Compound Bow vs Crossbow

Goose25

Goose25

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
43   0   0
Location
Montreal, Quebec
I'm interested to start hunting with a Compound bow in the upcoming seasons. When I began browsing bow shops I was recommended to not overlook a crossbow.

As of fall 2008, In QC we will be allowed to hunt with a crossbow during the regular bow season. what advantages/disadvantages would a crossbow offer when compared to a bow, and vice versa...

what advice would you give me? what should i consider?
 
First thing would be Province, some don't allow crossbows. If you plan on staying in Quebec, then your set.
As far as one up against the other, the crossbow is more rifle like, quick to learn. Compound will require some skill, and the ability to draw the bow back using muscles that don't get used much.
I would recommend getting a compound after the season, it will take that long to get up to speed for the following season.
Where both are concerned, Anatomy of the animal you must know. You have to get close , stand hunt , and when your a seasoned archer, still hunting is fun.
I started out with compounds, then recurves, then went on to longbow, and finally selfbows which I make.
Archery is very rewarding, and the rush is something you will never be able to approach with any other hunting method.
Good luck with which ever you choose, it will be fun if you do your part :)
 
pick up a comp if you have:

time to practise
want to be challanged
aren't a meat hunter
not just looking to gain more hunting time
if you arn't disabled and in reasonably good shape

pick up a x-bow
if you don't have time to practise
if your thinking of haveing a comunal bow( ie for your kids/spouse aswell)
are physically disabled or have trouble holding weight for extended periods of time

if I were you , I would go with a comp.
Its not that hard to master albeit harder to master than a string gun, but for me the biggest reward was the challange...

good luck with your decision and remember once you kill with a bow, it'll be tough to go back. I would say that my archery kills are 200% more satisfying(sp?) and challanging than with a gun.....allthough it is fun to spark up some powder once in a while
 
Last edited:
Hunting with a crossbow is still challenging. Granted it's a lot easier to learn to shoot than a compound or other vertical bow, but getting close enough to take that shot is just as hard as with any other bow.

Hey Levi, what's a self bow? I've never heard that term before.
 
A bow made from wood without fiberglass or any other material add . Its when you cut a tree down, split length wise, in pie shape. The air dry for 21 days (white wood) 4 to 7 years for yew wood.
Kiln dry will not work (kills the wood fiber) Anyway yew , my favorite grows under the canopy of the old growth forest in the mountains of Vancouver Island, and a few other places in the world (the ice man had one)
Its a great wood with excellent cast, got pass through's on deer no worries.:)
 
Unless you are a natural in using a compound they take a lot of practise and are not a bow you can put away at the end of the season and start hunting on opening day next season. Xbows are like shooting a gun but you need to know the distance of your target. I would rather see someone use a xbow and know how to use it than use a compound that they cannot shoot properly.
 
If you go too a strictly "archery shop" and have them set you up with a properly fitted compound and release. You CAN be putting arrows into an orange size target at 30 yards consistantly the first day you shoot it!

When I bought my compound bow my buddies were already shooting theyre bow's for a few years, no releases and they were setting them up,, they were hitting a pie plate at 30 yards fairly consistantly. I bought my bow, told him I wanted a release, he tuned me up in about 30 minutes and showed me proper form. I went shooting with my buddies the next day and I was clumping arrows instantly. All of them were buying releases and having theyre bows tuned professionally in a week! A few of them are now shooting x-bows though.

I dont practice as much as I should, maybe twice a week for a out a dozen arrows each time. I wouldnt hesitate too shoot a deer under 30 yards.
 
Grouse 25, practise with a bow also means practising in the bush like stump shooting. I hunt with a friend that can put lots of arrows into a paper target deer vital area but has missed all kinds of close shots at live deer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom