Considering the switch

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Originally Posted by FishHog

To me it came down to not enough time to practice enough to be comfortable taking a compound bow shot on a deer. Lots of people really enjoy the practice and make the time for it. That wasn't me. So I went with a crossbow.

Don't sell your bow, just get a crossbow and play with both for a while and you will decide all on your own. Whatever you could get for your used bow now, won't be much different in a year or two.

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That nails it for me too. Plus I was over 50 when I finally found time to hunt deer somewhat seriously.

I purchased a crossbow, I don't know that it has given me more opportunity to harvest an animal. I think that is has its place. I would much rather have my compound in the bush where branches could be an issue. I think It has slightly extended my range when in the open. I kept my compound and find I get bored of the crossbow sometimes. So I use both, you still have to practice patience and setup according to wind etc. A crossbow only really eliminates getting busted trying to draw but waiting for the right opportunity to draw back shouldn't get you busted all too often.

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Originally Posted by klums

I purchased a crossbow, I don't know that it has given me more opportunity to harvest an animal. I think that is has its place. I would much rather have my compound in the bush where branches could be an issue. I think It has slightly extended my range when in the open. I kept my compound and find I get bored of the crossbow sometimes. So I use both, you still have to practice patience and setup according to wind etc. A crossbow only really eliminates getting busted trying to draw but waiting for the right opportunity to draw back shouldn't get you busted all too often.

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Exactly my view. Drawing on deer is no more of a disadvantage than lifting your crossbow on a deer. Drawing on deer is only a recurve problem, not for compounds where you can have your pin on that deer at full draw for 5 minutes. The lack of drawing on a crossbow provides no advantage.

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Originally Posted by MihajloSimsic

Exactly my view. Drawing on deer is no more of a disadvantage than lifting your crossbow on a deer. Drawing on deer is only a recurve problem, not for compounds where you can have your pin on that deer at full draw for 5 minutes. The lack of drawing on a crossbow provides no advantage.

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Wow when I said that 15yrs back it was pure heresy.. I was drawn and quartered (figuratively) on this very forum. HaHa.

Nice to see guys have proven out that either bow is a great tool and has equally challenging pro and cons.

I went straight from a gun to a cross bow to take advantage of the longer deer season. Do I consider myself a bow hunter (eh....whatever)......I consider myself a guy that likes to take advantage of a longer season to enjoy his time in the woods.

Started 10yrs ago with a used Excalibur Equinox then switched over to the Excalibur Micro 335 about 2 years ago.

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Originally Posted by MihajloSimsic

Exactly my view. Drawing on deer is no more of a disadvantage than lifting your crossbow on a deer. Drawing on deer is only a recurve problem, not for compounds where you can have your pin on that deer at full draw for 5 minutes. The lack of drawing on a crossbow provides no advantage.

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With all due respect, I disagree. Holding a compound at full draw for 5 minutes... that's much easier said than done. A crossbow most certainly brings greater odds of loosing an arrow. In my case I hunt primarily out of a climber and there is an advantage to not having to stand up and draw back. Way less movement when you can stay seated and not have to draw.

On the properties I hunt the biggest challenge is having an encounter with a deer, so on the rare occasion that I do, I want to minimize the chances of it blowing out. As stated I love my compound, it's the only tool I've hunted with, and I will continue to shoot it and hunt with it, but when the season is winding down and I want meat in the freezer I will start start hunting with my newly acquired Equinox.

This wasn't intended to be a "what's easier to hunt with" thread.

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Originally Posted by ride.lift.shoot

I will start start hunting with my newly acquired Equinox.

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Congrats. That is a bomber crossbow that will provide many years of service. Arguably one of the most reliable/accurate crossbows ever made by Excalibur.

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Originally Posted by ride.lift.shoot

With all due respect, I disagree. Holding a compound at full draw for 5 minutes... that's much easier said than done. A crossbow most certainly brings greater odds of loosing an arrow. In my case I hunt primarily out of a climber and there is an advantage to not having to stand up and draw back. Way less movement when you can stay seated and not have to draw.

On the properties I hunt the biggest challenge is having an encounter with a deer, so on the rare occasion that I do, I want to minimize the chances of it blowing out. As stated I love my compound, it's the only tool I've hunted with, and I will continue to shoot it and hunt with it, but when the season is winding down and I want meat in the freezer I will start start hunting with my newly acquired Equinox.

This wasn't intended to be a "what's easier to hunt with" thread.

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I agree. The compound is definitely harder, but not that it really matters, that's not what this is about. I just feel guys over complicate the concept of drawing on an animal. The 5 minutes was definitely an exaggeration, it's closer to 2 minutes which is more than enough time, I usually don't lift my crossbow even that early. However I do love climbers, they're the most easy, safe and comfortable stand imho, but hard to stand up out of. But next time you sit in a stand with your compound I'd highly recommend a tree peg hanging stand or a tree saddle, requires no standing before shooting.

MS - I've looked into saddles a bunch and have been tempted to try. Have you used them? Pro's? Con's? Are they comfortable for long sits?
I recently got permission to a farm in 81A and covering the cut corn doesn't offer any suitable trees for the climber, so plan on hunting the ground a little bit more with xbow too.

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Originally Posted by ride.lift.shoot

MS - I've looked into saddles a bunch and have been tempted to try. Have you used them? Pro's? Con's? Are they comfortable for long sits?
I recently got permission to a farm in 81A and covering the cut corn doesn't offer any suitable trees for the climber, so plan on hunting the ground a little bit more with xbow too.

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Unfortunately cannot say I've tried one but I've looked into them for backpacking hunts where carrying a stand is inconcieveable. I've talked with people and they've all said they're comfortable and very compact. It really seems like a treestand someone designed for compound hunters.
Yeah that's my one issue with climbers, not a lot of options for trees and LOTS of cutting lol.
For farm field sits? I can say I've killed more deer from the ground by a field than a treestand by a field. A treestand definitely helps with those close encounters, but the one place I'd choose a ground sit is on a field.