I have only shot a crossbow once and it sounded like it exploded when I pulled the trigger. That was many years ago and then I ended up at African Arrow Safaris in late Sept 2024 with a bow setup that was not working right. I shot it when I got there and it was fine, but then after 1 1/2 days of hunting, I spent the next 2 days in bed with a trip to Harry's family Doc. Got medicated and on the evening of the 5th day I wounded a Golden Wildabeest. No arrow, no blood, nothing. (My bow rode in the back of my PH's truck for 3 days, (my mistake) and something was not right with it.) I was disgusted and put the bow up and borrowed Harry's PSE crossbow. I put my 125 grain Ramcats on his bolts, shot it to see if it was on and it hit where I aimed out to 30 yards.
First evening out, I shot a big Blesbuck and then out of the same stand an old warrior of a Black Impala. Neither of them went over 50 yards. both shots were a little over 30 yards. The next morning Joe, my PH and my wife wnet to an elevated stand in some extremely thick brush over a water hole. The neat thing about this blind was it had 360 degree viewing. Saw a good Waterbuck, but I have a good one and some Kudu females. Harry said there was a 1 horn Blue Wildabeest that if I wanted I could shoot. And Dang if he did not come in and give me a broadside shot at 20 yards! Another one in the salt. Got him loaded and set back up in the elevated blind and then, one animal I really wanted came in to 18 yards, a big male Baboon. A short while later he is in the back of the truck headed for the salt.
My final animal was a absolute monster and a great ending to a great hunt, a beautiful Livingstone Eland. A 33 yard shot and we watched him fall!
Yes, the crossbow may be easier, BUT you still need to squeeze the trigger just like you do on a bow release. I am not the best at that and have suffered BAD target panic for years.
It was a blast shooting the crossbow and taking 5 animals with it. When I got back home and looked at my bow, yes the sight came loose, but I tightened it, but my arrows were still hitting way left on the target at 20 yards. AFter more inspection, I realized that the cable guard was bent in towards the string and may have been the cause of the way left arrow, plus after tightning the sight to what I thought was on the marks, my 20 yard pin was now my 32 yard pin. Hopefully after bow season I will get the bow out, take everything off and reset everything and go from there, but for this bow and general season, I will be using my crossbow. Hate me if you want, but at the age of 71+, the crossbow is something new to me after shooting a bow only since 1972!
First evening out, I shot a big Blesbuck and then out of the same stand an old warrior of a Black Impala. Neither of them went over 50 yards. both shots were a little over 30 yards. The next morning Joe, my PH and my wife wnet to an elevated stand in some extremely thick brush over a water hole. The neat thing about this blind was it had 360 degree viewing. Saw a good Waterbuck, but I have a good one and some Kudu females. Harry said there was a 1 horn Blue Wildabeest that if I wanted I could shoot. And Dang if he did not come in and give me a broadside shot at 20 yards! Another one in the salt. Got him loaded and set back up in the elevated blind and then, one animal I really wanted came in to 18 yards, a big male Baboon. A short while later he is in the back of the truck headed for the salt.
My final animal was a absolute monster and a great ending to a great hunt, a beautiful Livingstone Eland. A 33 yard shot and we watched him fall!
Yes, the crossbow may be easier, BUT you still need to squeeze the trigger just like you do on a bow release. I am not the best at that and have suffered BAD target panic for years.
It was a blast shooting the crossbow and taking 5 animals with it. When I got back home and looked at my bow, yes the sight came loose, but I tightened it, but my arrows were still hitting way left on the target at 20 yards. AFter more inspection, I realized that the cable guard was bent in towards the string and may have been the cause of the way left arrow, plus after tightning the sight to what I thought was on the marks, my 20 yard pin was now my 32 yard pin. Hopefully after bow season I will get the bow out, take everything off and reset everything and go from there, but for this bow and general season, I will be using my crossbow. Hate me if you want, but at the age of 71+, the crossbow is something new to me after shooting a bow only since 1972!
Comment