Buying a bow/crossbow

[skipdup]

I'm going to buy either a bow or a crossbow but know nearly nothing about either one.

Usage will mostly be thinning the out-of-control javelina herd on the in-laws ranch and for fun/target shooting. At least, that's the current plan - which may change once I get into it.

So, can anyone give me a "10,000 foot" comparison between the two? Does one have further range or accuracy than the other? Is one generally more lethal? I just don't know what I don't know.

Also, I've seen threads here which speak about the better bow manufacturers (Mathews, Hoyt, etc). But, does anyone know who makes good crossbows?

Many thinks,
Skip

[charleskieffner]

BEAR or PSE(tucson,az) work for me!

you will smell the school of pigs way before you see them if your not glassing them. they cannot see, perfect hearing and smell. they are all TEETH AND ********* when cornered. do not use dogs, unless you hate your dogs. and yes they will flat kick ass on the meanest biggest baddest dog you have!

so to eradicate a species that lives and dies in a one mile square area............you need to do the following.......

1) cut off water supply.

2) if possible cutoff food supply

3) set up stand w/40yds clear opening 360 degrees around you. your max effective range w/bow is 40yds........period!

4) place dogfood by stand

5) have lots of arrows and broadheads


or...........buy ruger integral suppressed .22magnum(around $800), get federal lic. for suppressed weapon and shoot the POO out of them!


or IMPORT quanity (1) ACME NORTH AMERICAN MOUNTAIN LION! he will take care of things in very rapid short order!


to show you how tough a pig is??? my 57# javelina on the wall at home, took (3) .308 rounds and (2) ,357mag rounds before his lights went out permanently!

i deal with them EVERYDAY HERE!

[skipdup]

Thanks Charles. I'll look at BEAR & PSE.

Is 40 yrd range the same for both bow and cross bow?

Can't cut off food/water... this is a whitetail ranch.

Taken from last years helicopter survey... a state biologists, who's captured over 40 lions, puts this lion at 170 - 180 lbs, by far the largest he'd ever seen.



Here's one of the larger lion meals... a 180 class buck... He seems to prefer venison over pork.


A suppressed .22 was actually my first choice. I looked into it, but it's just too hard to get local approval here.

I've actually gotten pretty proficient at taking them with my .22. One in the ear drops them mighty fast. But, too much noise for the deer. Which is why I'm looking for alternatives.

Thanks again,
Skip

[SlowToady]

Can you even use a crossbow? In IL, unless you are disabled (ex, legally blind) you can't hunt with a crossbow IIRC. Don't know how it is in your neck of the woods though.

If you're not a good shot, a crossbow might be more accurate simply because of the rifle like hold and the ability to mount a scope --just like a rifle. If you're good with a bow, though, they are also extremely accurate. More so than 90% of people shooting them are capable of.

Personally, I would get a fast, accurate bow (like a Hoyt Trykon, Mathews Switchback XT, Martin Razor-X, etc), setup with some good arrows (I shoot Carbon eXpress 200s) and a good set of broadheads (ex: shuttle T-lok).

As for effective distance, it's really limited by your ability to shoot. For example, my outfitter shot an antelope though the heart at 70yds. He's a pro though, he shoots for a living. Javelina are pretty small (compared to an antelope..) so I'd probably set a limit at 45yds for myself. With a lot of practice. Get one of the McKenzie Javelina's and shoot the hell out of it from all sorts of distances and positions, that way you have many different possible scenarios in mind while shooting real ones.

You say it's a whitetail ranch? Where are you located?

[skipdup]

Slow- Great info... thanks!!

Can you even use a crossbow?

I realized I wasn't sure so checked the state site... Yes, during general open season. If disabled, you can during archery season as well. TX is quite liberal when it comes to hunting.

Where are you located?

The ranch is 3 hours due south of San Antonio.

Anyone know anything about TenPoint Crossbows ? They seem popular...

- Skip

[vash]

i love my new mathews switchback XT. i have taken to smashing my arrows with another arrow. my groups are getting that tight. i agree with the above, you cannot hunt legally with a crossbow, unless you are disabled.

shop at a good shop that will fit a bow to you, and have a good selection. have fun, those critters are exciting.

[charleskieffner]

since this is a ranch, what are game laws? dont mean to lead you astray legal wise. no suppressed weapons allowed to take game in arizona ever. but tell that to the ranchers everywhere.

i would have game and fish drop off a few mtn kitties and let nature take its course. shooting pig w/bow and arrow is fun and entertaining to say the least. but should you wound one, YOU really have a problem on yours hands.

what about using remington sub-sonic ammo? since it sounds like your fairly close range, when pigs around.