leonard asked:
Hi there, never so much as touched ether a bow and arrow or a cross bow, So the question is , if you were buying one to last you a lifetime, who makes the best ones ? and would you use a bow and arrow or a cross bow to hunt rabbits , pigs , ducks?
Hi there, never so much as touched ether a bow and arrow or a cross bow, So the question is , if you were buying one to last you a lifetime, who makes the best ones ? and would you use a bow and arrow or a cross bow to hunt rabbits , pigs , ducks?
Tags: Bow Hunting, Lifetime, Pigs
A compound bow is used for hunting.
First, it would be quiet. Otherwise, you increase the risk of having an animal jump the string, and you lessen the chance of being able to get off a second shot, if one were to be needed.
Second, the bow would be at least reasonably fast. When you load it down with mid-weight arrows, you want to unleash enough energy to fully penetrate..
Third, it would be forgiving. Awkward shots are common as a bowhunter twists and leans to find a clear lane to his target.
And finally, the bow would be maintenance free.
The following is a list of complaints commonly propagated on the subject of CROSSBOWS used in hunting:
1) Crossbows are too powerful and therefore an unfair advantage when hunting.
2) The crossbow is so powerful that the bolts destroy bales of hay used as backstops.
3) The trigger on a crossbow gives it an unfair advantage over bows which have to be drawn and fired.
4) The use of telescopic sights violates the purity of archery as a means of hunting.
5) Crossbow hunters shoot like they have a rifle and negligently injure their prey rather than the clean-kill seen by conventional archers
6) Crossbows have far greater range that a bow. If we allow them to be used during archery season, the game would be harvested at dangerous levels.
So, you see, you pretty much need to try both and decide for yourself. I personally like the compound because it DOES seem like bow hunting to me and cross bow seems like I’m using a rifle.
Compound Bows have more power i think.
I would buy a cross bow. I have a compound bow that I can hardly pull anymore. I have about 4 or 5 pulls in me and then I need a 5 minute rest. Ok, a 30 minute rest.
Bow and Arrow all the way. I have a certification for Bow and Arrow, I’m good and I love it!
i’d use a crossbow. not sure on the brands these days. there are a few folding crossbows around though that i’d love to get my hands on.
ooh thumbs down cause i prefer to use a crossbow. should i give you a thumbs down cause you like to take up the a*rse?
I am no expert, but I know that cross bow is illegal for hunting in some states. I suggest you contact state game commission for info re law. also, Commission often has educational booklets, etc. about weapons, laws, etc.
Most bow hunters hunt deer. You would need to be Robin Hood to hunt duck with a bow, so I think that’s not a great example. In fact, all small game is difficult with a bow.
I would buy a good compound bow rather than a cross bow. Unless you live in a part of the world much different than me, you would be hunting deer, elk, boar (not pigs) and perhaps wild turkeys.
You need to find a qualified archery range/store with access to both. Check your areas bow hunting restrictions on cross bow, compounds will be your best best for cost, efficiency.
For small game, I would go with a recurve/longbow – when using one, it feels like there is less effort to draw the string.
if you aren’t worried about effort, or plan to hunt a variety of game, and only want one bow, I would go for the compound bow. It’s a good all purpose bow, with lots of power.
Crossbows are nice, and can be convenient but I do believe they are typically much more expensive than a compound bow of similar quality, and you will have a lower rate of fire(I realize that this quality isn’t really an issue these days, as we don’t fight wars with crossbows, but if you miss your shot and want to take another, you will have little chance with a bow, and NO chance with a crossbow)
Hoyt Brand> Full re-curve bow.* Nothing less than a 47lb.*
Crossbows are easier to use than compounds but not by much. With crossbows you don’t have to hold the string back, but then again with the letoff on a compound you’re only holding around 20lbs anyway maybe less. Both types of bows are usually shot with triggers, compounds are usually shot with mechanical releases. The only difference is with the bow hand and back. Even compound shooters need to have a relaxed bow hand and use their back muscles to shoot the bow if they want pinpoint accuracy and consistency. Crossbow users don’t have to pay attention to such things.
The part about crossbows being too powerful as to destroy bales is a myth. The problem with crossbows is with the owner. The bolts are so short that they’re usually burried inside the bale and then the owner has to dig them out. That’s what’s destroying the bale.
To hunt small games like that you’d be better off with a recurve or longbow as someone said. Crossbows and compounds can’t be fired fast enough for those fast moving targets. Only time I’ve seen people hit those animals are with some sort of a traditional bow, shooting instinctive. That requires a lot of practice. A friend of mine used to practice 7 days a week about 200 arrows a day to get really good at shooting instinctive.
I have both.
I used my compound for many years until I later traded some camping equipment for a crossbow. I have used the cross bow ever since. I DO NOT USE A CROSS BOW ON SMALL GAME.
Pros of the cross bow is after it is locked in placed you do not have to draw back anymore, you are ready to shoot. You can be much quieter at closer ranges. I love to get on the ground within 10 yards of deer. There is a lot of sport in that.
Cons in order to draw it back it has 150lbs of draw weight instead of 50-65lbs of most compounds.
For smaller game I’d go with the compound or maybe a recurve. Crank the weight down as low as it would go.
Any kind of bow can be used to hunt rabbits, pigs and ducks (and geese, deer, elk, racoon, bear, whatever). Thing is, some kinds of bows work better on certain animals….
A crossbow isn’t a good choice for rabbits and such, because of the inevitable noise they make when the trigger is pulled: **CLACK** There’s just no getting away from it, even with a “quiet” crossbow — not recommended for small, fast, skittish critters such as rabbits. They are extremely easy to use, though — sort of like a rifle; hold to the shoulder like a rifle, aim, and shoot. It may be illegal to use one in your area, though, so be sure to check on this before getting one.
A compound bow’s advantage is that you can hold it at “full draw” for a very long time, since you will be holding back only a relatively small percentage of the rated draw-weight (the amount of force needed to bring it to “full draw”). A “70 lb” compound with 60% “let-off” means you will hold only 28 lbs. They can still be noisy, though, especially if you use arrows which are too light in physical weight — and they DO require maintenance, since they are a mechanical device (wheels/pulleys, etc). If the animal exists, a compound bow can be used to kill it, within the limits of the bow’s “power” and “range”.
Recurves and longbows are as easy to use as compounds, but you will be holding all of the rated draw-weight at “full draw”: A “70 lb” recurve/longbow has no “let-off” at all, and sometimes they have “stack” (it can get harder to pull the string back the closer you get to “full draw”). They are often quieter than compounds, though — if they are set up correctly and used with the correct arrows (again, too light and the bow is noisy). Recurves are usually more “forgiving” of mistakes than longbows, in that the arrow sits closer to the center-line of the bow as with most longbows, and they can be much shorter and thinner yet more powerful than a longbow. Both recurves and longbows generally need less maintenance than compounds, but they still need some; they string wears out and the bow’s limbs weaken over time. But they can be used to take any kind of animal you can think of, within the limits of their “power” and “range”.
All three types of bow do have a very limited effective **accurate** range — out to approximately 60 yards, but the average bowhunting range is only 20-35 yards, so there’s no real worries if you PRACTICE (a lot). Also, because of the slower speed of the arrow, it is necessary to “lead” on the animal more (such as birds, when flying). Of the three, I would say the crossbow is always the noisiest, and recurve/longbow can be very pleasant to shoot if they are properly set up; a properly-set up recurve/longbow/compound (the compound also needs to be properly lubricated; those “wheels” do use axles), used with the correct arrows, will just go “twip” — instead of **TWANG** or **THWACK**, or even “tunk”.
As for which actual bow will last longest — it depends on how well-made it is, how well-cared for it is, and how much it is used. A specific “brand” could last five life-times — or only a few short months. Just remember, the more moving parts something has, the more likely it is to break down. Usually, “best” is subjective, and a personal preference; for myself, “best” is my 50 lb draw Martin longbow…. But without good, quality, matched-to-the-bow-AND-the-archer arrows, even the absolute best-made bow in the world can be just another piece of scrap.