Every able-bodied hunter I ran into that day that noticed my bow kept stopping and asking the same questions: "How far does that thing shoot? A hundred yards?" The first time I replied with a simple 'no'. The second time, I shook my head in disbelief. And after the third, I knew I needed to offer some facts. Like the fact that a crossbow is still a bowstring and arrow weapon. The fact that it only "looks" like a gun. The fact that it's effective range is 40 yards in. And the fact that crossbows have such high draw weights because the arrows are half as short. I guess after 15 years of hunting with one, all these things seem obvious to me, not so much to the able-bodied world though.
I know the crossbow has been a hotly debated topic among bow hunters, but I feel can at least share everything I've been forced to learn about this weapon as a hunting tool. I owe it to the ever growing crossbow community, really to hunters everywhere, to put out some truths on the subject.
Let's start with some of the popular myths:
MYTH #1: Crossbows are a poacher's tool.
FACT: Crossbows, like vertical bows, have short range capabilities and are very cumbersome to cock and shoot from a vehicle. They kill by hemorrhage, not shock. Where legal, violations are minimal. If crossbows were efficient poaching tools their use would be wide-spread by game thieves. The poachers weapon of choice is still the .22 caliber rifle.
MYTH #2: Crossbows are unsafe.
FACT: Based on thirty years of statistical data, accident rates involving crossbows are identical to those of vertical bows. Both, considering hunting hours involved and numbers of hunters, are still considered among the safest forms of hunting.
MYTH #3: Crossbows hunters kill more deer.
FACT: Most shooters can expect to quickly achieve tight arrow groups on targets up to forty yards (the effective hunting range of a crossbow). That is true, but is that a bad thing? Isn't accurate shot placement the goal of all ethical hunting? It definitely doesn't translate into taking more deer. To be successful, a crossbow hunter must still master the skills and tactics common to bowhunting, and that's being able to get close to your animal. In states with generous crossbow seasons, the success rate of crossbow hunters and vertical bow hunters are virtually the same and the deer populations continue to flourish.
MYTH #4: Crossbow hunting will squeeze other hunters out.
FACT: In states that offer lengthy crossbow seasons, crossbow hunting is popular. However, no other season or bag limit has ever been reduced as a result of the crossbow hunting being permitted. Where legal, the crossbow does not discriminate in favor of the physically strong. It enables a wider range of sportsmen (women, disabled hunters, youth, and older hunters) to enjoy the challenges of bowhunting. This actually gets more people interested in hunting & the outdoors.
MYTH #5: A crossbow is much more efficient than a vertical bow.
FACT: A modern 150# draw weight compound crossbow delivers the same speed and stored energy as a 65-70 pound compound vertical bow. The crossbow requires twice the amount of draw weight because the power stroke (draw length) is half as long as that of the compound bow.
MYTH #6: The crossbow creates division amongst sportsmen, and the public image of crossbows makes proposed hunting with them counter to the sportsmen's interests.
FACT: Where permitted, crossbow hunting creates NO controversy except that created by a few individuals who deem themselves and their chosen method of hunting as superior to all others. The public image of crossbows stems from the lack of knowledge of a crossbow's limited capabilities, as well as the myths touted by those who oppose their use. The TRUE controversy and tragedy of the crossbow issue stems from the time, effort and money spent by so called conservation-minded bowhunting organizations to deny others the opportunity to hunt rather than promoting the virtues of bowhunting to the public.
MYTH #7: There is an independent study which dramatically shows the superior
capability of the crossbow (and its development) over the vertical bow.
FACT: This study is about as independent as a study on the need for sport hunting by P.E.T.A.. The study was commissioned by the Anti-Crossbow Committee of a national bowhunting group. Its author is a member of that group. Much of the hypothetical development of hunting crossbows and the limiting physical factors which prevent such development in vertical bows within the study have already been proven erroneous. It is the purpose of the game regulations by the state to control what advances in technology are suitable for sporting use.
MYTH #8: The crossbow is a superior weapon when compared to the compound bow.
FACTS: The vertical archer must spend hours and hours working on the physical conditioning required by drawing, aiming and shooting to become proficient. The crossbow hunter does not. The vertical archer must draw his bow in the field. The crossbow hunter does not. Everything else is basically the same. Both hunters must be accomplished woodsmen to get that close to a whitetail or whatever game they're after.
A crossbow does, by its design, produce a loud ‘thump' with every arrow release. It's extremely front heavy and difficult to shoot free-handed. It's a heavy weapon that's more difficult to carry around and/or hunt from a treestand with. Crossbow hunters usually have to hunt from the ground which is another disadvantage when it comes to pursuing big game.
MYTH #9: Nobody wants crossbow hunting except the crossbow manufacturers.
FACT: In Ohio, crossbow hunting has been permitted for thirty years and the Ohio Division of Wildlife endorses crossbow hunting and the opportunity it creates enthusiastically. There are more hunters participating in the archery season and these licensed, legal, law-abiding sportsmen in Ohio are commonly the target of slanderous, erroneous and often untruthful attacks from bowhunting groups opposed to crossbow hunting. Many Ohio crossbow hunters also enjoy shooting with vertical archery gear.
Crossbow use is becoming more popular everyday and in the past few years was made legal for use by disabled hunters in almost every state in the union.
MYTH #10: Just because crossbow hunting has been a success story in many states like Ohio, Arkansas and Wyoming, we don't want it in ours. All the bowhunters of "our" state and all of "our" enforcement officers are opposed to it.
FACT: The crossbow is a challenging but effective short-range, single-shot hunting tool which offers additional hunting opportunity and recruitment to hunting ranks. If such an option in not considered advantageous by the sportsmen and game management agencies within the state, then they are not seeing the big picture of our hunting future. The sportsmen's cause is at risk, and recruitment to hunting ranks should be the goal of ALL game managers and sportsmen.
FACT: It is a fact confirmed by agency statistical data in crossbow hunting states that there are vastly more hunters (or potential hunters) who choose or would choose to hunt with a crossbow than those who oppose them.
FACT: Crossbow hunting is documented as safe, responsible and popular where permitted, and has no ill effect on wildlife resources or any other group of sportsmen - other than self-perceived. Ohio ranks the crossbow as a major recruitment tool for women, youth and professionals. The crossbow hunting opportunity does not create division amongst sportsmen - quite the opposite, it gives the firearms hunter a hands-on perspective of the challenges of archery hunting. The REAL concerns surrounding the crossbow hunting opportunity is the concept that there's no room for recruitment to hunting ranks unless the tool used is one based upon the standards of a few.
If I had the choice, I would pick up a compound bow every day of the week and twice on Sunday over a crossbow in the woods. It just has a lot more advantages in terms of hunting that people don't see. But without the crossbow, I would've had to miss out on a lifetime of bowhunting, plain and simple. I might even have been one of those people who thinks it's comparable to a gun.
The most important thing to hunters right now is our future, though, and anything that gets more people interested in hunting and the outdoors is something to be supported. What I am in favor of is allowing people with upper limb disabilities the opportunity to hunt during the archery season.
Just felt the need to share all I've experienced on the subject.