I have learned a lot from the Pond Boss people this year about deer hunting and have started applying this new knowledge at our farm.
Most deer hunters I know eventually move on to bow hunting, once it becomes "easy" to harvest freezer venison with a rifle. The bonus is that you might be able to bag a big buck during the early bow season.
I think I am an average to below average shot with a rifle. (So I don't attempt any difficult shots.)
Question for the expert and new bowhunters:
What is the maximum range (that you are comfortable) taking a shot with a clean view?
Also, if you are a good shot, how much would you reduce that range for an average shooter?
I am not quite ready to move to bowhunting. However, I want to start evaluating how many good "bowhunting" opportunities I observe in the next few years based on blind observations and camera pics.
P.S. Any bow recommendations for an average shooter that will only shoot 1-2 arrows per year hunting, plus training shots?
Thanks,
FishinRod
I used to be good with a vertical bow, anymore I don't have the time to shoot a couple times a week so I switched to a crossbow. Now it's been my experience that with a crossbow, due to the noise, you cannot shoot as far as you can with a vertical compound bow because the deer will hear the noise and move before the arrow gets there with the crossbow.
I know of a guy that is a great shot with a bow, and has killed deer (in the right conditions) at 100 yds with his compound. He shoots almost every day, if only at 20 yds just to stay proficient with the vertical bow. Using a crossbow will not make you a better shot than you are with a rifle, but if you can't practice at least weekly with a vertical bow, go the crossbow route if it's legal in your state. I can take it out a month before season opens, shoot it a few times to confirm that it is still working and sighted in, and then put it away until it's time to hunt.
Personally, I try to limit my shots with the crossbow to 30 yds and less, and even at 25 yds I have had a deer "jump the string" and I spined her with the crossbow when I aimed at the heart. From a solid rest, and I was seated. Arrow speed was chronographed at 325 fps......... So that deer heard the crossbow and was able to react fast enough to drop her body approximately 16"-18" in roughly 1/4 second.
My pet peeve with all crossbow mfg's is they do NOT list how loud they are. They are like shooting a .22 rifle compared to shooting a compound vertical bow.
With a rifle, from a rest (I usually hunt from tree stands and I am seated with a shooting rest or from a folding camping chair on the ground with a Primos trigger stick supporting the rifle) and making head shots on a deer that is calm in low wind situations is a piece of cake at 100 yds or less. 100-150 yds, high neck shots, and 150+ yds I aim for just under the spine behind the shoulder blade. All 5 deer this year ran maybe a combined 6".
From a rest, I tune my arrows and in a no wind situation, I can shoot the crossbow into 1" groups at 50 yards. It's accurate enough that I don't shoot at the same dot on the bag target with more than one arrow for fear of hitting the previous arrow or fletching. I have an old Barnett Revolution crossbow that I absolutely HATE the trigger on it. I will be looking for a new (to me) crossbow this summer. A buddy has a 3 yer old Ravin and loves it.
I don't know what your budget is, but I'd look at getting a great rangefinder that is easy to operate first if you don't have one, and
then look at a good crossbow in the $600-$1,000 range. I LOVE shooting the lighted nocks, I won't hunt without them. Get the crossbow that has or has the option to get a crank cocking device. Look for a crossbow that you can uncock without having to shoot it into a target too. A crossbow scope like a Hawke Crossbow scope is mandatory. Crossbows have rainbow trajectories, and unless you are dropping considerable change for the new bows that shoot close to 500 fps, you will need multiple aiming points, at the very least one aiming point for every 10 yards. (that's why you need the rangefinder unless you are excellent at judging distance, which I am NOT).
Do your research on whether to use a mechanical broadhead or a fixed broadhead. You will also need a target to shoot at to practice ( I prefer a bag type target vs a foam one), and a quiver to hold the arrows.