Might as well use a rifle as using crossbow

[Sea-Ya]

That's what some people think.Not quite.
I had a nice heavy horn ~18" spread 8 pointer come out in the wide open where I could see over 100 yrds. and stopped at 37 steps.My screw up was not stepping off a few directions before getting in tree since I don't have a range finder.Next gagget on list.I hate bow hunting when you can see over 50 yrds.I like it where you can see 20-30 yrds.That way if you see one it's close enough to shoot.
Long story short,I MISSED.It looked like 25 yrds and that is what I have my crossbow sighted in for.
By the way I got a crossbow last year with the doctors note because I have had two disk removed in neck and it's still where I can't pull my Mathews back at 60 #'s.
Back to short story part.I shot right under deer.
I don't think I would have missed at 100 yrds. with a rifle much less 35 yds.
I glad it was a clean miss instead of wounding him.
I didn't scared him to bad.. He was up wind and ran about 50 yrds and started making a scrape.[smile]

[done workin]

At least it was a clean miss and it doesn't sound like he was spooked either. Had that exact same thing happen to a friend of mine the other day with a crossbow (He has a steel plate in his arm) excpet he clipped a tree branch and missed clean.

Hunting is easy as long as you make a good shot. As long as you execute the way you do on the range it is easy. It's the execution that kills ya'.

Oh well, you both lived to play the game another day.

[chesapeakeblend]

i think you would have missed with a rifle too if your error was misjugding the yardage. or worse yet - you would have wounded.

[HI TIDES DRIFTER]

Sea-Ya, Have you got a red dot, or a scope on your crossbow? If not you should check on either. Once sighted in at 20yrd, the other 2 dots will be dead on at 30 and 40yrds. Then take your target and practice all three shots in a row. First 20 then 30 etc. This will help with the yardege thing. After that when you hunt while in your stand just pick spots out from it that look that distance. You should be fine next time. Sorry you missed. Bill

[done workin]

Nah, when bowhunting of any kind, a rangefinder is a must these days. Lighting conditions, foliage, density of trees, uphill,downhill, amount you drank the night before, all royally f__ with your eyes when it comes to judging distance. The red dot will get you close, but the range finder you know for sure.

Out to 20 yards your "guesses" can be good, but beyond that especiall 30 +/- your margin of error grows quickly. I have one stand that I hunt that looking in one direction I have a fallen log that is 25 yards away and every time I get into that tree I would swear that it is 35-40 and range it every time to make sure that it's not a different tree that has fallen. It's just a feature of the terrain. The closer the trees are together the farther something looks. All my opinion.

Besides if by some chance you ever do any long range field shooting or in any very open woods 200-300 yards +, the range finder is very beneficial.

[Sea-Ya]

Bill,I have the 50mm no power one red dot scope.If I would had checked my yardage I most likely wouldn't had shot at over 35 steps.I know someone with the new 10 POINT bow and a deer out jumped his bolt at 35 yrd.
I have the one red dot sighted in at 25 yrds.I hit dead on at less than that but it shoots low at 35.
I don't like but one dot just like my Mathews bow,one sight.If you have more than one sight or dot you can use the wrong dot just as easy.I have and a friend just did the other day with his multi dot scope.He used the wrong pin in the excitement.[excited]

[kepone cats]

The benefit of a bow is they are quiet. Crossbows are about the same speed of a bow with more noise.

[Sea-Ya]

That's what I told my hunting buddy kepone.
I wish I could still shoot my compound.

[hockeybuck]

Hi Tides?
I don't use one but don't crossbows have different poundage and speeds like compounds? I would think that just because you sight-in at 20 yards doesn't mean that every crossbow would be "dead on" at 30 and 40 yards with that scope. Can you enlighten me?

[Sea-Ya]

I see what your asking hockeybuck.
I would think you need to see where the other two dots are sighted in for.
This gets back to my point of only one dot.Site it in for lets say 25 yrds like I did and see how high I have to aim at 35 yrds. like I have done.
Now the only thing you need to keep in your head is the yardage,not the yardage and which dot or pin to use also.
It's just do much going on in the head with that nice buck standing there.

I just slam screwed up on my yardage the other day on that 8pter.I think I got [excited][excited].

[HI TIDES DRIFTER]

Hockeybuck,From what I have witnessed on 3 major brands of crossbows the three dot scopes will do basicaly just that. Whatever poundage your bow is at 20yrd isn't going to change at 40yrd. So once you get sighted dead on at 20yrd with your top dot the rest is easy.Unlike what some have said on this board you still have to practice a bunch to tweak the sight to the way you shoot. The only things that change are the same as a compound,broadhead-vs- field point, arrow weights and windage. Once you decide on the equip, such as carbon-vs- alunimum, fixed-blade-vs- mechanical, and a good sight exactly whats the difference. These new compound bows with there 75% let offs are a far cry better than my old bear hunter bow, but are they not better than a crossbow? These bows crank out the same speed with longer and higher weighted arrows, and are quiet. The crossbow on the other hand make too much noise, you can't find your little short bolts to see what kinda hit you got,and are hard to cock in a tree. The only thing that makes it like a rifle,is it has a stock and a safety. The only thing that makes it easier than a compound is you don't have to pull it back when you see a deer. You still have to do your homework, put up a stand, and hunt. Stand placement is still the most chalenging part of bowhunting with either weapon. I think this debate will be like it was when I had a hammer lock and the in-lines came out. It didn't take many misfires to change peoples minds. I never had a miss-fire, and wish they had kept the primitive weapon theme alive. The DGIF doesn't care what you use as long as you thin the herd. They want to sell hunting license's, and want more hunters to buy them. Crossbows are part of this, but they are't rifles.I will continue to hunt with my old compound, my crossbow, my muzzle loader, and shotgun until they pry my cold dead fingers off them. Technology is something you either keep up with or you don't, my flounder fishing partner hunts with a recurve and wooden arrows,owns a compound, but takes the chalenge of the recurve. The other evening, he stuck one at 3yrd,no pass through, and no blood. He took off work and found her the next morning 200yrd from where he shot. Some guys would have gave up if they had the same 120 mile round trip and job to go to. I wish everybody luck on this rainy morning with whatever you choose to carry. Just remember if you killed one every time it would be called killing,and if you caught one every time it would be called catching. Good luck, Bill

[HI TIDES DRIFTER]

Sea-Ya, I got off the subject a little but, your 1 dot should work well with your compensator. My bow doesn't have one, so the 3-dot works better. From what I've seen the 3-dot that comes with your bow package doesn't have very good dots. They touch each other. The same for the Simmons. One of the first guys in the area to get one has the same bow in the 150 as yours. He played with the compensator and uses the top dot. He even got it up to 70yrd consistantly hitting his block target using his bottom dot and dial-a-range deal just for fun. You can look at it like you would a rifle scope, which one do I like, which one can I afford, and am I comfortable with it. Any and all will perform to some degree,but just like any scope they can be knocked off in a truck, or hoisting them up and down a tree. Like every thing else, they are not fool proof, and require as much practice as a compound bow. In fact my compound has stayed the same for years, no adjustments, always on target. Dust One For Me While I Work,

BILL

[finfinder]

So I guess I'm the only one that noticed he had to have "two DICS removed from his neck".........thats one funny a$$ typo....rotflmao.....[grin]

[nicbuc]

FinFinder, Thanks for pointing that out I hunt with Sea-Ya and he is gonna hear 'bout that one for sure.....I was woundering why he has been so friendly lately and I also was suprised of the location of them I always thought they were some where else.

[grin][grin][grin][grin]

[Sea-Ya]

Up yours Finfinder.I'm sorry I can't spell as good as you.I think everyone knew where I was coming from.
I went back and edited my spelling just for you.And yes it was disk removed not dicks.
I don't think I'm the only one that doesn't proof read every word I write.

See,I had to edit this because I misspelled a word.
Is everything else spelled write?

[RUBLEML]

WRITE OR 'RIGHT' (HAHAHA,HAD TO DO IT JEFF!)

[HI TIDES DRIFTER]

We might have to call in a 17yr old internet specialist but, what the he!! does "rotflmao" means? I'z been trying to figer thats one out alls morning Fin Fender.

[Sea-Ya]

Mees two.Wha do dat meen.

[finfinder]

Lighten up.....Sea-ya,

If you cant laugh at yourself then who can you laugh at? I could care less about typos or abbreviations......But when you have not 1 but 2 dics removed from your neck thats funny $hit.

ROTFLMAO (rolling on the floor laughin my ass off) STILL!!!!

[Sea-Ya]

[grin][tongue]

[nicbuc]

FinFinder, Don't take offense to Sea-Ya....anyone with that problem is gonna be a little sensitive, he really is a good ol boy just a little testy this time of year. See he is the "President" of our Hunt Club and I am his "Public Relations Advisor" which you can see he really needs. Thanks for the clarification on the ROTFLMAO because I have been doing just that all day since your post.

[frayedknot]

crossbow! Can you say recurve-compound-blackpowder!







30-06-----------------------------[wink]