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Post by StingyRog on Oct 11, 2014 15:13:19 GMT -5
This is my first year of 100% crossbow hunting. Last year I hunted 50% crossbow, 50% bow (depended if my son was home from college. He used the crossbow.) I sold my bow this year and bought a Stryker 380 Crossbow.
Here is my question: How do you shoot at a deer when it comes in from behind you, between you and the tree your stand is in? It was easier with a bow but now I have to deal with the width of the crossbow and the limbs not hitting the tree. Do you step back as far as you can in your stand without falling out? Do you lean to the side? Do you lean forward into the tree to get the limbs on the other side of the tree? Guess I should have practiced this before the season. This morning I leaned forward on the right side of the tree and used my left elbow as a brace against the tree. I seemed to have clearance on that side. Left side of the tree was harder, being right handed.
How do you guys do it? Any recommendations?
Friday night I was hunting. I had a huge wide 8 pt come in and stop 8 yards from my stand. It would have been my largest bow kill. Im guessing 145", wide, tall, beautiful buck! I seen him walking along the edge of the woods 50 yards away. I grunted at him a couple times and he came to investigate. He came in the woods to my right angling toward me. He stopped 8 yards away quartering toward me. I dont like quartering toward shots so I waited. Plus I was having problems with clearance with my crossbow limbs. My safety strap kept me from leaning back. I thought I had limb clearance. He finally turned sideways and I shot. The right side crossbow limb cam hit he tree, yanked the crossbow to the left, total miss. Im still sick about it.
Thanks
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Post by throbak on Oct 11, 2014 16:58:16 GMT -5
First Crossbows are not the Gimmee a lot think are they LOL My self I either wait or dont shoot simple as that Cross bows present a Whole new set of Concerns you just have to get used to it and adjust accordingly I would also keep your shots UNDER 40 yds a lot more noise to deal with now 20 and under you will never have those kind of issues that noisy bows contribute Make SURE of your yardage also hope this helps
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2014 17:11:00 GMT -5
Seems for every advantage a crossbow has over vertical, there is a disadvantage. Some folks would never admit that out of arrogance, ignorance, or both, but it's a fact. I use one simply because I'm more confident in my capabilities with it...plain and simple. I will ALWAYS default to the weapon I'm least likely to wound an animal with. To me, deer hunting is NOT a game for the purpose of testing my limits. There is a living creature I owe it to to make a swift and humane shot. To answer your question, you'll just have to live with the fact that you'll get less shots with a crossbow in some situations because of the bulk and design of it.
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Post by Woody Williams on Oct 11, 2014 20:36:43 GMT -5
Contrary to some beliefs there is a learning curve to a crossbow...just like any other hunting tool.
Yes sir... shooting directly behind the tree is next to impossible. The horizontal limbs and strings of a crossbow have a major problem with a vertical tree. I almost did not get the first buck I killed with a crossbow as he was 20 yards directly behind my tree. Try as I might I could not get that crossbow in a position to shoot. Fortunately for me and unfortunately for him he decided to walk around to the front side of the tree.
As you found out what is clear for a cocked crossbow might not be clear for the limbs when they are shot.. Better luck next time..
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Post by esshup on Oct 12, 2014 0:02:40 GMT -5
Also, I would inspect the whole bow with a fine toothed comb to make sure nothing was damaged when it hit the tree.
Matamora, that's exactly how I feel.
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Post by sakorifle on Oct 12, 2014 4:31:34 GMT -5
Metamorahunter
Here,here sir, and because of those exact feelings if I ever do come over there I will use a crossbow, I will be much more confident with it.
Looking at them now, got to be recurve for maintenance over here.
Gt flex seems interesting, just the unloading bit with a bolt that seems a pain, but there is no chance of a dry fire.
We will see, plenty of time to make my mind up.
What price is,a gt flex over there chaps, wanting 435 uk pounds for the set up over here.
Regards
Billy
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Post by antiwheeze on Oct 13, 2014 8:38:30 GMT -5
I don't know how to shoot all the angels with a x bow. My buddies and I quickly realized xbows have disadvantages too. With a compound I can shoot about 300 degrees around and bout 200 degrees with xbow (shooting both handed). I have also found I'm not very good shooting xbow without a rest.
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Post by esshup on Oct 13, 2014 10:14:03 GMT -5
Metamorahunter Here,here sir, and because of those exact feelings if I ever do come over there I will use a crossbow, I will be much more confident with it. Looking at them now, got to be recurve for maintenance over here. Gt flex seems interesting, just the unloading bit with a bolt that seems a pain, but there is no chance of a dry fire. We will see, plenty of time to make my mind up. What price is,a gt flex over there chaps, wanting 435 uk pounds for the set up over here. Regards Billy Billy, other than a drop of oil on the axles of the wheels in my compound once a year, and applying string wax and rail lube as needed, there is no maintenance on my compound x-bow. Here the GT Flex is retailing for $399.99 US dollars. Then add 7% sales tax to that. |
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Post by Woody Williams on Oct 13, 2014 10:29:09 GMT -5
Metamorahunter Here,here sir, and because of those exact feelings if I ever do come over there I will use a crossbow, I will be much more confident with it. Looking at them now, got to be recurve for maintenance over here. Gt flex seems interesting, just the unloading bit with a bolt that seems a pain, but there is no chance of a dry fire. We will see, plenty of time to make my mind up. What price is,a gt flex over there chaps, wanting 435 uk pounds for the set up over here. Regards Billy The TenPoint GT Flex goes for... www.tenpointcrossbows.com/shop/tenpoint-gt-flex-crossbow-package/ |
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Post by sakorifle on Oct 13, 2014 13:12:33 GMT -5
Greetings
Thanks woody
A good price over here then, ten pound cheaper, that is strange for rip off Britain, . Lol
Will have to have as serious think, also got Excalibur bows here little bit more expensive but some models are not a lot more money.
Regards
Billy
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Post by sakorifle on Oct 13, 2014 13:35:20 GMT -5
Greetings mashup
Problem comes if there is a problem, just not set up for bows over here, even putting a new string on would be expensive if it had to be posted to the repair centre.
We will see.
Regards
Billy
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Post by Woody Williams on Oct 13, 2014 15:16:22 GMT -5
Metamorahunter Here,here sir, and because of those exact feelings if I ever do come over there I will use a crossbow, I will be much more confident with it. Looking at them now, got to be recurve for maintenance over here. Gt flex seems interesting, just the unloading bit with a bolt that seems a pain, but there is no chance of a dry fire. We will see, plenty of time to make my mind up. What price is,a gt flex over there chaps, wanting 435 uk pounds for the set up over here. Regards Billy The TenPoint GT Flex goes for... www.tenpointcrossbows.com/shop/tenpoint-gt-flex-crossbow-package/Billy, That first price (which I thought was high when I posted it) was with an AcuDraw crank cocker. Here is the best deal in USA but no cocking aid. A rope cocker that works well on this bow can be had for less than $30. www.wyverncreations.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=77&products_id=219&zenid=f97a23369ba161b99a49cd58fa11324a |
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Post by sakorifle on Oct 13, 2014 17:48:34 GMT -5
thanks woody
that is 120 uk pounds cheaper, but there will be import tax and vat to add onto that plus postage.
bet there is not a lot in it.
i will see, plenty of time to decide, i am hoping the ones over here come onto special offer, lol
thanks
regards to you and family
billy
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Post by esshup on Oct 14, 2014 14:15:53 GMT -5
Billy:
If you get a chance, go shoot them. I was disappointed in my Barnett Revolution, specifically the trigger and the noise. I guess the noise is something that can't be gotten away from, and I don't know how good the triggers are on any of the other mfg/models.
I'm spoiled by shooting guns with good triggers, I even had Timney work on my shotgun triggers. A few of my rifles have Jewell triggers, they have no creep and are like a glass rod breaking. I have mine adjusted for a pretty light weight (for a hunting gun), but I don't loan out the guns so I don't worry about it. The Jewell triggers that I have can be adjusted down to 2 ounces, but they're around 2 pounds. I never shoot with gloves on, or if I do they are paper thin, more for camo than warmth.
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Post by DEERTRACKS on Oct 16, 2014 6:09:27 GMT -5
I leave enough slack in my safety harness tether to hook my feet in my ladder-stand seat supports & lean around the tree. I learned quickly with my GT Flex (the simpler the better for me) about horizontal limb & string clearance. Had 3 does come in behind me on my left side @ 15 yds.! I shoot southpaw so I had to get turned-around. I made sure that I had proper clearance when I leaned around & out but when I locked-in on the broadside heart-lung shot, I drifted too close to a tree limb on release. SMACK, RATTLE, & JUMP!!! The bolt drives into the ground just in front of the lead-doe's nose as she was eating acorns. The Flex limb hit the tree limb so hard that I sent the xbow to Ten Point to check it out for internal &/or external cracking/splintering. Luckily & happily no limb or riser damage, & Ten Point did not charge me a dime for the inspection. I was amazed at how strong & pliable the Flex limb was to not be damaged with such abrupt contact under so much tension in 30 degree weather.
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Post by StingyRog on Oct 19, 2014 18:00:58 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies and the advise. What I have found out that works for me is to lean into the tree to take a shot if a deer is behind the tree. When I hunt out of a treestand, the only type I use is a climber so the trees I use are all about the same size in diameter. On the right side of the tree, I can use my left arm to brace against the tree. On the left side of the tree, I can either shoot left handed and use my right hand as a brace or shoot right handed but move the stock to my left shoulder. By moving the stock to the left shoulder I gain clearance from the tree and there is less movement than trying to switch hands to shoot left handed. I have practiced shooting right handed with the stock on the left shoulder. Feels weird but its effective! Anyone ever shot like that? Esshup, You said your disappointed in the trigger of the Barnett. Have you ever shot a Stryker crossbow? The trigger was the selling point for me when buying it. Its a 3lb trigger. Very smooth! I also have a Barnett Quad 400. The trigger on the Stryker put the Barnett to shame! Here is some info on Strykers "Kill Switch" trigger. strykerxbow.com/#/technologyBreakdown?r=products_technology&i=23 |
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