Planned Crossbow Hunts

[Rick Teal]

Maybe we should outline the crossbow hunts we have planned for this season, and the equipment we'll be using.

As for myself, my primary bow is my Excalibur Exomag (200 lb), and I usually take along my (old model) Horton Explorer (150 lb) as backup.

I have two trips planned with my crossbows.  Both are still within Ontario, and both are for moose. 

The first runs from September 15 to Sept 20 in WMU 24.  We have both cow and bull tags for this hunt and our group will be either 5 or 6 guys.

The second runs from Sept 27 to Oct 4 in zone 28.  We (10 guys) have an outfitter supplied bull tag for this hunt, and are waiting (and hoping) someone was drawn for an additional tag.

I will be doing some bow hunting for deer locally in WMU 64B between and after my other hunts, but I'll likely be hunting from home on an ad hoc basis with no set schedule. 

BTW, on my moose hunts I will be keeping my eyes open for the opportunity at a trophy bear, but my focus is definitely on moose.

[jh45gun]

Xbow hunting in WI for Whitetails.  Crossbow is my Excaliber Wolverine that has been upgraded to mag tips. New this year too at least for me is a DropZone scope I bought from Digger. Very nice and it compliments my Wolverine perfectly. I have been out shooting so by the time the season rolls around I should be ready. Just hope its cooler by then. 

[markc]

This will be my first season to hunt with an x-bow.  I will hunt feral hogs on my local lease, and whitetail at some point during the general firearms season.  Plus,  I will try for a turkey or two with the x-bow on our W. Tx lease.   There are also plenty of whitetail and some mule deer there as well, so you never know...  The bow is a Horton Yukon which I purchased used last year and have been shooting at home on my little archery range, 100gr Thunderheads, peep sight and fiber optic pins....   

[rickyp]

after spending $2000.00 on a crossbow and about $200.00 on arrows and  spitfire B.H  and almost $100.00 for Marylands hunting license I have no money left to go on any trip.
This is the first year I will be hunting with a crossbow and season starts  September 15 and i am off work so I will be hunting the evening.

[markc]

$2000 for a cross bow?  What bow costs 2K?   Maybe this being your first year to X-bow hunt, you should have spent alot less (like me) and made sure it was something you wanted to continue with, maybe bought a more expensive bow later?   Just a thought..

[rickyp]

I bought a ten point phantom package. The reason I didn't go with a starter crossbow is that I can no longer pull back a compound bow and hold it with in very short time my shoulder hurts so much that I couldn't concentrate on shot placement.
The doctor told me that I have the beginning stages of arthritis and it will not get any better so I meat the states requirement to get a crossbow hunting permit.

so now it hunt with a crossbow or give up bow hunting. Since i love to hunt and giving up  almost 5 months of hunting opportunity's is out of the question.

[markc]

rickyp,  I have been seeing those bows on one of the hunting shows on MOR lately.  Does it come with the crank? gadget to help cock the bow?   If so, how does that work?   Sure must be nicer than the horton strap gadget I am using to cock my bow...   But even then it beats using the old fingers to try and cock the bow repeatedly while practicing...

[rickyp]

I ordered mine with the acudraw and proview 3x scope
My acudraw is very nice but it does make a clicking sound when cranking it. It takes almost no effort to draw the bow back my 7 year old son has even done it him self. it is great when sitting in a stand or blind you do not have to bend over to draw it back  and it makes it very easy on someone with shoulder troubles.
The clicking is the safety catching so if you should slip the  bow will not dryfire.

[markc]

The acudraw sounds nice.  I have practiced drawing while seated since that is how most of my stands will be, seated either elevated, or seated in a ground blind.  It isn't the easiest thing to do, but then it isn't done often while hunting I wouldn't think...

[rickyp]

the accudraw is the best you can get. it stays with the bow and doesnt get in the way

[markc]

If Texas goes ahead and legalizes X-bows in the archery season (hopefully for the 08/09 season) then I will more than likely upgrade my Horton.  But until then I will hunt my compound during archery season and switch between the Horton and firearms during the general season depending on where I am hunting.