Crossbows for deer hunting

[Saltwater60]

Looking for a crossbow for hunting in about the $500 range. I saw this one at cabelas and it looks fairly nice.
I know nothing of them. Would be hunting from a tree stand and possibly from a cabin porch since the deer eat the apples right there during bow season. I’d also consider a traditional bow but a crossbow appeals to me more. Seems like they are easier to use and more powerful. My parents property is long and skinny and deer travel after hitting with an arrow is a concern of mine.

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/barnett-xp400-crossbow-package-with-crank-cocking-device

 

[1075tech]

There are a couple of threads here about crossbows.

 

[Saltwater60]

There are a couple of threads here about crossbows.

I tried searching but couldn’t find any. I’ll look again. I knew there were some.

 

[1075tech]

I tried searching but couldn’t find any. I’ll look again. I knew there were some.

I can never find anything I'm looking for using the search feature. I'll be in my office tomorrow, if you don't find anything, I can copy/paste links. It's a PITA doing it from my phone

 

[Blimey]

That should be more than enough. I hunt with a vertical and a crossbow and the crossbow is undoubtedly superior. I have better range, 3x zoom, I make no movement drawing, and I’ve never not had a complete pass through (with my vertical I've never had a pass through even at 60+ lbs). 100% recovery rate so far. I use mechanical on it (rage 2) as the fixed I’ve tried do not group properly.

Mine is a centerpoint sniper rated at 370 FPS with a Nikon bolt xr scope.

 

[Saltwater60]

I can never find anything I'm looking for using the search feature. I'll be in my office tomorrow, if you don't find anything, I can copy/paste links. It's a PITA doing it from my phone

Glad it’s not just me. I used the search function and nothing came up. I thought I saw some posts on them a while back and looked through a page and half then went to bed. Thanks.

 

[Saltwater60]

That should be more than enough. I hunt with a vertical and a crossbow and the crossbow is undoubtedly superior. I have better range, 3x zoom, I make no movement drawing, and I’ve never not had a complete pass through (with my vertical I've never had a pass through even at 60+ lbs). 100% recovery rate so far. I use mechanical on it (rage 2) as the fixed I’ve tried do not group properly.

Mine is a centerpoint sniper rated at 370 FPS with a Nikon bolt xr scope.

Thanks. How far do the deer typically travel after a hit? I don’t have a ton of room to deal with but I do have some landowner permission but not from all surrounding my property. I just do t want to shoot an animal and not recover it. This is the main reason I’m going crossbow over regular bow. I think a crossbow has less doohickeys and is cheaper in the long run anyway, more like a regular gun and just superior altogether.

 

[Robin]

Crossbow Advice

So let's say a person has a $400 budget to buy a crossbow and supplies. So let's say this person has absolutely no knowledge of crossbows. What information about crossbows can you offer? Like manufacturers, FPS, cocking and any other info. Since ammo is so hard to find I was thinking of going...

nygunforum.com

 

[Robin]

I need a crossbow. I know near nothing of them.

I have weapons of all sort. I have pistols. I have rifles. I have slingshots and swords and daggers and axes and shields and knives and beatem sticks. I have all types of bludgeoning weapons. I have the Liverpool Assassin (look it up). I have Machetes of all sorts. I do not have a...

nygunforum.com

 

[Robin]

Crossbow for Deer (a tactical and practical question)

The crossbow broadheads thread here is helpful but I was hoping to get some thoughts on where I'm at and if crossbow is where I want to go before I sink money into equipment and practice. I'm on about 5 acres in southern Putnam; neighbors consist of 60 acres of woods behind and five acre plots...

nygunforum.com

 

[Saltwater60]

Thanks Robin!!

 

[Saltwater60]

This one looks pretty feature packed for a great price. Has great reviews too. This maybe the one I grab. It will only be fore hunting.

 

[Blimey]

Thanks. How far do the deer typically travel after a hit? I don’t have a ton of room to deal with but I do have some landowner permission but not from all surrounding my property. I just do t want to shoot an animal and not recover it. This is the main reason I’m going crossbow over regular bow. I think a crossbow has less doohickeys and is cheaper in the long run anyway, more like a regular gun and just superior altogether.

I think I've taken something like ten deer and only once have I ever seen one fall within eye sight. Double lung from xbow. I've done the same with the vertical and they have run maybe 60 yards or so but not much further. The longest I've personally recovered was after the deer made it perhaps 200 yards. After that I've just never recovered them; they invariably clot up and I cannot keep the trail.

If you double lung it or hit it in the heart it simply cannot go very far, but those shots are a hell of a lot harder in the field than at the range.

 

[Saltwater60]

I think I've taken something like ten deer and only once have I ever seen one fall within eye sight. Double lung from xbow. I've done the same with the vertical and they have run maybe 60 yards or so but not much further. The longest I've personally recovered was after the deer made it perhaps 200 yards. After that I've just never recovered them; they invariably clot up and I cannot keep the trail.

If you double lung it or hit it in the heart it simply cannot go very far, but those shots are a hell of a lot harder in the field than at the range.

Thanks. I plan to only take fairly close easy shots until I see how it goes. The last thing I want to do is injure a deer and not recover it. I suppose it will happen at some point but I’ll do everything I can to avoid it.