Thanks for the helpful info shortwave. I know nothing about archery hunting other than its harder than rifle hunting. The crossbow isn't for me. Its for a relative. Do u think It would be ok to use one in the $300 range or are most of the $300 crossbows crap? There is one @ academy that is $319 (horton summit)
can a felon hunt with a crossbow in tx
- Thread starter watchale
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rantingredneck
New member
My father in law uses a Horton Summit. He's been using it for a few years now since having bypass surgery and no longer being able to use a compound. He's killed 3 or 4 deer with it and none of them have complained about the quality of his crossbow 
.
Seriously it is very accurate and hits hard out to 35-40 yds.
NC regs have changed and (barring interference from the state legislature) we should be able to hunt with crossbows in NC next season without a disability exception. I traded for a Parker Buckbuster crossbow earlier this year and have shot it a bit (only at targets thus far) and have been happy with it's accuracy and bolt speed. It's also a bit quieter than my father in law's Horton.
. Seriously it is very accurate and hits hard out to 35-40 yds.
NC regs have changed and (barring interference from the state legislature) we should be able to hunt with crossbows in NC next season without a disability exception. I traded for a Parker Buckbuster crossbow earlier this year and have shot it a bit (only at targets thus far) and have been happy with it's accuracy and bolt speed. It's also a bit quieter than my father in law's Horton.
At Bass Pro Shop, the Horton Summit is $300 and the Explorer is $380. The Legend 175 package is around $570. Summit and Explorer are both 150lb. while the Legend is 175lb. Shop around and you`ll find all these bows cheaper. Possibly at Wally World or your local gunstore. If you buy used, see the bow first and possibly try to shoot it. Dry firing will split the limbs. Never shot the Summit but had an Explorer before the Legends. Can`t imagine the Summit shooting much different than the Explorer. The Legend shoots faster/flatter for a longer flatter shot. Bought two Legends at local gun store that were not 'package deals'. Scopes,slings and quivers were not included. Just the stripped down bow. They were cheaper then the package price at Bass Pro. Didn`t care cause I wanted red dots instead of scopes anyway. Seems as though I gave $650 for both but that was back 8-9 years ago when the Legends first came out. As far as accuracy goes,Ive got a friend that works at the local gun shop(in the archery dept.) were I bought my bows that has Robbin Hooded(shot one bolt(arrow) into target then shot another and it stuck in first shot arrow) twice. The first one , he and I were setting up/zeroeing a customers crossbow up @ 30yds . The second Robbin Hood I was not there. At any rate he sent the bolts into Horton. Horton sent them back incased in glass. He talks 'smack' to me everytime I rag on his shooting ability
. I tell him"even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then".
. I tell him"even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then".Brian Pfleuger
Moderator Emeritus
Of course, "hits hard" is a relative term. A very fast crossbow will generate perhaps 90 or 95 ft/lbs of energy point blank, more likely 75-80, or less, in a hunting set-up.
A 22LR generates about 350ft/lbs, give or take, and a "real" rifle generates 2500 ft/lbs or more.
(I'm not putting down bows or bow hunting, it's my favorite way to hunt, just putting it in perspective.)
blind squirrel...lol
That made me laugh. & I really appreciate all the info.
To pete, I understand that a cross bow isn't going to give the power a rifle will I just figured "hits hard" meant hits hard enough. Thank u for the general ballistic data. I don't knowif ^ sounds right but u know what I mean. Thanks fellas.
That made me laugh. & I really appreciate all the info.
To pete, I understand that a cross bow isn't going to give the power a rifle will I just figured "hits hard" meant hits hard enough. Thank u for the general ballistic data. I don't knowif ^ sounds right but u know what I mean. Thanks fellas.
rantingredneck
New member
In archery terms "hits hard" is hard enough to get a complete pass through on a good sized deer at acceptable ranges.
Last deer my FIL shot last season with his crossbow was a good sized doe. Probably 120lbs live weight. He hit her a little forward of the sweet spot and drove the bolt through both shoulders. He had an entry and exit wound but never found his bolt.
About a week later when we picked her up from the processor the processor says, "Oh by the way, I have something for you" and pulls out the last quarter of the bolt with fletching intact. It was the only thing left after smashing through both shoulders. We didn't find it when field dressing her as it was in the meat of the offside shoulder up under the hide. Front 3/4 or so of the bolt kept on trucking and we never found it.
She ran about 15 yds from where he hit her from a 35 yd shot.
Last deer my FIL shot last season with his crossbow was a good sized doe. Probably 120lbs live weight. He hit her a little forward of the sweet spot and drove the bolt through both shoulders. He had an entry and exit wound but never found his bolt.
About a week later when we picked her up from the processor the processor says, "Oh by the way, I have something for you" and pulls out the last quarter of the bolt with fletching intact. It was the only thing left after smashing through both shoulders. We didn't find it when field dressing her as it was in the meat of the offside shoulder up under the hide. Front 3/4 or so of the bolt kept on trucking and we never found it.
She ran about 15 yds from where he hit her from a 35 yd shot.
Swampghost
New member
Crossbows! What fun! My Dad once built one using a Mod. T leaf spring. At 100 yds. it would bury a 16" X 1/2" steel bolt into a palm tree. Just shoot # 4 or 5 rebar and it all depended on range and yaw, you really don't want to be the target.
U don't have to be handicap. They changed it where any1 can hunt with a crossbow. But I was just wondering about the felon thing. I just went to a hunter safety course & a game warden was there, told us that its legal to hunt with a crossbow now. But, I didn't think about asking about a felon.