Crossbows these days

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abbaswede

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They don't go bang, but they're for hunting and you need a PAL, so into the hunting forum goes this question. Does any one make a crossbow these days that doesn't resemble a phased plasma pulse rifle? Just like with a wooden stock and steel limbs like before? Or am I just dreaming silly dreams? :confused:
 
You don't need a PAL to buy a crossbow. I know it says so on the back of it, but you don't. Excaliber and Barnett both have models with stocks that resemble a traditional rifle stock. The Barnett is either synthetic or aluminum (I have an older one that has the star wars look, its aluminum). Not sure if the Excalibers are available in wood or not. The limbs will be fiberglass or some sort of composite, not metal.

I guess I was still typing when you guys posted regarding the PAL. I don't think you ever needed it to buy a crossbow. I think they were going to put that rule in place when they were first bringing out the PAL, but it never went into effect.
 
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I think you only need a PAL for weapons shooting faster then 495FPS.

How old is your PAL? Mine is 4 months old and doesn’t list crossbows.
 
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abbaswede said:
4 years+ Maybe that's why. I liked those old Barnet models with a plain wood stock and steel bow.
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The problem with those, for hunting, is that they are weak. They are slow and you would not want to shoot at anything past 20 yards or so. I had one. I won't buy another. For an inexpensive xbow look at the Horton models.
 
For the purposes of Hunting a Crossbow is considered a firearm under the Fish and Game act.
You do not need a firearms license to purchase or own one. The Crossbow designation was included on the first PAL's that were issued when they were tweaking the act... none of the new PAL's say crossbow on the back.
 
I spoke with an instructor the other day and he mentioned that they are trying to re-implement that clause with a separate course for bow hunters in the new training program so if you are interested get one now !!!
 
Thread hijack... :)

For the purposes of Hunting a Crossbow is considered a firearm under the Fish and Game act.
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Maybe in Ontario, but in BC they are viewed as archery equipment and as such can be used in areas that do not allow discharge of firearms.

now back to our regularly scheduled programing...
 
In Alberta, you can hunt with a crossbow, but only in Rifle Season. It does NOT let you hunt in Bow season (well, SOME can with disability provisions, etc. but generally it's considered a firearm).
 
In Ontario a crossbow is in the same class as a compound or recurve with regards to hunting seasons. The course that Jdemora mentioned is for the hunters safety course, not the PAL. They are considering a course that will skip the firearms (guns) aspect of hunting, for those who intend to hunt only with a bow. Presumably if you changed your mind later, you would need to retake the course with the firearms component, as well as get your Pal.
 
best bow out there bar none is a excalibur i bought and exomag last summer and took 2 deer with it this season in the same day. the model i shoot is the exomag which is no longer being made. the comparable bow is the exocet 200 or you can go full out with an exomax which isnt needed for deer. my bow gets a pass through on a deer and sticks the bolt into the ground 6 inches. good thing as well, excalibur bows are made in kitchener ontario.
http://www.excaliburcrossbow.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=1&topicdays=0&start=0
great info site for you to check out, they are very helpful there.

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working man is correct, the course I reffered to was the hunter safety course and the present one does instruct minimally with the bows and crossbows but because that is the only intro to it , the instructors are uncomfortable knowing that someone could take the hunting cousre and go out and buy a bow the next day and start hunting they feel the need for additional training and I think they are correct with the power of crossbows and the stark differences in hunting with rifles and archery equipment.
Beauty pics Ontario !!!!!
 
Workin Man said:
In Ontario a crossbow is in the same class as a compound or recurve with regards to hunting seasons. The course that Jdemora mentioned is for the hunters safety course, not the PAL. They are considering a course that will skip the firearms (guns) aspect of hunting, for those who intend to hunt only with a bow. Presumably if you changed your mind later, you would need to retake the course with the firearms component, as well as get your Pal.
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OK, let me get this straight for you guys.
If you dont have a PAL before you take your Hunters course, you get an H1 which means you can hunt with your bow only until you get you PAL.
Once you get your PAL, you get an H2 which allows you to hunt with whatever long gun/bow is legal in the specified season.


And with regards to the game and fish act, most states/provinces do not allow you to hunt with crossbows either unless your disabled. But for the purposes of the game and fish act, a crossbow is treated as a firearm unless specific exemptions exist in your provincial regulations. Both Ontario, and BC have these exemptions.



Personally, I find a crossbow more challenging.
I can shoot a recurve accurately with fingers and no sights, and compound bows have allways been easy for me both left and right handed. A crossbow has given me something different to shoot. I've had one for 15 years, but there was a 10 year gap that I really didnt use it.

I have been shooting an Exomag for about 3 yrs now...
Ontario right, you cant beat an Excal Crossbow for accuracy, energy, and downright kick ass killing power.
and welcome to gunnutz.
 
Its funny how guys are all of a sudden incapable of figuring out bowhunting according to the Ontario government. And these so called OFAH instructors.
As far as im concerned, its just another way for the OFAH to jump into bed with the provincial government. I was able to figure it out at 11 years old, so Im sure tha an adult wouldnt have a problem.

The more we attempt to Idiotproof our society, the more we make idiots out of its citizens.
 
Back to the original question:p There is a guy in BC that lives in my town that builds proffessional crossbows. Older medieval styles and modern ones to whatever specifications you need. I have no idea on costs. If you are interested you can PM me and I will find a way to contact him for you.
 
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