Barnett Whitetail Hunter II
First and foremost, as millions of bow/gun hunters get into their senior years, like me, they have difficulty with shoulders, arms, muscles and even eyes thus pulling and holding a traditional bow or compound bow more difficult as compared to the crossbow which still employs stick and string and razor sharp broadheads.
Hunting is not just a pass-time for me, it is a way of life. And for millions of Americans too. We eat the animals we harvest. Wild game meat is the quintessential organic meat, no additives, no hormones. In today’s international food markets that is a very important lesson in raising a family. Safe meat to eat!
The hunter that loves the bow and broadhead will gravitate to the crossbow as prices vary widely from introductory to advanced hunter/shooters from say $300 to $600 and far above. Below the Ravin R29 Crossbow; Cost $2549. Among a long list of other great manufacturers
https://ravincrossbows.com/product/r29-crossbow/
Secondly, the technology of Crossbows is in the midst of a revolution with advanced space age material recurves, compound and reverse compound technology for faster and quieter crossbows. Crank like devices to cock and decock your crossbow, quiet technology to silence the oft louder noise that crossbows make. Rifle like scopes are the norm today with crosshairs and distance hash marks. See the PSE crossbow below Cost $295.00.
https://www.psearchery.com/crossbows/
Companies that dealt with just traditional and compound bows realized perhaps that they were losing market share too so they embraced the changes and here we are today. Other companies were always in love with crossbows and led the way.
The crossbow is more in line with a rifle once cocked and loaded. Yes the hunter still has to cock the crossbow, but for most hunters that can be accomplished with some effort or with a string cocking device. See the Excalibur crossbow below
Speeds of 300 plus feet per second are the norm and 400 plus fps are at the higher end. Energies delivered are often in the 80 and 90 ft-lbs that can harvest all North American Game with common sense distances attributed to today’s compound bows with a skilled shooter/hunter. Many larger species including elephant have fallen to a well placed broadhead from a crossbow.
Arrow and broadhead technology has advanced as well bringing newly designed carbon fiber arrows, broadheads and illuminated knocks to see where the arrow struck. This fast paced technology is just mind boggling. The Rage™ mechanical broadhead left and Lumenock™ nocks that illuminate for examples. Note that I do not advocate these as I have not tested them. I do favor fixed blade broadheads.
What is important to know , for me at least, is that crossbows are leapfrogging the technology from year to year making a three year old model seem ancient.
A must for me in New Hampshire is that the crossbow can easily be cocked and de-cocked in the woods or at the beginning or end of your hunting day without having to shoot an arrow into a target making a racket. Or have to shoot a heavy de-cocking arrow at days end.
There are numerous websites for you to research. Just enter your thoughts on your favorite search engine. It is just Wild out there!!
Good Hunting!
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