Post by yihunt on Sept 20, 2009 9:31:01 GMT -4
Hunters will find tactical differences between vertical and crossbow
Will have to adapt to the sporting arm's unique requirements
Sunday, September 20, 2009
By Daniel James Hendricks, Special to the Post-Gazette
Since the legislation was passed and made public, there has been a mad dash by hunters to their local sporting goods stores to gear up. Fortunately, once a crossbow and arrows have been purchased, the accessories required for crossbow hunting are pretty much the same as those used by the vertical archer.
However, there are a few tactical differences a hunter might expect to encounter when taking a crossbow into the archery stands for the first time.
The first thing you will notice is that a crossbow is heavier and clumsier than the vertical bow. If your crossbow does not come with a sling, make sure that you purchase one before heading into the field. You will be glad you did.
Another aid to consider for the crossbow is a shooting rest. Wild claims have been made about the "deadly accuracy" of a crossbow at great distances, but due to the physics of the crossbow, it is less accurate than a vertical bow because it is front-end heavy, which creates additional "bob and weave" when shooting it. There are a number of shooting rests available on the market (Steady Eddy, Knee Pod, etc.) that will assist you in steadying your shot.
Because a crossbow is locked at full draw, it should be cocked on the ground before climbing into a tree stand. Raise the crossbow into the stand without an arrow on the deck. If you have plenty of room in your stand to safely and comfortably cock your bow there, do so carefully and make sure you are strapped in with a safety harness. If there is not enough room in the stand, lower the crossbow back to the ground to be re-cocked after a shot has been made.
If you have a series of stands and this is your first year hunting with a crossbow, take the crossbow to all of your stands before or during the season's first day or two to check for limb clearance. Because the crossbow has horizontal limbs, some stands that comfortably accommodate a vertical bow may be difficult or even impossible to use as crossbow platforms. If you have problems getting clearance for the bow's limbs, you may have to readjust the stand to allow for crossbow use, or even move to another tree in the same area. Hitting something solid with a crossbow limb may shatter it or cause you to blow up your bow.
Using a range finder is even more critical with a crossbow than it is with a vertical bow, as the arrow from a crossbow has less kinetic energy and will drop faster and have a shorter range. Any shot over 40 yards with a crossbow is considered unethical, especially when hunting whitetails, because a crossbow arrow slows quicker and consequently has less punch. At longer distances, hitting a bone may mean wounding your target instead of recovering it. Use good common sense.
Crossbow maintenance is just as important as that of a vertical bow. Keep your string waxed and make sure to keep your rail (the surface where the arrow rests when the bow is cocked and ready to shoot) lubricated with the manufacturer's suggested product. Simple and regular maintenance will increase the life of your string and bow and help to prevent problems.
Regardless of whether you hunt with a vertical bow, a crossbow or a firearm, remember to hunt safely and use common sense while in the field at all times.
Special antlerless archery seasons in Wildlife Management Units 2B (the Pittsburgh area) and 5C and 5D (the Philadelphia area) run through Oct. 2, Nov. 16-28 and Dec. 14-23. Crossbows have been legal in all deer seasons in those WMUs since 2004. Archers may harvest one antlerless deer with purchase and receipt of each antlerless license.
Will have to adapt to the sporting arm's unique requirements
Sunday, September 20, 2009
By Daniel James Hendricks, Special to the Post-Gazette
Since the legislation was passed and made public, there has been a mad dash by hunters to their local sporting goods stores to gear up. Fortunately, once a crossbow and arrows have been purchased, the accessories required for crossbow hunting are pretty much the same as those used by the vertical archer.
However, there are a few tactical differences a hunter might expect to encounter when taking a crossbow into the archery stands for the first time.
The first thing you will notice is that a crossbow is heavier and clumsier than the vertical bow. If your crossbow does not come with a sling, make sure that you purchase one before heading into the field. You will be glad you did.
Another aid to consider for the crossbow is a shooting rest. Wild claims have been made about the "deadly accuracy" of a crossbow at great distances, but due to the physics of the crossbow, it is less accurate than a vertical bow because it is front-end heavy, which creates additional "bob and weave" when shooting it. There are a number of shooting rests available on the market (Steady Eddy, Knee Pod, etc.) that will assist you in steadying your shot.
Because a crossbow is locked at full draw, it should be cocked on the ground before climbing into a tree stand. Raise the crossbow into the stand without an arrow on the deck. If you have plenty of room in your stand to safely and comfortably cock your bow there, do so carefully and make sure you are strapped in with a safety harness. If there is not enough room in the stand, lower the crossbow back to the ground to be re-cocked after a shot has been made.
If you have a series of stands and this is your first year hunting with a crossbow, take the crossbow to all of your stands before or during the season's first day or two to check for limb clearance. Because the crossbow has horizontal limbs, some stands that comfortably accommodate a vertical bow may be difficult or even impossible to use as crossbow platforms. If you have problems getting clearance for the bow's limbs, you may have to readjust the stand to allow for crossbow use, or even move to another tree in the same area. Hitting something solid with a crossbow limb may shatter it or cause you to blow up your bow.
Using a range finder is even more critical with a crossbow than it is with a vertical bow, as the arrow from a crossbow has less kinetic energy and will drop faster and have a shorter range. Any shot over 40 yards with a crossbow is considered unethical, especially when hunting whitetails, because a crossbow arrow slows quicker and consequently has less punch. At longer distances, hitting a bone may mean wounding your target instead of recovering it. Use good common sense.
Crossbow maintenance is just as important as that of a vertical bow. Keep your string waxed and make sure to keep your rail (the surface where the arrow rests when the bow is cocked and ready to shoot) lubricated with the manufacturer's suggested product. Simple and regular maintenance will increase the life of your string and bow and help to prevent problems.
Regardless of whether you hunt with a vertical bow, a crossbow or a firearm, remember to hunt safely and use common sense while in the field at all times.
Special antlerless archery seasons in Wildlife Management Units 2B (the Pittsburgh area) and 5C and 5D (the Philadelphia area) run through Oct. 2, Nov. 16-28 and Dec. 14-23. Crossbows have been legal in all deer seasons in those WMUs since 2004. Archers may harvest one antlerless deer with purchase and receipt of each antlerless license.