Successful Deer Hunts ?

[GeorgiaDave]

Greetings from Georgia,

   I hunted with my crossbow a few times and had several exciting hunts although I did not take any game this year. I was hunting on property that borders the most exclusive golfing neighborhood around and the deer are definately there. In one hunt I saw over 20 deer with 2 having nice racks. On another hunt I saw several deer feeding on a old road bed, jumped the fence to get out of their view, then stalked, snuck, and crawled 200 yards. I made a shot but a limb deflected the arrow and never got another chance. Still, I consider that a very successful and rewarding hunt. I would love to hear of your crossbow hunts this year. I will be hunting with a crossbow from now on, but my passion is still my old Bear recurve with no sights and wood arrows. Crossbows are cool and maybe next year I will have the chance to take some game. Thanks for all replys. God Bless You.
Dave

[Jal5]

I love my old Horton SuperMag, and hunted about 5 times during Ohio bow season this year. Unfortunately deer didn't cooperate and I wound up taking a good buck during gun season with the ML. However, the two season prior to this one were both XBow deer

I may have to retire that bow because the cables are fraying and I Understand that to replace it means replacing the whole front end piece, (not sure of the right term) and cost will be a big factor in the decision to retire it.

Joe

[carbinecasey]

I don't have a crossbow yet, ( still prefer the old log bows, but I will have one soon), but my brother has wanted a crossbow for years. He purchased a Parker Cyclone, shot it a few times and it broke. He sent it back to Cabelas and received a new one, we shot it from 10-55 yards with great accuracy. To make a long story short he killed a 7 point buck and a doe with it, and I don't think he will ever use a high powered rifle again. He has inspired me to purchase one, but my budget isn't as big as his, (I'm looking at the Copperhead Viper).

God Bless All

Carbinecasey

[T.R.]

I hunted with a Wing recurve bow from 1971 to 1987.  Then I had a custom take down bow built for me by Owen Jeffries.  I hunted with it until 2001; a bad elbow fracture which ended my recurve shooting days.  I never did make the transition to compound bows.  No offense to anyone - I just never cared for all the gizmos and such.

I bought a second hand Huntmaster Advantage crossbow last Fall. This was the original name of the company we all know as Ten Point.  This bow is very accurate but loud.  The sound did not affect my hunts at all since the arrow reached the deer before it could react. I took a big doe and a small-ish 3 X 2 buck in northern Virginia near Manassas Battle Site.  Plenty of deer in this area and I found Landowners were cordial about using a modern crossbow on their property. Just because the signs state No Hunting does not mean you can't ask permission!

My enthusiasm for modern crossbows is contagious.  Two of my friends bought crossbows as well.  My 78 year old buddy (more like a Uncle to me) bought a PSE Viper which is both light and very fast.  The other spent the big bucks for Horton Team Package deal with scope and everything. We're hunting in Virginia AND Maryland this coming Fall.  Suburban deer hunting at its finest!

TR

 

[Lawful Larry]

This past year I started my jouney down the archer trail.  I did  a lot of research and ended up buying a Ten Point GT-Curve.  I fell in love with this fine piece of engineering.  I did, however, not bag a deer with it.   I was not lucky enough to get them to come in closer then  sixty yards.  I think  they are the smartest animals in the woods.  I am yearning for the fall season to get back out there.   

I did however harvest three nice deer this years.  Got two during ML  season  and one during  gun season.  Missed  a monster and am still kicking myself over that one.   

[blhof]

My first hunting with a crossbow was with a kit bow from Jayco, I bought from the classified in a Popular Mechanics in 1966.  It was only 70 lb, but it was great for rabbit, with a flat point, made from a 30 carbine shell, it dropped rabbits like they were hit with a sledge.  I lost too many broadheads with total pass throughs, so tried my blunts that I used for target practice on an archery target.  Never tried it on anything larger.  I now hunt with a Yukon, but haven't got the shot yet. Had a doe paw at the back of my ground blind, while I was watching a buck at 100yds.  I looked, she bleated and deer erupted from the surrounding brush.  The next weekend was rifle and I took a small buck and large doe from that area; both 100+yd shots. I'll be back there with Xbow this year.

[T.R.]

blhof:

The first modern crossbow I shot was my cousin's Yukon.  He has taken one or two deer every year with it for past 3 years.  I looked at several used Horton's but bought the Huntmaster because it had the least wear and price was right.

Modern crossbows are great fun to shoot.  Kids love 'em, too - no loud BANG or nasty recoil to spoil shooting fun.

TR