Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: lokidog on December 06, 2012, 08:56:14 AM

Title: Crossbow?
Post by: lokidog on December 06, 2012, 08:56:14 AM: Anyone use one for deer or elk in a firearm restricted area? Pros and cons?

BTW, I don't want to get into a discussion about whether they are bows or not as I personally don't think they should be allowed during archery only season except by handicapped hunters.
Title: Re: Crossbow?
Post by: Bullets_n_Octane on December 06, 2012, 09:17:46 AM: It was my understanding that ONLY approved handicapped hunters could use crossbows... Has this changed?
Title: Re: Crossbow?
Post by: jaymark6655 on December 06, 2012, 09:21:29 AM: They can be used for modern season in firearm restricted areas.

Pro they are quiet and won't piss off any nearby treehumpers.

Con Shotguns with buckshot work really well and wont get diflected by a little invisable trig.
Title: Re: Crossbow?
Post by: lokidog on December 06, 2012, 11:39:02 AM: Quote from: jaymark6655 on December 06, 2012, 09:21:29 AM
They can be used for modern season in firearm restricted areas.

Yep, for two years now. Hopefully this is a test to see if they could be used everywhere during modern.
Title: Re: Crossbow?
Post by: Elkrunner on December 06, 2012, 01:35:59 PM: how far can someone accurately shoot with a cross bow? I haven't done much research on them.
Title: Re: Crossbow?
Post by: bobcat on December 06, 2012, 01:45:39 PM: Same as a bow I believe- 40 to 50 yards.
Title: Re: Crossbow?
Post by: Elkrunner on December 06, 2012, 01:46:55 PM: So is the argument because it has a trigger then its more like a gun? I bet this has been argued on here before. I better go do some research.
Title: Re: Crossbow?
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on December 06, 2012, 01:48:36 PM: I would think you could also use a scope on it? :dunno:
Title: Re: Crossbow?
Post by: Kowsrule30 on December 06, 2012, 02:15:50 PM: I've shot a few... Never hunted with one... Some are kinda bulky and heavy... But very accurate and one that I shot was quieter then any bow I've heard.... It was my first time and shooting one and I was nailing 6-8" groups at 60 yards.... For hunting I purposes they are no more effective then a compound bow... I would hunt archery deer with one if they were legal for all... Don't remember model but the Excalibur was my favorite...
Title: Re: Crossbow?
Post by: Bob33 on December 06, 2012, 02:19:19 PM: Quote from: bobcat on December 06, 2012, 01:45:39 PM
Same as a bow I believe- 40 to 50 yards.
I've spoken with experts on this. The concensus is this: fired offhand a crossbow offers no advantage over a compound bow, and in fact may be more difficult to shoot accurately. However, with a solid rest a good crossbow is capable of shooting groups at 100 yards of under 5 inches, consistently.

http://www.longrangehunting.com/articles/pse-tac-15-15i-10-10i-crossbow-review-1.php (http://www.longrangehunting.com/articles/pse-tac-15-15i-10-10i-crossbow-review-1.php)

"I became a PSE TAC 15/15i crossbow dealer because my own PSE TAC 15/15i crossbow shot 6 arrows into 1.875 inches at 100 yards, on my third day of shooting it. "
Title: Re: Crossbow?
Post by: bobcat on December 06, 2012, 02:24:00 PM: I don't understand why crossbows aren't allowed EVERYWHERE during modern firearm season. There are places that may not be an official firearm restriction area, where the landowner may allow hunting if the hunter were to use archery equipment.
Title: Re: Crossbow?
Post by: Elkrunner on December 06, 2012, 02:34:53 PM: Quote from: HUNTINCOUPLE on December 06, 2012, 01:48:36 PM
I would think you could also use a scope on it? :dunno:

If you removed the scope then why not?
Title: Re: Crossbow?
Post by: bobcat on December 06, 2012, 02:38:21 PM: Quote from: Elkrunner on December 06, 2012, 02:34:53 PM
Quote from: HUNTINCOUPLE on December 06, 2012, 01:48:36 PM
I would think you could also use a scope on it? :dunno:

If you removed the scope then why not?

Scopes on crossbows are legal during modern firearm season.
Title: Re: Crossbow?
Post by: lokidog on December 06, 2012, 05:54:53 PM: Growing up (70's and 80's), my brother and I owned Ed Gien's (look it up if you do not know :yike: ) property in central Wisconsin and we had a neighbor with no left hand. He claimed to have taken deer out to 80 yards.

Elkrunner, I think the most valid argument against the use of crossbows during an archery only season is that you can walk around with it already cocked (drawn) and therefore for the same reason you cannot use a fixed cocking device on a standard compound. This reduces a huge amount of necessary movement thus making it easier to make a kill.

Bobcat, I'm with you on that one, I hope that is why they have recently allowed their use in firearm restricted areas to see if there are any unforseen issues on a smaller scale.
Title: Re: Crossbow?
Post by: Elkrunner on December 07, 2012, 09:43:47 AM: Quote from: lokidog on December 06, 2012, 05:54:53 PM
Growing up (70's and 80's), my brother and I owned Ed Gien's (look it up if you do not know :yike: ) property in central Wisconsin and we had a neighbor with no left hand. He claimed to have taken deer out to 80 yards.

Elkrunner, I think the most valid argument against the use of crossbows during an archery only season is that you can walk around with it already cocked (drawn) and therefore for the same reason you cannot use a fixed cocking device on a standard compound. This reduces a huge amount of necessary movement thus making it easier to make a kill.

Bobcat, I'm with you on that one, I hope that is why they have recently allowed their use in firearm restricted areas to see if there are any unforseen issues on a smaller scale.

Makes sense to me. Thanks
Title: Re: Crossbow?
Post by: 3dsheetmetal on December 07, 2012, 10:05:15 AM: Scopes on crossbows are legal during modern firearm season.
[/quote]

Just looked up in the game laws on page 75 #3-f. it says that (Using a scope on a crossbow during a modern firearm season is not allowed.)Which I really don't understand where the Dept. is coming from since you use scopes on rifles :dunno:
Title: Re: Crossbow?
Post by: bobcat on December 07, 2012, 10:07:01 AM: It says scopes are NOW allowed.
Title: Re: Crossbow?
Post by: 3dsheetmetal on December 07, 2012, 10:09:01 AM: Sorry Bobcat you are correct Guess my eyes are not what they used to be. :yike:
Title: Re: Crossbow?
Post by: Bob33 on January 10, 2013, 09:27:45 AM: I just happened to run across this thread. The use of crossbows with a scope during Modern Firearm Seasons is only allowed in Firearm Restricted Areas.

The original regulations did not correctly state this. The errata corrected this error.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01383/2012_big_game_hunting_errata.pdf (http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01383/2012_big_game_hunting_errata.pdf)

Page 75 (Added April 20)
Item number 3.f. should read “Using a scope on a crossbow during a modern firearm season,
in firearm restriction areas, is now allowed.
Title: Re: Crossbow?
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on January 10, 2013, 09:45:48 AM: When I was going to school in Massachusetts, it was illegal there to even OWN one. Yet one of my classmates made one in High School Shop Class. Ahh...the 1960's--I'd go back in a minute! :tup:
Title: Re: Crossbow?
Post by: jthurs on January 10, 2013, 11:31:54 AM: I have hunted with a compound since I was 10 and consider myself to be a fairly good shot. I have killed several deer at 50+. My buddy lost his leg and ended up with a crossbow. His is a Horton vision with a scope(reverse limbs). I will tell you that I watched him kill 3 deer with it one being at 80 yards and you cannot even put it in the same category as a compound. I can shoot his with fixed blade thunderheads at 75 yards in a 4 inch group. 320 fps with a 420 grain arrow too, wicked penetration and hard to find arrows. His is light and hangs awesome, reminds me of shooting a 10/22. No trouble at 75 yards even freehand!
Title: Re: Crossbow?
Post by: Da stump on January 10, 2013, 02:20:18 PM: I am a disabled hunter and picked up a used barnett crossbow this year. got to take off the scope and not much of a choice on normal sights out there for the barnett predator but did find a fiber optic sight for about 200 dollars and need to get a pulley system to get the darn thing ready to go. That rope thing that came with it is a joke for me. Then about four dozen arrows and should be good for awhile. It will be nice to be able to hunt with my son again. Just need to find a good tree stand and use a comealong to get me up in it and i will be good. The sights are marked out to 60 yds with 30, 40, 50, and 60 yd pins. If anyone knows of any others that would fit a barnett pedator i would like to know about it. :drool:
Title: Re: Crossbow?
Post by: MLhunter1 on January 10, 2013, 07:43:12 PM: My dads a disabled hunter. He got a barnett this fall. Shot a whitetail at 30 yards square through the front shoulder and out the other side. Arrow sailed 20 yds beyond the deer and got lost in the grass. I was impressed. Lot of speed and energy going on there.