Rifleman with a Crossbow

[Kingcreek]

I have hunted with a bow for 50 years. Went from hunting rabbits with a recurve to compound bow and Illinois whitetail deer. I swore I would give up hunting before I would take up crossbow.
Well now I’m 65 with a shoulder problem and I’ve had to turn my bow down a little every year.
Just ordered a crossbow. A centerpoint wrath 430. I’ll be trying 100gr muzzy HBX hybrids first.
We have so many deer here that tags and seasons and equipment offer lots of options.

 

[sage5907]

Just ordered a crossbow. A centerpoint wrath 430. I’ll be trying 100gr muzzy HBX hybrids first.

I'm happy for you. I never thought I would have a crossbow either. When I saw Chris Bee shooting the Mission I was hooked. Today I opened the mail and found a pack of Magnus Black Hornet 125's. My new broadhead target has been shipped so this week I will check out the broadhead accuracy. I'm older than you but I have never gotten too old to get excited about something. I pulled the cards from my game cameras this week-end the the big guys are still coming in. I went from corn to adding antler max and now all I need now is some apples to throw around with the corn and antler max to keep them interested. Got to plan ahead.

 

[sage5907]

One of the reasons I went back to a recurve after using a compound bow for several years was all the gadgets that were need to work on the bow. I hated to own and use a bow press more than anything. Not true with my Mission crossbow. All I have to do to change the strings is to loosen the limb bolts and the three short strings go on easy.

 

[sage5907]

Yesterday at my home here in Oklahoma the high temperature was 102 degrees with a heat index of 114. With other work to do and the high temperature I have not been able to do any practice work with my broadheads. I have a Yellow Jacket for my target points and a Walk-On Robin Cube for my broadheads and when it cools off I will sight in the crossbow using both the 125 Magnus Black Hornet and the 125 Magnus Stinger. I plan to hunt with the Black Hornet and I am hoping the Stinger hits in the same place. If the 125 grain Stinger doesn't work I am thinking about trying the 150 grain Stinger because it is recommended for a crossbow. My bow is already sighted in with 125 grain field points so I just need to find out which broadhead works best and tweek the scope.

 

[Remington1911]

One of the reasons I went back to a recurve after using a compound bow for several years was all the gadgets that were need to work on the bow. I hated to own and use a bow press more than anything. Not true with my Mission crossbow. All I have to do to change the strings is to loosen the limb bolts and the three short strings go on easy.

Before I destroyed my shoulder I was just a recurve shooter. I had a compound bow, but it just felt like cheating to me. I detest all the gizmos people put on their bows, mine is a hunk of wood, a string and a thing to set the arrow on, thats it. I want it simple. I have like feelings around "black powder" or "primitive" rifle shooting. Some of that stuff, just no you are cheating in my book.

I have thought off and on about crossbows, it really hurts to draw one, so I need a crank of some kind, just never fooled with it past looking on the internet. Really thinking about it again, but when you get to a "non cheating" cross bow, recurve you loose some of the gadgets I would need to shoot the fool thing. I would like it built in so I don't forget it or something happens to it.

Not quite sure what road I will go down with all this.

 

[Ranger99]

I've used a crossbow before.
If you can kill deer with a compound
or traditional, you can with a crossbow
where legal

Just me- I've always wanted a
"deer season " where a hunter
could use whatever legal method
they wanted as long as they could
make an ethical kill
Way way too much jealousy and
envy between different hunters
in 2023

IMO hunt your own hunt and let
me hunt mine

 

[sage5907]

I have thought off and on about crossbows, it really hurts to draw one, so I need a crank of some kind, just never fooled with it past looking on the internet. Really thinking about it again, but when you get to a "non cheating" cross bow, recurve you loose some of the gadgets I would need to shoot the fool thing.

I am really enjoying this crossbow experience. It doesn't have all the gadgets like a compound. No release, no sight pins, no arrow rest on the bow, no arm guard, no shooting glove, no bow press, and I especially don't miss the 30 inch arrows. The rope sled that I use to cock my bow requires a lot of strength because my Mission has a 200 pound bow but I have a friend who bought his daughter a Ten Point crossbow with a crank when she was 14 and she is getting along with it good. Really easy to cock. In fact, the first year she had it she killed a buck at about 50 yards. Her dad is into PRS competition so she has had a lot of training with a long range rifle.

 

[sage5907]

Just me- I've always wanted a
"deer season " where a hunter
could use whatever legal method
they wanted as long as they could
make an ethical kill.

In Oklahoma I can hunt deer from October 1st to January 15th with a crossbow. The only restriction is that I have to wear orange during the primitive rifle season which is 9 days and the deer gun season which is 16 days. I don't hunt doe but in Oklahoma but I can legally take two bucks each year. I have heard that Texas allows for a lot of hunting. I had an opportunity to hunt mule deer on a relatives farm in the Texas panhandle near Fritch several years ago but the $300 out of state license kept me from going.

 

[Remington1911]

I've used a crossbow before.
If you can kill deer with a compound
or traditional, you can with a crossbow
where legal

Just me- I've always wanted a
"deer season " where a hunter
could use whatever legal method
they wanted as long as they could
make an ethical kill
Way way too much jealousy and
envy between different hunters
in 2023

IMO hunt your own hunt and let
me hunt mine

MT. HOWITZER

HOWITZER HUNT - Mountain Howitzer Cannon Whitetail Deer Hunt and build your own 12 pound Mountain Howitzer Cannon.

www.buckstix.com

 

[Ranger99]

Can't legally use artillery pieces
here for whitetail deer, although
their are many I've interacted with
those that would declare that it would
barely be adequate

I would like to have a legal spear
hunt here before I get too feeble
to go afield under my own power.
I understand a couple of states
that allow elevated stand spear
hunting for whitetail

 

[sage5907]

Well, I've been away for the past 20 days camping in Colorado and enjoying the cool weather. When I got home the first thing I thought about was getting the crossbow dusted off and sighting it in with the new Magnus Black Hornet broadheads. The Magnus Black Hornet 125 grain broadheads shot to the same point of impact as the target points which was great. The Magnus Stinger 125 grain broadheads would not shoot to the same point so that option is off the table. The Oklahoma archery deer and elk season starts October 1 and I am really excited. When I sighted in the Mission Sub 1 with the broadheads my points of impact were 20, 30, 43. 56 and 65 yards. I have one more target point which is the top of the bottom duplex reticle and that should be on at about 75 yards and I will find that the next time I shoot. This bow is so accurate and easy to shoot. Attached are target hits at 43, 56 and 65 yards respectivly. This is a new Walk On Robin Cube target and notice that the penetration is the same at all three distances. This was one shot at each distance of 43, 56 and 65 yards using the target point sight-in.

 

[BreechFace]

sound travels 1125fps and the bow 350fps. The deer will still have two seconds to react if it hears the bow shoot at 100 yards. Shooting targets long distance and shooting game long distance with a bow is two different things. Target don't string jump.

wind blowing at you will affect flight, but they will hear it less. Wind blowing from you to them and they will hear it louder and smell you too possibly.

Agreed a buddy of mine's kid just put an arrow into the high rear spine of an elk due to string jump at 50 yards. It was an immediate incapacitation as it severed it's spine but a near miss or botched shot due to the elk ducking and twisting at the immediate sound of the string on the bow.

Just something to keep in mind as was mentioned. A 160gr traveling at 3,000fps gets there a lot quicker

 

[T.R.]

This dandy Maryland buck was downed at a distance of about 30 yards or so. I bought this older Ten Point crossbow second hand in 2008 and it has always performed quite well for me. - TR

 

[sage5907]

This dandy Maryland buck was downed at a distance of about 30 yards or so. I bought this older Ten Point crossbow second hand in 2008 and it has always performed quite well for me. - TR

I appreciate you attaching the picture and your face tells the whole story. I've never had a problem with buying used hunting equipment. The used Mission Sub 1 that I have cost about half the price of a new bow but it works great for me. I will never know why the person who owned the bow sold it but he said he was going back to a compound. His decision is my gain. I am literally fascinated about the quality of my crossbow and how well it works.

 

[sage5907]

Archery deer & elk season in Oklahoma starts Sunday and that is only four days away. Since I gave the last update I have learned that the Magnus Stinger 125 on a Carbon Express Piledriver shoots to the same point of impact as a Magnus Black Hornet 125 on a Black Eagle Zombie Slayer. That gives me several more arrows to use. Last week I put out corn and apples close to my natural cover blinds to keep the animals close. The animals are really smart so I have set up a ground blind about 80 yards from each of the feeding spots. In my area it's best to just pour the feed on the ground in many small piles. Really looking forward to Sunday morning. The wind is going to be out of the south and that helps with the movement of the animals.

 

[illinoisburt]

80 yards is a chip shot with a centerfires rifle, not the best choice for any archery weapon. The arrow flight time from the fastest bows/crossbows is long enough for any animal to move appreciably. Crossbows are loud. Animals can definitely spook from the shot noise. Just a quick hop or couple of steps can easily turn into a bad hit and challenging tracking job.

 

[Kingcreek]

Season opens here in Illinois Oct 1. I wish I had done more research before buying my crossbow. (Centerpoint wrath 430) it was on sale with an additional $100 mfg rebate. It is very compact but so short in the stock it’s difficult to get proper eye relief on the scope. And my arthritic shoulders don’t let me pull the rope cocker high enough so I have to use the crank mechanism to cock it. Sure is fast and it hits hard though.
I’ve had great results using muzzy broadheads in my compound bow for years so I bought muzzy hybrids for crossbow. Supposed to be replaceable blades but no replacement blades available for them.

 

[sage5907]

Well, I hunted three days with the crossbow beginning October 1st and it was fun but the conditions were against me. The temperatures in the afternoon were over 90 degrees with lows in the upper 70's, strong wind, full moon, and biting insects made the hunt difficult. I saw one mature eight point buck at about 80 yards but I wouldn't have taken a shot even if he had been closer. This morning it was 39 degrees and these lower temperatures would have really helped because during that three days all of the big animals were nocturnal. I have hunted with both a recurve and compound bow in the past but carrying the crossbow was new to me. I was walking over a half mile to each ground blind each time and it was awkward to carry. I would tuck it under my left arm and go. The old saying applies, no pain no gain. I was set up each time at 65 yards from the deer but the big buck never came. My planning was really good and I can't wait for my next hunt. I did find the arrows easy to carry. I have a leather shoestring on my quiver that I would put over the handle of my Buck Hunter knife and when I snapped the cover down it was secure and when walking I didn't even know I was carrying the arrows. Our archery season lasts until January 15th so I still have a long ways to go. Pictures on the game cameras showed the activity of the animals during the night.

 

[sage5907]

This Saturday I will begin a 9 day hunt and I'm taking both my Mission crossbow and my White Super 91 muzzleloader as both are legal. Weather will we sharply cooler Saturday with off and on rain and drizzle. Wind chill below freezing on both Saturday and Sunday. I am needing an east wind for Saturday and it is predicted, and I have taken some of my biggest bucks with an east wind. Big change from the hot temperatures and insects on my first try three weeks ago. My game cameras show that all the big animals are still there so it should get interesting. I have a new hands free deer call that I purchased from Roger Raglin and it really sounds good. For those who don't know Roger Raglin you need to look him up on youtube because he has a wealth of information to share. His trophy room is beyond belief. Hope to have pictures when I get back to the computer. Best wishes for all those who are hunting next week.

 

[sage5907]

I hunted really hard this past week and took the big whitetail buck that I was after. I was hunting grazing land with tall hills, deep canyons about a mile from a wheat field. The weather turned really cold the first two days of the muzzleloader season with temperatures in the 20's with freezing rain on the second morning. Evening hunts are usually the best during this season and on Monday evening I got my chance. I was totally hidden in a natural blind made of sage brush and as it got late in the evening I had a group of seven doe and one small buck feeding in front of me. Two of the doe ran to the south and began looked intently and at the same time five doe and the small buck ran back into the trees because something made them nervous. They didn't know I was there so I knew I wasn't what had scared them. The other two does continued to watch down the canyon and I leaned to my left to see around the side of the blind and saw a large buck with dark antlers and many points. I hunted this buck all through the 2022 season without seeing him but this year it would be different. I picked up my White Super 91 50 caliber rifle and as he was standing quartering to me I hit him in the left shoulder and he fell immediately. I was shooting a 430 grain super slug with 105 grains of FF powder. I worked really hard to get this buck with much planning and preparation. It all came together on the 3rd day of the season.

 

[horsey300]

I hunted really hard this past week and took the big whitetail buck that I was after. I was hunting grazing land with tall hills, deep canyons about a mile from a wheat field. The weather turned really cold the first two days of the muzzleloader season with temperatures in the 20's with freezing rain on the second morning. Evening hunts are usually the best during this season and on Monday evening I got my chance. I was totally hidden in a natural blind made of sage brush and as it got late in the evening I had a group of seven doe and one small buck feeding in front of me. Two of the doe ran to the south and began looked intently and at the same time five doe and the small buck ran back into the trees because something made them nervous. They didn't know I was there so I knew I wasn't what had scared them. The other two does continued to watch down the canyon and I leaned to my left to see around the side of the blind and saw a large buck with dark antlers and many points. I hunted this buck all through the 2022 season without seeing him but this year it would be different. I picked up my White Super 91 50 caliber rifle and as he was standing quartering to me I hit him in the left shoulder and he fell immediately. I was shooting a 430 grain super slug with 105 grains of FF powder. I worked really hard to get this buck with much planning and preparation. It all came together on the 3rd day of the season. View attachment 1178632View attachment 1178633View attachment 1178634View attachment 1178635View attachment 1178636

Congratulations!!!!

 

[Show Me]

First I would say that even though it shoots like a rifle it is not a rifle, and I know that you know this.
I would IMHO not shoot more than 40-45 max. That is a personal limit I place on myself.
Also, you will need a plan on how to unload the crossbow if you don’t shoot it in the field.
you probably already do

Bum bolt shot in the dirt isn't a bad option

 

[archeryrob]

Congrats

 

[sage5907]

I'm in the process of getting ready for the Oklahoma Deer Rifle Season which starts the Saturday before Thanksgiving and lasts 16 days. So today I went to my gun club and because it was cold and somewhat windy I was the only one there. It gave me the opportunity to put up my target at 200 meters (218 yards) and fire 5 rounds using my single shooting stick as a rest and shoot without any distractions. I just sit down, hold onto the stick with my left hand and lay the rifle over my wrist for support. When I fired the first round I knew I was shooting good, and I fired the other 4 rounds at about one minute intervals. The rifle is a pre 64 Model 70 Winchester featherweight with a 280 Remington barrel from a later model Classic rifle. I was shooting the 140 grain Nosler Partition with 54 grains of IMR 4831. When I went to pull the target I quickly saw I had shot a good group with the shooting stick. Four of the rounds were in a group just slightly over an inch in diameter and the fifth round was about an inch and a half to the right. It's really hard to get five consecutive rounds in a small group at 200 meters and it is common for me to get a good 4 round group with one flier. I was very happy with the group and looking forward to hunting with the rifle again.

 

[Laphroaig]

Also, you will need a plan on how to unload the crossbow if you don’t shoot it in the field.

I've been wondering about this topic for a while. This thread has started to wander a bit, so I don't feel guilty asking my question here. Obviously, you can shoot it to decock. My question is, do any of you leave it cocked if you plan on taking it out again soon? I'm an evening hunter, and by the time I get back to the house it is dark and its a pain to set up a target and shoot in the dark. I've left mine cocked for as long as 4 or 5 days at a time. I don't see any difference in POI, but I'm not chronographing my bolt either. Bow is a Ten Point, am I doing any harm to it?