With the hunting regulations regarding crossbows loosening somewhat across the nation, the designs and brands of crossbows hunters can now choose from is at an all time high.  Many companies that previously manufactured only traditional and compound bows now offer horizontal bows to their customers.  This surge in interest has also led to the introduction of new companies which manufacture crossbows exclusively.  With so many choices now available, careful consideration should be given as to the style, ease of use, safety features, desired speed and price range when choosing which crossbow is right for you.

While the use of crossbows during the regular bow season continues to be a topic of debate among hunters, the legality of use is concrete.  If the use of crossbows is deemed a legal method of harvesting deer then the choice to use this type of weapon is entirely up to the individual hunter.  Once the hunter has decided he would like to purchase a crossbow, he or she must then decide first what price range will be acceptable.  A hunter can spend as little as $70 to $80 on the lower end or $2,500 or more for some of the high end bows.  As the old saying goes, “You get what you pay for”, but a good crossbow can be purchased without breaking the bank.  There are several models in the $400 to $800 range that will perform well by such well known companies as Parker, Barnett, Ten Point, Horton, and many others.

Once a price range has been determined, one should then consider what style bow appeals to the individual.  The differences in style are many, and some of these differences are subtle yet important.  If someone is going to spend this amount of money, they should like what they’ve purchased.  Some of these variations in style include limb design, riser and stirrup design, and safety features.

Limb designs vary in the style of the limb itself and in the orientation of the limb in relation to the stock.  The two basic styles of limbs are recurve and compound.  On a recurve crossbow the limbs are solid, and the string is attached directly to the prod.  The prod, also called the lathe, is the ‘bow’ of a crossbow.  On a compound crossbow the limbs can be split or solid and there are cams mounted in the prods.  The string passes over the cams in tracks and the cams rotate as the bow is cocked or released.  Compound crossbows are inherently noisier than recurves due to the movement of the cams during release.  This can be minimized with products such as LimbSaver’s Crossbow Silencer Kit or Sim’s Vibration Crossbow Silencer System.  Some brands such as Barnett offer rubber coated limbs to effectively reduce noise.  Recurve crossbows are usually lighter than the compounds due to the fact that the components incorporated into the limbs of the compounds result in added weight.  This in turn may affect your ability to hold the bow steady during a shot and should be considered when shopping for the model that is right for you.  A few models now are offered with reverse limbs such as the Horton Vision, Skorpyd, and Armcross.  These have the ‘bow’ mounted on the stock in such a way as the limbs spring back toward the shooter upon release.  According to the manufacturers, this results in a quieter, smoother shooting crossbow.  PSE, a well known maker of archery products, has even introduced their TAC series which allows the user to convert an AR15 lower into a crossbow.   

The stirrup and riser assembly varies greatly in the many crossbows on the market today.  Most have the stirrup bolted onto the riser and these should be tightened and checked regularly as any loose bolts will be noisy and perhaps dangerous to the user.  Some models such as the Barnett Predator have a shoot through stirrup that is built into the riser.  The stirrup/riser assembly is one piece; therefore there are no bolts to loosen over time and less chance of losing parts due to vibrations during firing.

There are several different safety features on today’s crossbows that weren’t around in the past and have greatly reduced the amount of injuries incurred while firing and cocking.  TenPoint offers GripSafety which requires the user to press a button on the fore-grip of the stock before the bow will fire.  This keeps the users fingers below the rail and out of the path of the cable and arrow.  Barnett offers an auto safety that engages when the bow is cocked.  This prevents an accidental release of the cable if the trigger is bumped while removing the cocking devise or otherwise handling the bow.  Some, such as the Scorpyd Stryker have a built in bolt sensor to prevent dry firing. YOU SHOULD NEVER DRY FIRE A CROSSBOW! 

Another aspect to consider is speed.  For the purpose of this article speed refers to the feet per second that the bow will launch an arrow or bolt.  For small game such as rabbits, raccoons, or even some small predators, a speed of 200 to 250 feet per second should be sufficient.  For larger game such as deer, pronghorn or black bear, a faster bow might be desired.  Some, like the Bowtech Stryker, are available with advertised speeds of up to 405 fps.  Just remember, with speed comes noise, so you must consider the reaction time of the prey proportional to the arrival time of the projectile.  The faster bows shoot flatter trajectories at normal hunting ranges and carry a little more energy upon impact.  The resulting pass through can be very useful in harvesting that next trophy.

Ease of operation should also be considered very carefully.  Some hunters with disabilities or young hunters with limited strength may not be able to cock a crossbow with a 150 to 175 pound draw weight with a rope cocking device.  It is very important that a crossbow be cocked with an even and balanced method.  Uneven cocking can and will result in inaccuracy in the shot.  If a rope cocking device is too hard to use or is undesirable due to physical restraints, many crossbows can be equipped with a mechanical cocking devise that allows the user to ratchet the cable into the cocked position using a crank handle that mounts to bow.  Some mechanical cocking devices also allow the user to uncock the crossbow without the need to fire.  AGAIN, YOU SHOULD NEVER DRY FIRE A CROSSBOW! 

Some of you will never agree that a crossbow should be allowed during archery season.  Others will jump at the chance to add a new weapon to their arsenal.  I will agree that a crossbow is not ‘just like any other bow’.  It doesn’t take very long to become proficient with a crossbow as opposed to the many hours that go into practicing with other bows.  Some of the same arguments were made when compound bows hit the scene and were scorned by traditionalists.  The choice to use a crossbow is left entirely up to you and the governing body of your state regulations.  In the end, we are all on the same team.  Any dissention among our ranks plays right into the hands of the anti-hunters.  Whatever you decide, I hope this article leaves you better informed in some way.  Happy hunting and stay safe. 

Pictures courtesy of Barnett, Horton, Parker and PSE.

By Scott Cobbs

Scott "Copperhead" Cobbs was raised on a farm in rural Morgan County, Alabama. Born in 1966, he began hunting as soon as he could keep the gun off the ground, hunting sqirrels, rabbit, dove and quail with his father and grandfather.  Fishing for catfish and bream also consumed many hours of his youth.  In his early teens, Scott was introduced to bass fishing and whitetail deer hunting.  These became his passions and still are to this day.  He has fished and hunted over most of north Alabama and just two years ago had his first out-of-state hunt in Kentucky.

Although he lived and finished school in the small town of Arab, Alabama, the rural area where he was raised beckoned him back.  When he was married in 1989, he and his wife ,Marla, moved back to the country.  They bought his grandfather's house and there they still live today with their two children, Langston and Leanna.  They maintain a small farm and have recently invested in a few more acres to enable Scott to get his outdoor fix.

When he's not plotting his next hunting plans or planning his next food plot, Scott is managing an asphalt plant for Whitaker Contracting Corporation based in Guntersville, Alabama, where he has been an employee for the past 20 years.