TITLE: Crossbow Hunting
AUTHOR: by William Hovey Smith
PUBLISHER: Stackpole Books
DISTRIBUTOR: Stackpole Books
CONTACT: Stackpole Books5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
WEBSITE: Stackpole Books web site
ISBN: 978-0-8117-3311-4
COST: $19.95 + S/H; paperback
Crossbow hunting has taken the hunting world by storm, and whether some sportsmen love or detest it, is immaterial. Those who argue against crossbow hunting often lean toward traditional archery’s long bow and recurve. Sadly, there is no right or wrong way to hunt with a bow. It all boils down to personal preference and one’s ability to shoot straight.
Whether they or anyone wish to argue the point, the average age of hunters today is growing older. Many sportsmen no longer can pull a recurve to full draw yet others argue that a crossbow is really not a bow. It shoots an arrow, and unlike other bows, this bow is shot from the shoulder. Some arguments for or against crossbow use have become volatile.
This book debunks many of the common myths. For instance, it is not an ideal poachers weapon, even though it is relatively silent. It loses its accuracy beyond 40 yards, and because of the shorter arrow, it also loses its velocity very quickly, making down-range shots less accurate than many people believe. The heaviness of a crossbow is another detriment.
It is, however, a salvation for those bow hunters who no longer can pull and shoot a more conventional bow. It’s ideal for the elderly, the infirm and for youthful hunters with strength problems.
This book covers the evolution of different crossbows on the market today, and how to select the right arrow, target point, broadheads and sights. It covers shooting and hunting techniques for deer, bear, hogs and elk.
It also covers classic crossbow hunts for big game in Africa, Australia and Canada for a variety of big game.
A battle has brewed for many years here in Michigan and in other states. In Michigan, as just one example, a group of approximately 2,000 people have kept everyone who is healthy, and many who are not, from hunting with a crossbow unless they were legally certified as being unable to shoot a regular bow.
George Gardner, the innovator of the 10 Point crossbow company, was unable to hunt with a crossbow for many years because his physical problems were not distinctly addressed by the existing rules. Now, Michigan has allowed a more general and more liberal law about crossbow hunting for the 2009-2010 season, and many more elderly or infirm hunters are welcoming the change.
Some of those folks who fought against crossbows in Michigan may find themselves in a position in the years to come where the only way they could hunt would be with a crossbow. Also, this book even has a chapter on cooking wild game.
This book describes in reasonable depth the various manufacturers of crossbows in the United States. It discusses hunts to Africa and Australia, and includes one to Canada’s Northwest Territories for musk oxen.
The controversy over the use of a crossbow may rage on for years but it mostly falls on deaf ears except for some traditional bow hunters. Many traditionalists argue that the use of these modern imitations of medieval weapons will cause an erosion in the ethics and proper respect for the game being hunted.
Personally, I’ll continue to hunt with my compound bow. However, for those who choose a crossbow because of health reasons, I’m all for them to hunt with this now-legal but old-fashioned method. People will grow accustomed to the bow, and whether I agree or disagree with the crossbow issue is immaterial.
Let’s face it, folks. We’ve lost some hunters over the year. This use of crossbows could bring a resurgence of enthusiasm and interest for hunting among our older sportsmen. We need to save as many of these hunters as possible.
This book makes a solid case for crossbows for hunting. Now that it’s legal in Michigan, each and every hunter must make a personal decision. It’s very possible that this book could provide the knowledge needed for hunters to make a logical and wise decision before buying a crossbow.
Posted via email from Dave Richey Outdoors
Very good case for crossbows being made legal for hunting. Wish Oregon would follow in Michigan’s example, we can’t even use mechanical broad heads.
Bill:
Michigan spent many years fighting the crossbow issue before the powers that be realize that many bowhunters are getting old and now have two choices: quit bow hunting or start using a crossbow.
I’m a firm believer in crossbows for those that need them to continue hunting. I don’t necessarily think crossbows are for everyone, but I try to keep an open mind.
I’ve broken my back twice, and although I can walk, the days of crawling up and down the Rockies are probably now gone forever. Frankly, I’d rather shoot my compound bow, but the bad back didn’t allow it last year. So I switched to a crossbow, and it keeps me in the woods.
I try to keep an open mind on most things, but I’m not seriously secure in the feeling that mechanical (open on impact) broadheads are the best. For years I’ve hunted bear, caribou, deer, elk and other critters, and shot only a two-blade head. It does a wonderful job when place where it is supposed to go.
For me, the mechanical broadheads require more draw weight to consistently work, but that is just my opinion. I’ve heard (and seen) too many cases where the OOI heads resulted in poor penetration, which may be the result of too liffle draw weight or less than sharp heads.
Good luck with your crossbow, and realize that the shorter shafts used on crossbows work best at 15-35 yards, and the velocity falls off dramatically past 35 yards.
Thanks for the email and the kind words. — Dave
Dear Dave,
Backyard Deer Hunting: Converting deer to dinner for pennies per pound is now available as an E-book from AuthorHouse, it will be out in hardcover in about a month, a video on the topic will be out by Summer and I am in discussion about an audio-book version. I wanted to pass on this additional info for possible inclusion when you do a review.
I will be on a West Coast radio show later today at 6:00PM Eastern Time. The show is “Be the Star You Are,” which is hosted by two very attractive gals who are also excellent radio journalist. They have a market of about 4 million, mainly in California where unemployment is 28 percent in the Central Valley and food banks are issuing only 3-days food to the needy and the state is even more hard pressed to meet the rising demands of feeding the hungry, even children. Nutritional lacks pose a rising danger of retarding childhood development in this state. This is why they are having me on in this market.
The interview can be heard live, on http://www.voiceamerica.com/worldtalkradio/show.aspx?sid=764.
My book is progress is “X-Treme Muzzleloading: Hunting Fur, Fowl and Dangerous game with Muzzleloading Rifles, Smoothbores and Pistols.” The book is now “in-design” with an expected publication date of Spring, 2010.
Best regards,
Hovey Smith