lock has with todays long range muzzleloaders that have the same ballistics as a rifle shooting 500 yards with a scope!. Seriously guys look around. Everyone of us has taken advantage of technology. Stop being hypocritical. We are all guilty of advancing with the times. Stop hating support each other and be damn thankful we still have the right to hunt. The reasons I truly love to hunt had never once changed with the weapon I held in my hand and the beauty and experience hasn’t either. I hope everyone kills a beautiful animal this year and cherishes the love of the hunt no matter what weapon your carrying. I hope that people will congratulate those folks too and we can back to being a brother and sister hood again. It’s a way of life people! It’s a calling!
Crossbow all the way, a kill is a kill, if you out there and just want to be fancy, go for it, people legally hunt with crossbow, let them be, hating on people with their choice of legal weapon is like cracking your own nuts with with your own hand, you voted for the people changed the law to allow crossbow in archery season, so suck it up and move on. I will use compound if thats the only options, but if i can use a better weapon to ensure the kill, why the f not. If you want to change things, start by go to school and become laws makers, hating on people only make you an as hole.
I have hunted with both. U talk a crossbow is like a rifle. Look at your compound bow. Big let off sights release. Just goto a recurve. No sights or release. Compound hunters put down Crossbow hunters. Everyone needs to stick together. To fight against peta. People wants to do away with Crossbows. If a person had to shoot without a release or sights. Be alot less deer killed. I have too use a crossbow now. Had 3 surgeries on shoulder. Killed alot of turkeys and deer with both. What do u think a compound bow would cost? If u got a top line bow? Remember what got u into archery hunting. Something happens and u got to go back too a crossbow. U going to have a different outlook on it then? Then would it be ok in your eyes to use a crossbow?
your problem is that you are trying to compare a vertical bow and a crossbow...that is your mistake....a vertical bow and a crossbow are two different animals....there are reasons that lots of people use crossbows........there are lots of pros and cons for both......if its to heavy how and the hell do you carry your rifle....you may as well scrap that also.....your using way to heavy and way to long and wide crossbows....REALLY?????????? of course a vertical bow is easy to carry.....do you think you found a secret......the difference is crossbow hunters dont wound 6 deer a season to bag 1......and as far as a second shot with a bow......1 in 100 try to practice
Great vid. Just Subscribed, check me out if you get a chance... I started bow hunting with a compound bow in high school 30 plus years later I hunt with crossbow. It has to be said I had no choice after my motorcycle accident, I'm down to 1 good shoulder, so pulling a bow back is out of the question. I could have gotten a handicap permit for a crossbow so many moons ago, but never did. I just thought I was done archery hunting. 3 years ago, a Black Fri. Deal caught my eye and the rest is history. Filling my freezer with deer meat ever since. Funny u bring up the weight, i just looked at a Pistol crossbow maybe next year... Looking fwd to your compound and recurve vids.
Well, your personal reasons are your own, but your explanation leaves me extremely confused. I hunt trad and crossbow, rifle, shotgun, and revolver and have always had a pretty contentious relationship with compounds. I don't dislike the delivery system itself, but the snobbish and baseless elitism it seems to breed like cancer for the entire sport. Certain members of that community have some people convinced via their marketing schemes, wild egos, and rampantly overall shamelessly poor attitudes that compound hunters are the REAL hunters and everyone else in all things are pretenders. I had no clue all the boot work, patterning, scouting, map reading, tracking, stalking, sign reading, ambush crafting, woodsmanship, planning, study of anatomy, behavior, and biology of the target species, calling patterns, blending to the environment, land navigation, weather reading, gear maintenance, bushcraft, harvesting, prepping, packing, cooking, and ultimately eating the animal had a single flipping thing to do with your preference for arrow or bullet delivery system. Oh, but to a compound elitist? That's the whole thing, and the marketing companies and their bootlickers sucker more in every year. Loosing a space age piece of equipment does nothing to make you better hunter. Nor does using nothing other than a stick and string. There's way more to it all than solely that, and anyone attempting to convince you otherwise is conning you. That being said, I personally know several other hunters who are of great talent who also use nothing other than a compound bow. Their skill has zero to do with the bow and everything to do with everything else they do. It's just a different kind of archery which ultimately has nothing to do with the hunt itself. Every single one of the snobs is a middling aggressively mediocre hunter who invented false prestige for themselves due to a laughable lack of legitimate skill by claiming their weapon system makes the entire operation so much more insanely complex and difficult that only a real man could possibly do it. Anyone who has done a wide variety of hunting with varied equipment to include the compound knows that's an epic joke. Please enjoy whatever delivery system you choose and get fulfillment out of it. And if that's compound? Great. It has its own unique benefits, particular skills, and knowledge to gain with proficiency and discipline to display. But, please, for the love of God do not let cognitive dissonance ring and think that you're suddenly a whole new class of elite hunter for using a compound bow and join the ranks of the hacks.
I have had 3 shoulder surgeries and I started training this year with a compound bow and it has really helped strengthen my shoulder. After about 20 shots practicing I can feel it. I just got a beautiful doe this weekend and would of not had it any other way than with a compound bow!
I broke both shoulders, my neck, lost my dog, broke a nail, dropped a booger, and shit my pants...so I guess cross bow it is! I'll be sure to kill and eat the deer you wound ":)
I’m old with a bad shoulder, so if it wasn’t for a crossbow with a crank attachment I wouldn’t be able to hunt. Also when the weather gets bad, many of us older folks pull out unless we have a good blind to get in out of the cold. Things change when you age.
I agree. When I was younger I shot trad bows and compounds. Plus back then you couldn't hunt with a crossbow. Now that I'm older arthritis and lowered strength limits me in poundage. I still shoot them some what, but the crossbow has been a Godsend.
Agreed I have come full circle on the crossbow from.being a hater when I was younger to shoulder and muscular issues that means quit archery hunting or go to the x bow . Had to eat the words of my younger self.
Well, a crossbow is not a rifle. Also when you have compound bow hunters, crying about crossbows when they have no right to at all with $1500 compound bows with auto ranging pins 90% let off and a trigger style release. Most likely he will only be able to get off one shot no matter what equipment you use. But I have successfully reloaded a couple times in the field with Deer around using a crossbow… and what some compound bow hunters fail to realize is that you need to practice religiously on shooting and a lot of people just don’t have the time to do it if you are shooting 50 arrows a day and continue to do that you will have more practice under your belt than 90% of the compound bow hunters. There is a lot of them who only pick up their compound bow a month before the season starts and starts shooting it… but you started with the crossbow. Just don’t forget where you started before you get all high and righteous because now you’re a compound bow hunter.
I’m not reading all that
@jacktracy7839 and you shoot a compound with a trigger style release and a 90% let off
@@jacktracy7839same 😂😂😂😂, bro make a summary
@@twincam103I was going to call you out as being needlessly inflammatory, but then I stopped because I read the whole thing. And I shoot 80% let off with a thumb button. And I practice all year round.
IMO, if you don't shoot farther than compound guys do, regardless of what crossbow you shoot, you're just wasting the benefit. If I had a crossbow, I'd shoot 80 yards daily. There's no excuse for missing a shot within 100.
@seanyoung1875 🤣🤣🤣 missing shots within 100 yards? You obviously have never shot a deer farther than 30 yards. A skittish deer will duck a string and a crossbow bolt loses energy faster than a regular arrow. By the time 100 yards comes around. Your aiming feet above a deer with a crossbow... too much time for a deer to duck and run. Definitely an unethical shot...
I have hunted with a compound bow for forty years and taken many deer with it but my shoulders have arthritis and cartilage loss and was forced to either stay home or use a crossbow so i chose a crossbow
Well thats a great reason boss! Good luck and take care!
Everybody against crossbows all change their minds after they blow out their shoulder. They can keep you in the field 15-20 years longer.
Getting drawn on deer with vert bows is the biggest challenge when they are 30yds or less, which has been my shooting range. Crossbow comes up and is held in place as the deer closes into range. It's all good and thankfully more states are legalizing crossbows, so more folks can get out and hunt more. Happy hunting.
Yep... many people cant draw a compound or long bow or dont have time to get good enough to make a good kill shot, so the crossbow gives them the power and accuracy to make a clean kill and put meat on their table.
in many cases the crossbow is a much better option for the person and for the game being shot since a bad shot with a compound or longbow may result in a seriously injured animal who dies a long painful death and goes to waste basically.
@@mapbike Yep... I've been a life long firearm enthusiast but never a hunter before taking an interest this year. While I'm very comfortable with a rifle, I haven't shot a bow since taking an archery class in college many moons ago. Due to safety concerns where I hunt on my property a rifle was out. Friends suggested a bow. I considered it but in the end decided on a crossbow for the reasons you mentioned. The LAST thing I want to do is take an unethical shot on an animal and make a bad hit. Not saying that a compound bow is a bad thing. Just that for me, I feel comfortable with my ability to make good hits with a crossbow that I'm not comfortable attempting with a vertical bow. I did also just purchase a compound for just backyard recreation though. So, who knows, with a lot of practice, maybe I'll change my mind next season...
This was nicely done. Thank you for that! Vertical & horizontal hunters need to co-exist rather than attack each other. Crossbows are here to stay. I've been an avid bow hunter since 1986. I own a used Centerpoint crossbow, and I have a new crossbow just sitting in a box (picked it up on sale). I used a crossbow one evening two years ago, & I felt like a fish out of water. I went back to my compound bow. At age 60, I know my days of using a compound may be limited. A sore shoulder & wrist inspired me to pick up a crossbow a couple years ago, but thankfully I recovered from that. I hope to shoot my compound bow as long as I can! I love practicing with a compound bow, too. I really don't like crossbows all that much. If they keep me in the woods longer, however, I will embrace them eventually. My first archery buck in 1986 was with a recurve that came from a garage sale.
Interesting, you and I are going in different directions. I'm a trad bow hunter that has only ever shot longbow or recurve. For me, hunting into november up in Alberta where it's often -20 or colder it's hard to control a 3 under arrow release with a tab over a glove and i've had some sloppy shots as a result. I recently bought a crossbow as my "Plan B" when it's just stupid to hunt trad and I need meat in the freezer. Each to their own. Good to see you're exploring the process of archery. Nothing but good will come of that.
I've hunted with all 3 all fun to shoot the crossbow is the most eithical tool for the job
I just had to switch to a crossbow from my compound this year. After multiple shoulder injuries, I just couldn't draw it anymore.
I have been hunting mostly with a crossbow for the past 7 years. I have a simple excalibur crossbow (I think it is a 380) and that thing is just a brute. I have a tree stand and with my setup I am shooting at about 30 years. I can shoot wherever I want in the shoulder and pretty much always get a pass through. The usually fall over after about 50 yards with a decent double lung broadside shot. I recently sold one of my rifles because I am seeing myself crossbow hunting hopefully for a long time. My kids want deer jerky again so hopefully we can do that soon. Cheers
I started both compound bow and xbow at the same time and moved to a recurve several years later. I love bow hunting with a recurve. It's challenging and exciting and practicing is a hobby for me. It's rewarding enjoyment in a way. Never got that out of the comp or xbow. Rifle and muzzleloader are for filling the freezer to me. If you want to get into a traditional bow, don't let anyone fool you. An inexpensive bow like a Samick Sage can kill very efficiently. You really don't need to spend a ton on a bow.
Awesome! Thanks for the input and suggestion!
Amen brother. Life long trad hunter myself
colbra seige crossbow is the way
I'm giving up recurve compound and crossbow all together to try my hand at the spear never need new strings or arrows or bolts or warranty
I’m giving up tools altogether and going with my bare hands.
Those are all fair reasons. Hunting is a journey not a destination.
I started with a compound and struggled with tuning and got frustrated at the complications of the cams and arrow tuning. I got into traditional archery and learned the fundamentals of archery form, physics, and tuning which I was able to apply to and drastically improve my compound skill.
Now I have work and family obligations that restrict my time to practice and hunt, so on the few days I get out I need to harvest game to feed the family, so I use a crossbow.
Do what you gotta do.
I'm in my late 40s and have always had physical labor jobs. I have also spent the last 20 plus years in an automotive assembly plant. I have already had to give up riding motorcycles due to my hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders being pretty much worn out.
So I can't pull back a bow string. But a crossbow with a crank system is perfect for me. At least I can still keep in the game this way. Good luck with your hunts.
I respect that. I think if we want to revert more and more to a primitive style of hunting might as well grab a stick and fashion a spear head out of sharp stone and go that route. Each step backwards becomes even more challenging it just depends on how much you want to handicap yourself.
I started with recurve bows 5 yrs ago. Moved on to compound and just bought my first crossbow. Gotta admit. I like them all. It started out as physical therapy and now it's mental. I just like to hunt and the meat is good for the family.
I'll never be able to be efficient enough to hunt with a compound bow. I tore my rotary cuff in my shoulder a few years ago and it seems like it never healed all the way. I can't pull and hold the draw weight of a compound bow so I'm gonna have to stick with a crossbow. I owe it to the animal I'm hunting to be efficient. It's good that you're expanding your skill set. Good luck and stay safe man.
And thats what crossbows are for
Hunted with a compound for a long time. Took some of best bucks with them. The only thing I miss about compound bows is practicing all summer. That's a lot of fun... Other than that crossbow is where it's at in a lot of different ways.
And, reloading a xbow in a tree stand? Very tough. I shoot a longbow. Hunted with an xbow a few years back. I had issues with windplanning and went to small broadheads. I lost a doe and went back to my longbow. I too hated humping that contraption through the woods.
I appreciate your experienced opinion. Valid points.
Congrats man, enjoy the journey!
The easy reloading of a compound bow is a great feature to have when your aim is bad and need to take multiple shots.
Personally, I’m done with all forms of projectile hunting as it’s all cheating anyway. That’s why I’ve transitioned to knife hunting.
I did the knife thing a few years. Been doing bare hands for the past 2.
I too have shot trad and compound but the older you get the eyes start going bad your shoulder so now I shoot a crossbow that gives me the ability to still hunt the bow season that all bow hunters enjoy so kudos to you for taking that step to become a better hunter
I have recurves, longbows, compounds and a crossbow (380 fps). Not THAT much difference between my crossbow and compound (Hoyt Carbon Defiant Turbo) if I'm to be completely honest. The real game changer is shooting trad. That crap is HARD.
Some people on here are wanting a separate time in the season for crossbow hunters, but I think there should be a trad season to start then a wheeled season (compound and crossbows) to follow.
The biggest disadvantage of high-poundage crossbows is that the rate of fire is much lower than that of compound bows🥰
Everyone must follow what inspires them. That’s great! The good thing too is that I suspect no crossbow hunters will judge you negatively or put you down for whatever choice you make.
Unfortunately, this may not be the case with some vertical bow hunters.
I’m also excited about hunting in general! I have found love with crossbows!!
Good luck!
@twintwo
I think there are a small number of vertical bow hunters that are just bad! That minority group appears entitled and they engage in judging and even name calling of those that don’t do things the way they think it should be done. They appear selfish. They often alienate hunters or interfere with some ever getting started .
Some even post in chat rooms dedicated to the hate of crossbows. They did some of the same things when compound bows first emerged.
They complain sometimes about dwindling hunter numbers, but they can’t have it both ways.
@twintwo
For the record, I must say that your skill of your craft is legendary. What you do is incredible and you have likely put in tons of time to be where you are!
You are a consummate sporstsmen!
I was an expert with a bolt action rifle. I don’t wish to put the time in for archery . I work 60-70 hours a week.
@twintwo
I don’t disagree with you that there are bad apples in every group, but I’ve seen a trend. It’s not been crossbow hunters leading the charge.
The same minority group launched criticisms at compounds when they appeared.
To say that it’s just crossbow hunters too is rewriting history.
Advance capabilities + Dead deer. You want to learn recurve? shoot a recurve. Weight? If you exercise it wont matter. Get in shape...challenge yourself. It is not hard to carry a crossbow nor are they loud to carry....never had a problem. You could challenge yourself and hunt without a bow if that's your thing. If you shoot your bow, the deer is gone whether it's crossbow or regular bow. Crossbow to me = dead deer. Not wounded, but dead....which is the goal. Good luck with your new hobby and please learn to shoot and be exetremely confident before you hunt! Way too many people shooting regular bows injure and maim deer.
Interesting perspective. I will shoot a recurve eventually but this is my personal next step toward that. I feel that mastering a compound bow is a prerequisite to recurve. Just my opinion. Being in shape isnt the issue, ive been rucking a pack and crossbow for 12 years and I'm in better shape now than ever. It's a matter of efficiency. I could throw dumbells in my pack to make it more challenging but why? I agree that advanced capabilities of crossbows mitigate wounding animals which is why i started with a crossbow.
Never had an issue with my crossbow making too much noise while walking. Prefer walking with it as I am then ready immediately when a deer presents itself. You have to fumble around and noc an arrow with a bow. I can take longer ethical shots too. Too many positives to drop the crossbow.
100% correct on all points made....
Unless someone had a ton of time to practice with a longbow or even a compound bow, they will struggle to make good shots which is gonna either end in misses of seriously injured game that may die a long painful death.
A good crossbow will get the job done better and more accurately for most people and for myself the entire point of the hunt/harvest is for the meat, im not into all the "sport" of it and I dont have time to spend hours and hours in a day, week etc... just teying to get to where Im confident to take shot at a deer.
I have a compound bow and I have long bows, but Im a working man who doesnt have time to practice anymore so the crossbow gives me an accurate, confident and quiet way to put meat on my table.
Many advantages to the crossbow that are not pointed out in this video snd its advantages actually out weigh the so claimed advantages of the compound bow and especially a longbow which causes many lost and injured animals each season because they lack the power and in many cases the accuracy from the shooter to make a clean and humane kill.
@@homerangehuntsmen1298It is not a prerequisite. There is nothing that a compound can teach you about traditional archery. Compound hunters learn very quickly that they are starting from scratch when they pick up a recurve.
after 40 yrs of pulling trad and compounds im starting 2025 with a jacked sholder so im going to crossbows. im happy for them because they keeping me in the woods.But i hope ye injoy compound archery as much as i did.
I grew up taking deer with rifle/shotgun as well. Now at 42 years of age, and countless deer in the freezer over the years, I only hunt using muzzleloader (hawken style percussion) and recurve. Sure, I own crossbows and compounds, and all the other things that go boom ... and if my life depended on the meat, I would use them. But there's something about the nostalgia of the older ways. Compound and recurve are very different animals, so if your goal is to learn recurve, my suggestion is to go buy one and start practicing. I'm a fan of the Bear one-piece bows ... not terribly expensive and well made. Learn to shoot it instinctively ... all this BS on string walking and aiming methods is nothing but complicated mumble jumble. Start at 10 yards and work your way back to 40 ... but only when you can group consistently at the distance that you're at starting with 10. If you're good at 40, then randomize the distances between 10 and 40. You can go beyond 40, but for me, that's what I hunt at so I don't unless it's just for fun. When you build the muscle memory (it takes lots of practice), you'll be able to hit anything you want, at any reasonable distance without sights, and without the heavy extended draw holds. Good luck.
I’m switching back to compound bow for the main reason you stated that carrying a crossbow through woods it catches everything, and there is just no good way to carry them comfortably and quietly
I hunted with a recurve for 30 years then used a compound bow for about 15 years. Now I am considered an older hunter, I no longer walk miles through the woods and find using a crossbow is best for me. I always strive for clean quick kills with fast recoveries and I am able to accomplish that with my crossbow. I am a meat hunter and have never been a trophy hunter. Good luck in your journey.
I had to switch to a crossbow this year. I started shooting my compound this year and started having serious issue with my elbow. Excruciating pain. I thought I could do but I hit a deer bad because it took focus away from my shot. Still have to meat in the freezer still.
Thats unfortunate about your shoulder! Crossbows are very fun and effective tools. Glad you picked one up and didn’t have to stop hunting! Good luck to you!
All valid points I have harvested a lot of deer with a compound, a few of them were on the second shot after a deflected shot or other miss .
I have only taken 5 deer & a turkey with a xbow that I got 3 years ago.
In my experience I shoot as well with my old 3.5 lb MQ32 as I can with my Barnett Ghost 360 .
Best of luck to you in your journey to becoming a truly proficient Archer!
I started shooting archery when compound bows didn't exist... I was a junior in high school when Allen compounds first came to the market. I was Missouri Pin Sight Champion 1985. Killed dozens of deer throughout the years.... and at 75 yrs old I still shoot my Hoyt Infinilty 1000. But now I hunt with Crossbow.... It may not be the top of the line $$$$$$$$$$ crossbow, but extends my hunting years... I passed up a shot on a small doe this morning..... Still totally enjoyed the hunt..... I had already got a much larger two weeks ago. I may still use my compound in the future to get one more deer with it..... but in the mean time , I'm not going to look for something in my equipment.
I think if you use a trigger on your bow, you’ve got no reason to complain about crossbows, and those that do were probably the kids who blame gear, and took their ball and went home when they couldn’t win. If you trad hunt, complain away! I have nothing but respect for you! That all being said there are real advantages to both a crossbow and compound bow, and each have a place in hunting today. I think with modern compound bows performance, all states should allow crossbows as well. The real limiting factor isn’t compound of crossbow, it is dollar bills, there will always be some one with more money and better gear than me. Good for them. I say learn to use what’s available to you, both budget and ability, and stop complaining about the other guys.
Love how humble you are great video man keep it up
I have been wanting to switch to compound bow. But I have a 31.5inch draw length. Most bows I find they want $1300 barebones with that draw length. I don’t have that kind of money.
Good rationale, I use both, for similar reasons. Even a crossbow is a short range weapon, louder, get string jumping past 30 yards. Main reason I went to a crossbow, don't have to deal with busy archery shops, when there's an issue with my bow. Crossbows aren't as sensitive with tuning. It's part of the fun, good topic!
Tbh just my opinion I don’t hunt but I’ve been doing archery for years but tbh I’d recommend u actually going with a recurve an skip the compound it’s totally different but u will learn the form
i'm perhaps younger than you but for some reason i get shoulder joint aches after some time moving around but if i could i'd use a bow, it's more portable than a crossbow and honestly looks more fun
I can’t wait to switch to a crossbow, I have one, and can hunt during the archery season in two units in my state. Just waiting for my home unit to open up!
Ease of carrying is a major reason I’m thinking like you. Almost like your reading my mind with the reasons to switch. 😊
If you’re too lazy to carry a crossbow, you have bigger problems
It's been hard to use compounds I am right handed but shoot left because I lost my right eye. So cross bows have been the way to roll. I am giving another compound a try tho
Can't afford a high end crossbow ? What vehicle do you drive ?
I'm not a hunter but an avid bow shooter. First yes a coumpound is a really good idea if you want to be out and hunting with a bow this season. I perfer recurve but I'm not trying to kill anything so draw weight can be light. But you will want to work up to a heavier draw weight on a recurve and work that into your shooting regiment now. Getting a decent cheap recurve with no frills like the Black Hunter will help you develop the back muscles you need to draw heavier poundage. Also, it will get you familiar with issues such as noise. Don't start higher than 40lb. But lighter draw weight may be better. Get used to finger tabs. Pulls aren't commonly used on recurve makes it difficult to string walk. And shoot 3 under. Until you can hold a bow steady with 60lb you probably don't want to go hunting deer with a recurve. (Maybe 50lb) Recurve is more of a shooting challenge. Compound is more mechanical and going to be closer to the cross bows you're used to using. There's going to be a lot of naysayers and comments from the keyboard experts. You just do you. You will know what's best for you. Good luck! Bag a big buck.
I appreciate the input! There is a lot i have to learn on the archery side of things, for sure. Ill do as you reccomend and pick up a cheap light draw one in the off season.
Well as a person who hunted with a compound bow for 40 years as years go by it’s harder for us guys to keep hunting injuries and illnesses sometimes you gotta switch to continue hunting
If you want to shoot recurve bow just go get one and practice. It’s all the same. It’s lobbing an arrow at a deer. Just depends on what you practice with
I’ve deer hunted for 48 years, killed my first 2 deer with a recurve bow. I’ve hunted deer with shotguns and rifles. I classify the bow ( compound or recurve/long bow) as a 2 handed total form and follow through weapon. Rifles, shotguns, crossbows can be fired with one hand if necessary by placing the weapon on a rest. The skill level to master the bow is much greater and the effective killing range is less. Sorry but crossbows are closer cousins to guns than a bow. Other than firing an arrow type projectile that’s where the similarity ends. If you can master bow hunting, the form and practice, taking deer at much closer ranges it will make you a much more effective Rifle, Shotgun, Muzzle Loader, Crossbow hunter. I believe Crossbow and Muzzle Loaders should be joined together in the same season. If a person is abled bodied and can draw a bow of legal weight then they should use a bow during bow season. If they are handicapped or hunted with a bow and then became disabled then they should be granted a permit to hunt with a crossbow during bow season.
if you eventually want to go hunt and shoot with a recurve bow you dont start with a compound first. You go staright into recurve. There is no middle step there. It is completely different. I would go as far as to say that the switch from crossbow to compound is easier than the switch from compound to recurve.
I completely agree. There is nothing that a compound can teach you about traditional archery. Arrow tuning is almost non-existant and you can have garbage archery form and still execute a good shot with a compound. The form I see half these compound guys using wouldn't even get them to hit a target at 5 yards with a recurve...
I started with compounds. They were always too easy to fire accurately and I was constantly breaking arrows believing you have to shoot tight groups. I learned to fire at different targets but it got boring. I hung up the training wheels and began shooting recurves and a long bow. I hated the long bow, but fell in live with recurves. Then I got into firearms and stopped shooting my bows altogether. I now have a crossbow, its like the bastard child of all my previous endeavors. I have the archery aspect, which I loved, mixed with the muzzleoader reloads, which I also loved. It has the familiarity of my rifles with the assistance of a telescopic sight to help my aging eyes. And I don't care what people think, everyone thinks they're better than everyone else and people always hate each other. Gear guys hate fly fishermen and fly fishermen hate gear guys. Black rifle shooters call traditionalists fudds and traditionalists call black rifle shooters mall ninjas. Its what makes the world go round I guess.
Grew up with a Browning recurve. Was good for the basics. Self-taught. Moved to a compound and not looked back. Sure, getting set in a blind can be a pain but, I like a compound. Good to be an all-around hunter. I have used a couple crossbows including at 1700.00 one but, the wind up is very long for the pitch. Complicated and you are right about a follow up shot. A process to go through. Well-made and thought-out video.
I'll deer hunt with a cross bow when I can no longer pull my bow back. Why you can hunt with cross bow during archery season baffles me( unless your handicap in some way) same thing with black powder. Inlines and scopes, it used to be iron sights only and either black powder or pyrodex.
If your end goal is to hunt with a recurve then you will not reach it by shooting compound. Just because it's vertical doesn't make it much different from a crossbow. You can have bad archery form and still execute a good shot with a compound and the arrow tuning aspect is almost nonexistant. Compounds are completely removed from vertical bows.
He states I wanna take a deer with a recurve bow, so I got a compound bow. Smdh. How much does your camera weigh??
When you get to be 63,and have torn both shoulders over the past ten years, it's a problem to pull a compound bow, let down a little on a long hold and the snatch will ruin your day.
You might eventually have to go back to a crossbow, I did. I miss shooting my bow, but I'm just not able to nomore. I shot and hunted with a bow for 50 some years. Crossbow hunting is way more aggravating and difficult to maneuver, especially stand hunting..
Just look at weapons as tools. I hunt with both trad recurve and a crossbow. The crossbow is more effective in 90% situations. It is a more dominate weapon than verticle bows. Way more accurate too. I like the trad bow during early season and when stalking or when in-season scouting. You can pull-up faster and get on target on an animal when it jumps and moves. The xbow is great for a ground ambush and late season when movement is more easily detected. Just a tool. You brought up good reasons for a compound too. Well done. The main point is these are all tools that are more effective than others in certain situations. Screwdrivers don’t work when you need a hammer.
Speaking of reloading a crossbow: you should consider the Steambow Onyx. Its probably the easiest (and safest) way to reload a crossbow. Amazing tech aswell.
Not sure I fully agree with your logic? You owe to the animal to make the Most humane kill as possible which I feel the crossbow does. Please perfect your recurve skills before trying to take an animal. It isn’t easy! I messed around with one for a few years and never felt like I was accurate enough to hunt with? Good luck with the compound? It’s fun for sure.
Good luck hope it works out for you
My advice is to test out various compound bows (brands) & select the one you really like the best. After that, just enjoy it & tune out all the marketing hype related to bows. These are the factory specs for my current 2013 compound bow - 35" ATA (prefer long ones like this), 6.25" brace height, 340 fps IBO, & 4.5 pounds weight. I still love my bow. It has a rock solid backwall. It's quiet & accurate. I wouldn't change a thing about it after 11 seasons with it. If I replaced it with the same brand current flagship bow, the specs would be 34" ATA, 6.25" brace height, 340 fps IBO, & 4.6 pounds weight. Buying a new bow would be a waste of money. I personally feel my current bow is superior, and the new one would be a downgrade. My point - compound bow specs haven't changed much in recent years. Buy a good quality bow & enjoy it for a long, long, time.
Crossbows all break,there dangerous,there cumbersome walking through the woods ,but very accurate
You can fire a bow faster then a cross bow I use a recurve cause the compound has to many parts I got a compound and traded for a recurve then got 2 more 35, 50 and 60 I got the 35 for my wife the 50 I got in the trade the 60 I got Cuse it was pretty and just fit my hand right.
All I wana do is hunt. I like bows and crossbows. Crossbow doesn't hurt my shoulder and it's easier to aim. 🤷♂️
Great plains bows American company make some great hunting bows. My Cottonmouth 2 bamboo 40lb recurve bow weights nothing. My other Ash longbow 80 inch that weights nothing either.
In truth, there are differences between the budget style crossbows and the higher end. I’m not saying the budget bows are bad. Not at all! They will kill deer all day long.
Nonetheless, they frequently don’t last as long and the material quality of parts and construction is better. They do cost more, so if you’re “all in” on crossbows, perhaps you go with something like that. That’s not the only qualities of high end crossbows, but you get the point.
The high end crossbows are pretty much made up of the “Big five.”
TenPoint, Ravin, Scorpyd, Mission, and Excalibur. (Not necessarily in order)
You know, to really be honest? I am used to compound for many, many years And as you get older and your job changes a crossbow Really works well for me. I am a truck driver. I am 56 years old. And I am not able to practice with a compound bow Like I used to when I had different jobs so a crossbow was a real Blessing to me if I wasn't able to use a crossbow. I would not be able to deer hunt anymore. And as you get older, you will see this Add my opinion Crossbows are easier to operate they perform better. You could miss judge yardages and still Make a good shot.
And they are just better all the way around
As a crossbow hunter, I don't disagree with you. My two crossbows are older. An Excalibur Phoenix (305 fps max and open sights!) and a TenPoint Turbo GT (330 fps max). Both are older 'traditional' crossbows. Meaning wide and long, and heavy, and slow by todays standards. Both kill deer and turkey at common archery deer and turkey hunting ranges just fine. Meaning point blank to maybe 35 or 40 yards MAX. I don't like todays crossbows that consider 400fps 'slow' and need cranks to cock them. I really believe the 400++ fps speed xbows that HAVE to be cranked to cock, unlike using your back, arms, and legs to cock with a rope cocker, are crossing the line from a 'primitive archery season' to Ravin's infamous saying "your next rifle".
Make sure to take your great great grandpas flint lock out during your next ground season too .
Didn't watch the video.
Could it be because you're an able bodied man? Or because crossbows are for the disabled, children, elderly, or injured/sick?
Or people that want to be ethical archers and learned and would never look at a bow again because of the stupid hateful comments like this one and others all over social media(s) nah that can’t be it that’s just my own personal reason for leaving the all mighty high horse club of misinformation and crap!
If you are truly sincere ,because I no nothing of you. And I'm literally a major proponent of elimination of weight in all my gear. And I'll say am majorly successfully at it. It's made ALL THE DIFFERENCE!!!
I'm unsubscribing to your channel right now. I mentioned if you are sincere. Well I don't believe you are. I'm not looking for credit, I'm looking for honesty. What I see is you give all a heart ❤️ for all comments. Good riddance!
Try the Air Bow I think you'll like it.
Take a leap go to recurve Brother 😊👍✅💯🍺
Then you didn't try all crossbow because there is cobra rx what is very easy to load have a look at it it's a tactical crossbow and cobra adder can shoot 5 botls in 7 seconds faster then bow and arrow
Compounds are just the same as crossbows. The bow does most the work
They aren’t even close to the same
@@seoutdoors8748 fixed draw length, have a mechanical let off and release, both require a bow press, sights, they are very much the same.
When you get old you'll have to switch back to a crossbow
Find lighter weight footwear , 1 lb per boot is a huge difference in your hike way more than the few lbs lost by weapon switch.
Son, it is the injun… not the arrow.
The biggest difference IMO between a compound and a crossbow is pulling and holding the string back without startling the deer, and that is really the only thing compounds have in common with recurve and longbows, besides being vertical obviously. In that scenario, the crissbow is much closer to a gun, than archery.
I cannot bear the cost of arrows and broad heads!!!!!!! That is why I quit!!!!!!!!
why not touch on all the advantages of using a crossbow also ?
I live in Texas" most hunting is from a blind of some sort, for those people who do not have a lot of time to pratice with a compound or long bow, the crossbow gets them hunting and a better chance for putting meat on the table, also with the faster crossbows, it's also easier to take game at farther distances which can be another advantage.
We all have our own reasons for what we use to take game and put meat on our table, so if its ethical and works for you, there is no wrong way to do it in my opinion.
Good point. I hadn't really considered it having crossbow hunted for so long, I felt the advantages are self explanatory but there is much that could be demonstrated and discussed.
For me and my age and iffy shoulder the crossbow works best for me, puts meat in the freezer so I'm good.
skill/ aka baiting. this gets better as it goes.
Yeah I’m just ready for everyone to cut the shit and just be supportive rather then crying baby’s. I shot my first deer with a bow in 1993 and I have shot many since. I own a crossbow as well and I really enjoy that weapon too. It doesn’t matter what you hunt with as long as it’s legal and the laws are followed. I have said this many times that everyone just freaking hates to hate and it all boils down to jealousy and fear. I’m most cases it’s guys who fear that a crossbow hunter will kill the deer they are chasing because the crossbow is like a gun and it’s not fair blah blah blah! Or they secretly want to hunt with a crossbow too but they are not strong enough to stand for what they want more then what others think of them and there opinions. At the end of the day crossbows do not change woodsmen ship. They don’t change any of the other challenges now hunters face in order to get into bow range of a mature animal that is wise and hard to kill. It’s all still just as damn hard. The process that the hunter goes through to shoot the animal changes some yes but it all has different challenges that one weapon may have that the other weapon doesn’t. You can blow a shot with a crossbow too! I’ve seen it happen many times with some of the guys I’ve hunted with or guided. At the end of the day it’s a tool and it’s a free country. People are working endlessly to take hunting rights away and here everyone sits eating each other. It sucks to see this. My goal is to kill big whitetail deer and I have tools to do so. I have no shame in harvesting an animal on public ground that I’m chasing with any legal weapon for the given season we are in. The way I seen it is the haters can hate on me all they want for what ever weapon I choose but that will never take away the smile on my face when I look on my wall at the goal that I achieved. Every aspect of hunting has evolved beyond ever imagined due to technology since man started hunting with a stick and string. But yet know one talks about that. I mean back in the day we had long bows and recurves. Now we extremely fast compound with high let off and sights with range finders and all this technology!! But nothing is said. This the same bitch that came on the scene when the first compound came out. This is the same bitch with diehard muzzleloader hunters Vers a rifle hunter. Lol it’s the same bitch a muzzleloader hunter that uses a flint lock has with todays long range muzzleloaders that have the same ballistics as a rifle shooting 500 yards with a scope!. Seriously guys look around. Everyone of us has taken advantage of technology. Stop being hypocritical. We are all guilty of advancing with the times. Stop hating support each other and be damn thankful we still have the right to hunt. The reasons I truly love to hunt had never once changed with the weapon I held in my hand and the beauty and experience hasn’t either. I hope everyone kills a beautiful animal this year and cherishes the love of the hunt no matter what weapon your carrying. I hope that people will congratulate those folks too and we can back to being a brother and sister hood again. It’s a way of life people! It’s a calling!
1) bc they’re gay
2) read the above
Great points!
Good to see someone unashamed of transitioning 🏳️⚧️
😂
If you want lighter put down the camera gear
That's no joke Haha
Crossbow all the way, a kill is a kill, if you out there and just want to be fancy, go for it, people legally hunt with crossbow, let them be, hating on people with their choice of legal weapon is like cracking your own nuts with with your own hand, you voted for the people changed the law to allow crossbow in archery season, so suck it up and move on. I will use compound if thats the only options, but if i can use a better weapon to ensure the kill, why the f not. If you want to change things, start by go to school and become laws makers, hating on people only make you an as hole.
i bow hunt. but you are clowning saying rich people etc… but you’re baiting deer. regardless legal or not. you’re definitely getting better 😂😂😂😂.
I have hunted with both. U talk a crossbow is like a rifle. Look at your compound bow. Big let off sights release. Just goto a recurve. No sights or release. Compound hunters put down Crossbow hunters. Everyone needs to stick together. To fight against peta. People wants to do away with Crossbows. If a person had to shoot without a release or sights. Be alot less deer killed. I have too use a crossbow now. Had 3 surgeries on shoulder. Killed alot of turkeys and deer with both. What do u think a compound bow would cost? If u got a top line bow? Remember what got u into archery hunting. Something happens and u got to go back too a crossbow. U going to have a different outlook on it then? Then would it be ok in your eyes to use a crossbow?
your problem is that you are trying to compare a vertical bow and a crossbow...that is your mistake....a vertical bow and a crossbow are two different animals....there are reasons that lots of people use crossbows........there are lots of pros and cons for both......if its to heavy how and the hell do you carry your rifle....you may as well scrap that also.....your using way to heavy and way to long and wide crossbows....REALLY?????????? of course a vertical bow is easy to carry.....do you think you found a secret......the difference is crossbow hunters dont wound 6 deer a season to bag 1......and as far as a second shot with a bow......1 in 100 try to practice
Great vid. Just Subscribed, check me out if you get a chance... I started bow hunting with a compound bow in high school 30 plus years later I hunt with crossbow. It has to be said I had no choice after my motorcycle accident, I'm down to 1 good shoulder, so pulling a bow back is out of the question. I could have gotten a handicap permit for a crossbow so many moons ago, but never did. I just thought I was done archery hunting. 3 years ago, a Black Fri. Deal caught my eye and the rest is history. Filling my freezer with deer meat ever since. Funny u bring up the weight, i just looked at a Pistol crossbow maybe next year... Looking fwd to your compound and recurve vids.
Major L
Well, your personal reasons are your own, but your explanation leaves me extremely confused. I hunt trad and crossbow, rifle, shotgun, and revolver and have always had a pretty contentious relationship with compounds.
I don't dislike the delivery system itself, but the snobbish and baseless elitism it seems to breed like cancer for the entire sport. Certain members of that community have some people convinced via their marketing schemes, wild egos, and rampantly overall shamelessly poor attitudes that compound hunters are the REAL hunters and everyone else in all things are pretenders.
I had no clue all the boot work, patterning, scouting, map reading, tracking, stalking, sign reading, ambush crafting, woodsmanship, planning, study of anatomy, behavior, and biology of the target species, calling patterns, blending to the environment, land navigation, weather reading, gear maintenance, bushcraft, harvesting, prepping, packing, cooking, and ultimately eating the animal had a single flipping thing to do with your preference for arrow or bullet delivery system. Oh, but to a compound elitist? That's the whole thing, and the marketing companies and their bootlickers sucker more in every year.
Loosing a space age piece of equipment does nothing to make you better hunter. Nor does using nothing other than a stick and string. There's way more to it all than solely that, and anyone attempting to convince you otherwise is conning you.
That being said, I personally know several other hunters who are of great talent who also use nothing other than a compound bow. Their skill has zero to do with the bow and everything to do with everything else they do.
It's just a different kind of archery which ultimately has nothing to do with the hunt itself.
Every single one of the snobs is a middling aggressively mediocre hunter who invented false prestige for themselves due to a laughable lack of legitimate skill by claiming their weapon system makes the entire operation so much more insanely complex and difficult that only a real man could possibly do it. Anyone who has done a wide variety of hunting with varied equipment to include the compound knows that's an epic joke.
Please enjoy whatever delivery system you choose and get fulfillment out of it. And if that's compound? Great. It has its own unique benefits, particular skills, and knowledge to gain with proficiency and discipline to display. But, please, for the love of God do not let cognitive dissonance ring and think that you're suddenly a whole new class of elite hunter for using a compound bow and join the ranks of the hacks.
Unless u have a shoulder injury crossbows are for lazy people who don’t want to take the time to practice with a bow…
Would you say the same for muzzle loader or rifle hunters?
I have had 3 shoulder surgeries and I started training this year with a compound bow and it has really helped strengthen my shoulder. After about 20 shots practicing I can feel it. I just got a beautiful doe this weekend and would of not had it any other way than with a compound bow!
I started compound bow hunting Haha Im now looking for a crossbow to learn that
😂 Go for it!
I broke both shoulders, my neck, lost my dog, broke a nail, dropped a booger, and shit my pants...so I guess cross bow it is! I'll be sure to kill and eat the deer you wound ":)
Xbox are the way..
Just be honest. You got tired of your buddies making fun of you so you caved.
Hell it’s all the peoples hate that make it so I never do vertical archery again outside of target practice.
When you get older, you’ll probably want to go back to the crossbow.
I hunt with both.. You seems to me you are to soft.. Like girl..