Crossbows, solution(s) required for a lady hunter.

Jay

Jay

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Hey Guys;

My wife and I are considering buying crossbows. We had never shot a crossbow until yesterday at South Nation Archery in Winchester ON. Larry was kind enough to allow us to fire the 200 pound excalibur crossbow (15.5 inch power stroke) he had at his store. We were IMPRESSED with the Excalibur product!!!

So, this is where we are needing some advice. My wife was unable to #### the crossbow, not because of a lack of strength, but because she physically couldn't pull the rope cocking aid the 30 or so inches required to use its mechanical advantage. She was about 1.5 inches short of cocking the bow by herself!!! Larry was impressed!!!

*** I should also say that we know the "crank-a-roo" exists, but my wife doesn't want to have to lug it around with her.

He suggested that my wife go with the Vixen, a 150 lb model with a 13.5 inch power stroke specifically designed for smaller archers. At LeBaron's, my wife had a good look at the Pheonix and if she is able to "run" the Pheonix with the 14.5 inch power stroke, that's the one she wants to go with. Because LeBaron's doesn't have a range, the opportunity to try cocking the Pheonix wasn't an option. Unfortunately, we have yet to see all the Excalibur crossbows in one location so our decision as to which one to get for her is up in the air. We definitely want her to be able to "run" the bow by herself and hunt independantly.

Larry also said that some small statured hunters had re-designed the foot loop up front to allow further advantages to the hunter and assist cocking the bow. We are open to this, but would love to see/hear from others, especially ladies, who have encountered this dilemma with their crossbows.

Thanks in Advance
Jay & Huntress
 
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I miss Huntress, where are you hiding her Jay?
My wife uses the vixen, she has no trouble cocking it with the aid. She is 5'6"
and has some joint issues. She's never tried cocking my Pheonix I think she could manage it, but I doub't she'd like to do it.
 
Thanks for the reply John Y Cannuck. Can you give us some more details? Does your wife hunt with hers? Is the Vixen powerful enough for deer, moose, caribou, musk ox etc etc... Fran doesn't want to buy the Vixen only to have to "borrow" my bow when she hunts bigger game than whitetails... Also, when you say cocking aid, I assume you mean the rope cocking aid, not the crankaroo...

Cheers & THANKS!
Jay
P.S. Huntress has been on CGN, I think she posted this morning, something about painting a gun, right up her ally being an artist!
 
Hey there... I'm still alive. Sorry I've not been around... I finished my Bachelor of Education Degree and haven't time, not even for hunting. Now though... Bring it on...!

The bow season here in Ontario is uber long. Which means even while sorting through lesson plans for my grade 9 classes, I can still go hunting. My height retricts me where my strength does not. Does your wife #### it with the rope cocking aid or does she use the crankaroo?
I was soooooo very close to doing the full 15.5" power stroke length with 200lb draw weight... but just not enough. When you compare your Pheonix and the Vixon... Except for the power stroke length... are the two the same in dimensions such as:
- the stocks... is the vixon more slender or the same in height and thickness near the grip as the pheonix?

- the stock length... between the two mention obove, the overall length seems to be an inch in difference. This leaves me to believe the power stroke length is the only length difference. Therefore the stock lengths should be the same? Being petite, I just want it to fit.

Thanks for sharing the info. I REEEEEEALLY want to get one.

HUGS, Fran
P.S. it's really irritating that I can't find them around here so I can check them out BEFORE hunting season. I would like to practice.
 
I would try to shorten up the rope on the rope cocking aid. If you shorten the rope by 2" then it will decrease the amount that you have to pull it back by 1". It just means that you will have to pull the bow string back one inch farther to attach the cocking aid. You can shorten it by more if you have the strength to pull it back further to attach it.
 
Hey Redmist25, we tried shortening up the rope cocking aid. My wife got close, but still couldn't #### the crossbow. With her foot in the crossbow's stirrup, she can still only pull the rope cocking aid to chest height, with her 5 foot frame, she just doesn't have the height.

Has anyone configured a new stirrup? Perhaps one shaped like a tongue rather than a loop? That would allow the bow to be 3 or even 4 inches lower to the ground and again assist the small statured shooter to run the bow.

Cheers
Jay
 
There are two bolts that go through the bottom of the stock to hold the limb bracket onto the stock. You could use longer bolts to mount a piece of 4" aluminum angle iron facing down from the stock that you would put your boot on to hold the bow. If you wanted you could slot it with a keyhole slot so it could be used with a little longer bolts that use a nut to lock the bolts against the stock, leaving enough bolt out to mount the new stirup and then removed the stirrup after cocking the bow. Another option is to use the same mounting bolts to mount a bracket with a bar running parralel to the limbs but closer than the limbs so your foot would actually be inside the limbs. This would require a little bit better balance or make it long enough so it goes on both sides of the stock and then sit down to #### it.
 
Hi There, Have you considered a Horton compound cross bow. I have a legend 175 and I have shot several deer with it. It is easy to #### without any aids, it is more compact and easy to handle. My twelve year old daughter shot her first deer with it this year. I would use it on a moose without hesitation. They also have a legend 150 a bit slower but still do the job. A fellow I hunt with has a buddy who is on the Horton Pro Staff and I have seen some of their moose hunts on video, it will definitely drop a moose. Excalibur is a great bow but they are super wide and hard to ####. Good luck with your new bow whatever you choose.
 
The OAL is about an inch shorter on hers, and the string is closer to the release by about an inch.
She says she only has difficulty when she has her heavy clothes on, and she just puts the stock to ones side a bit to get it done.
She does use it for hunting, but has yet to connect.
Is it enough for moose? Like everything else, if you place your shot where you are supposed to, yes indeed. I wouldn't hesitate, if there were a separate bow season for moose.
 
I would sugjest that you look into purchasing an older excalibur Exocet or Exomag. The older carved tip models had a shorter draw stroke which was the reason they where a 160lbs bow vs 200 lbs bow for the new Exocet 200's. Back in 2000 when I bought my last bow (185lbs Exomag) Bill Trubridge (the owner of excalibur) told me that the 185lbs Exomag was all that was needed to kill the largest moose.

Bows these days just like anything else are all hyped up about speed. My bow was much quieter than my brothers Exocet 200 and could push a heavier arrow with better accuracy while giving more kenetic energy.

You can also pick up one of these older bows for half of a new bow and the nice thing about excalibur...say your limb cracks or something. Being 2nd owner or no recipt...they will fix it free of charge no mater the age.

Also, I am sure the cocking aid would work great for her with one of the short draw bows.

RyanB
 
Thanks guys... I appreciate all the info. I did try to use an older 200lb Excaliber cross bow... An Exco... something.... As mentioned it's not the 200 lbs that was the problem. I'm strong for a woman... it's the being 5' tall thing that gets in the way. The more info I get the better informed my decision becomes and the better time I have harvesting my game. I may contact excliber myself and ask a few questions...

Please keep the comments coming... they are appreciated.

HUGs, Fran
 
the one I was refering to was the 160lbs Exocet. This bow has the shorter stroke and would be perfect....In theory 2" less stroke will be 4" less pull with the rope cocking aid.

RyanB
 
Hi Jay and Huntress,

My Wife (newly joined CGN as 'Spruce Grouse') has a Phoenix. She can't quite #### it with the cocking aid, and for the same reason you had trouble with the heavier bow: strong enough but not tall enough.

The solution was to tie a knot in the string of the cocking aid to make it effectively about three inches shorter. It means that you have to pull up a little on the bow string to clip on the cocking aid on, but it also means that you don't have to pull quite as far. Perhaps this trick could help you.

Also, if you're ever near Waterloo, The Bow Shop at Shooter's Choice has a range and they'll let you try anything. Also I think that they likely have all Excalibur models.

RG

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Hi again;

Glad to hear I'm not the only woman who has the strength verses height issue... he he he... On the older 200lb Excaliber model we tried what your saying about shortening the rope cocking aid and I still just missed cocking it by an 1inch and half.

I'm staring to wonder if I take the stirrup off and redesign it so I have a toung like step thing to step on instead. This can lower it to the ground by 3 - 4"es. Has anyone done this? For over all power stroke, the Vixon seems like the bow I should go with. I like the little bit faster/ stronger speed of the Pheonix. I eventually want to get a moose etc... I don't want to be "underbowed" The thought of a flatter and faster shooting bow is quite appealing to me.

Again I appreciate the info... if you have a tip, please let me know.

HUGs, Fran
 
Another trick you can try, is to, wearing gloves, grasp the string ahead of the 'T' handles. Let the handle rest against the back of your closed fist. I do this sometimes, when my back is bothering me, to avoid that last bit of stretch to get it cocked.
 
Like "thekid856" suggested, you may want to try out some of the compound crossbows. They are much easier to ####, meaning you wont need a cocking aid of any sort. Just grab the string on either side of the stock and pull it back, which would eliminate the height issue you are having. There are compound models out there just as fast as the fastest excaliber.
 
how about using no cocking aid? With some practice pretty much everybody can #### any crossbow on the market. Use gloves. And like suggested already - do not discard compound crossbows.
 
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I have been using the vixen for the past four years. Picked it up used at a local shop for cheap:D. I have had absolutely no issues with taking whitetails with it, but I don't think I would hunt anything bigger. Most shots were complete pass through's on deer, but some have hung up on the fletch on the offside, typically when the bolt has hit a rib square. I also started using the ABC broadheads 3 years ago instead of the suggested Wasps, which I don't like. Keep the distances reasonable, and there shouldn't be a problem. I pass up anything 20 yards and beyond. Typically my deer are taken from 5 - 12 yards:D
 
jay, and huntress, Technique is a big part of using the cocking aid if you find it still a bit heavy with a vixen or a pheonix. I've had one sort of crossbow or another for 17 years, and I've taught a bunch of people how to #### a crossbow, even kids. My old saying was if your old enough to #### it, your old enough to learn to shoot it with the crossbow. (No offence huntress, but let me explain:) ) Use your knees. I know its a bit ackward with the way you have to hold one foot in, and allmost steady it on your knee as you pull. If you start in a a ducking postion, and pull back as far as you can, and set your arms. Now stand up the rest of the way, using you knees and lower back to finish the stroke. If you roll your back up allmost trying to stand as tall as you can, you'll be suprised how much easier it is if you use your back and shoulder muscles too.
You allmost start crouched with your shoulder nearly in the buttstock of the crossbow. I was able to teach my ex girlfriends son to #### my exomax at 9 years old. Albiet he was a pretty strong kid.
Try not to pull as much with your arms for the whole stroke. After doing it a few times youll see that it gets easier once you get the hang of it.
 
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