1st crossbow deer

[Bigeasy]

I am primarily a handgun hunter.  Each year, I save my PA buck tag for gun season, but usually obtain a couple doe tags, saving one for archery season, just as an excuse to spend more time in the woods.  This year, I decided to try a crossbow, a Horton Bone Collector, as a change of pace, instead of my normal compound.
 
This morning, I was sitting in a brush pile, on the side of a steep, rocky hill, when I spotted two does coming up the hill.  At about 40 yards out, the wind changed direction, from me to them, and they both stopped and started sniffing.  As they were facing me, the only shot I could take would be between the shoulder blades, and into the lungs.  It is a shot I would have not taken with my bow.  But with the scope sighted crossbow, and knowing its accuracy, I took the shot.
 
The bolt entered between the shoulder blades, severed the spine, angled thru the chest, and exited in the rectum area.  She dropped like a rock, and didn't even twitch.  This crossbow thing could grow on a guy...
 
Larry

[hillbill]

nice deer, ill bet its tasty?
im not a crossbow guy. the ones i shot didnt seem to give that much advantage over a compound.but if yu like it then thats all that matters!

[Ranger99]

nice! 
i didn't bring one home, but
i had a fantastic time.

[omegahunter]

All in all, if you are good with a compound, you are not going to be any better with a crossbow.
 
Congrats on bloodying your crossbow!

[Bigeasy]

I agree that compound bow / crossbow ranges for hunting are the same.  The effects of a cross wind and arrow drop are about the same.  40 yards with either is about my limit.  I did like the fact that the 4x scope on the crossbow allowed me to place the shot with a little more precision then I would have been able to do with the pin sight set up on my compound.  I think the mistake people make with crossbows is they think they can take 60 - 80 yards shots with impunity, forgetting that the average crossbow is only slightly, if at all faster then a modern compound, and the physics of arrow flight still apply to both.
 
Larry

[kawie]

good job.an i agree you realy dont gain anything with a crossbow over a compound both 40-45 yard killers.i made this same shot last year with my carbon express cx1.now this year i replaced the cx1 with a excaliber vixen.no deer yet .
Kawie
 

[longwinters]

I switched to a xbow a couple years ago because of the scope.  After multiple eye surgeries I cannot see real well in low light.  With a scope I can still hunt.  But for whatever a person's reasons, the xbow does the job.  It has its strengths and also some weaknesses.  My typical shot distance at game is 15-20 yds.  Target is no problem out to at least 50 yds.  As with every hunting weapon it is the ethics of the user to use or misuse the tool.
 
Congrats BigEasy.  Looks like some good eating, and you still have tags for gun season.
 
Long

[T.R.]

I've been hunting with a crossbow since 1998.  An unhealed elbow fracture ruined my recurve shooting and I never had an interest in compound bows.  Mine is an ancient crossbow in terms of 2012 lightweight construction but it is a Ten Point and still shoots straight.  The company upgraded the trigger and limbs 3 years ago for a very reasonable price. I'm a huge fan of Ten Point customer service.
 
Crossbow hunting is not for everyone but its a growing trend within many states.  I enjoy shooting tight target groups and making lethal strikes into deer every time.
 
Thanks for sharing.
 
TR
 
 

[yellowtail3]

Nice

[yellowtail3]

did the scent of yer ceegar wafting across the woods bring him in, Larry?

[Bigeasy]

did the scent of yer ceegar wafting across the woods bring him in, Larry?

I dip my ceegars in buck lure before smoking on stand.....
 
Larry

[cbourbeau32]

Nice shot! Did you mention what broadhead you used? If you did I apologize.

[Bigeasy]

nice shot! Did you mention what broadhead you used? If you did I apologize.

 
Thanks.  100 grain three blade Spitfire expandables.  Have used them and the two blade version for years with my compound as well, and they work as intended.  They fly the same as field points, and are durable.

[stevinator]

Congrats on your crossbow deer,I had to start using one last year after shoulder and neck problems.I have shot 2 in 2 years with the thing and enjoyed it as much or better than a couple I shot with the pistol.I won't be going back to the compound ,had shoulder surgery this year.I am glad they are available myself,I like it better than our slug season in Illinois.