Just a ?

I shoot mine into an unloading target in the garage after each hunt.

Shoot mine at target after every hunt. Make sure sights are true.

So can you carry one in your truck lot of times on the weekend I'll jump in my truck and hunt WMA most of them are 40 miles away. I guess I could take some foam with me.

When you get in your stand is it cocked or do you that once your up I use my summit a lot on state ground.

Do you find it hard to hunt with out of tree stands just seems like you need more free area than with a bow

I cock my bow at the truck and carry it in unloaded. I also pull it up into the stand unloaded. I then put an arrow in it. When done hunting I remove the arrow and lower the bow.

If it is a morning hunt I’ll reload my bow for the walk out just in case I have a chance encounter. Most crossbow manufacturers say don’t carry it with an arrow loaded so if you do it be careful.

I always unload it by shooting an arrow into my target at home.

I went to an AcuDraw crank on my last two crossbows.. I’m getting too old to pull it using a rope cocker..

I cock mine in my summit, have the accudraw crank. Let it down with no bolt and carry to the truck with no bolt. Mine is the tenpoint stealth xlt, when its cocked its only about 12 inches wide so its perfect for tight spaces.

Thanks I'm looking to get one next year if My neck arm doesn't get back to wear it should be I can still pull my bow but dang I get a sharp pain and there's no way I'm going to give up bow season.
I'm sure I'll have more questions and know I can get straight answers here.

What do think the biggest downside is to a x bow

Slower reloads if the need arises

There’s no comfortable way to carry to the stand !
Your hunting in a vertical world with a horizontal weapon It can be awkward limbs must not touch anything
But man are those things accurate but don’t forget they are a BOW

Back during The Great Crossbow Debate I wrote this comparing crossbows to the modern day compounds for hunting...

There are numerous pros and cons for any type of archery hunting equipment.


Accuracy

Shooting off hand the compound wins hands down. That is proven out at any archery event where the compounds and crossbows shoot the same targets. If the crossbower can use a rest (not always possible in a deer hunting situation) then the tables are reversed.

Although a hunting tool’s good accuracy is a positive and not a negative desire.


Trajectory

In most bow hunting conditions (less than 25 yards) there is no difference as both the compound bow and crossbow will generate approximately the same feet per second and kinetic energy. Downrange the compound will win hands down as the shorter arrow of a crossbow does not stabilize as well and will lose feet per second in speed and KE faster than a compound bow shot (longer) arrow as it attempts to correct itself in flight.


Weight

Most crossbows weigh in at right around 6+ pounds plus accessories. That is close to the weight of a lot of rifles and shotguns. The compound bows weigh in much less at 3 to 3 ½ pounds. Not a big deal unless one is also packing in a stand, ladder or other equipment. Or hot footing it up and down mountains chasing elk/mule deer out West.


Clearances

Because of the horizontal limbs a crossbow is much harder to pack into the woods on the way to the stand or still hunting. When hunting from a treestand the horizontal limbs have a major conflict with the vertical tree(s) we are in. It is extremely difficult to shoot behind the treestand as the limbs and string will not allow the crossbow to be up against the tree like a compound bow would.


Drawing/Shooting in the Presence of Game

The crossbow has a advantage in this area. The string is back in a firing position before game is approaching. How much of an advantage is debatable as several things come into play.

1) Being 20 to 25 foot up a tree when attempting to draw a compound bow will lessen a deer’s ability to see you.

2) Bows are usually 75 to 90 percent let off so one can draw on a deer much sooner and hold much longer to make a killing shot with less worry about the deer seeing you. Mike Beatty drew and held on the new world record non-typical P and Y buck for a full 3 minute before making the shot. That bow was a 85% let off. There is a bow on the market that is 99% let off where one can draw the bow as soon as game is spotted and they can wait for however long it takes for that animal to approach the shooting area.

3) A number of hunters that use ground blinds are using a blind called Double Bull, “Doghouse”, etc that allows one to draw and shoot through a curtain and never be seen by the animal.

4) Most bowhunters learn when and when not to draw on a deer. IE – when it’s head is behind a bush or tree or allowing the deer to walk past them and shoot them quartering away.

Both pieces of equipment have to be raised into a shooting position. Only the compound has to be drawn. That draw should be straight back and covered somewhat by the bow and bow quiver (if one is on the bow). That is unless the person drawing the bow seriously over-bowed and has to horse it back with great exaggerated movements..

Regardless of the perceived advantage of “not having to draw back a crossbow” the kill percentages are identical for compounds and crossbows. THAT is where the rubber meets the road.


Ease of Mastery

The crossbow would have a significant edge here. More so if the individual had some previous rifle shooting experience. Irregardless, a “newbie” just starting out with either piece of equipment can be shooting hunting accuracy (all arrows in a 6 inch circle) within two hours *IF* properly instructed. Maintaining proficiency would also go to the crossbow.

Ease of mastery is irrelevant to the hunting aspect. Being a master of your equipment has nothing to do with how good a hunter you are. It only has to do with what kind of shot you are with the equipment at hand should that shot present itself.

There is very little difference in mastering a crossbow and a compound. There is a MAJOR difference in mastering a stickbow as opposed to either a crossbow or a compound. If the difficulty mastering the hunting tool is used a yardstick for archery hunting then the season would have to be limited to traditional only.


YMMV....