Beginning with the 2009 to 2010 hunting seasons, the Pennsylvania Game Commission gave final approval for the crossbow to be used statewide for archery hunting. This approval includes both early and late deer seasons, bear season, as well as small game, fall and spring turkey, elk, and firearms season for bear and deer.
As they have become more legalized in Pennsylvania and more popular among hunters, the market has been flooded with crossbows by old, established manufacturers as well as new companies entering the market.
A crossbow is merely a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles, short arrows called bolts. They have been used in Asian and European warfare as early as the 4th century BC. Present day crossbows are used almost extensively for hunting, providing extreme precision and accuracy. It appeals to hunters who want to expand their hunting seasons, to new and younger hunters getting introduced to the sport, and to older hunters or those with physical limitations who can no longer draw a regular bow.
Learning to use a crossbow is quite simple but, like any other hunting weapon, there are several things to consider before purchasing one. They can be quite expensive as you add features so shop wisely before pouring money into one. You don’t want to spend close to $1,000 on something only to get it home and decide you don’t like it.
First, shoot it. Make sure you actually take any prospective new bow through its paces to check out all the features you might want or not want. Bowhunters like a lightweight bow, same is true for crossbow hunters. Extremely lightweight crossbows, however, can be difficult to hold steady for a shot. Determine the type of hunting you intend to do before deciding. If you are sitting on a stand, a heavier bow might be fine, but if you are intending to use this new crossbow on a big game hunt for elk or other game where you will be hiking or climbing, go with the lighter unit.
With the popularity of crossbows has also come the increase in technology. You can get lightning fast bows with cams, pulleys and cables but these all make the bow harder to draw. Crossbows with traditional recurve-type limbs are also quite fast and a lot simpler than those with cams or wheels. A relatively new player in the crossbow market is the Kodabow, manufactured here in Pennsylvania. This West Chester-based company makes recurve crossbows that are both fast and accurate. They are also simple in design, often a better choice.
Another thing to consider when buying a crossbow is how quiet it is. The more parallel the limbs the quieter it will shoot. There are also aftermarket noise-dampening devices available which attach to the limbs.
Choosing the proper bolts for your crossbow takes as much forethought as buying the bow itself. The proper broadhead depends somewhat on the type of hunting you do, but is mostly a personal preference. A fixed blade broadhead is all one piece and has a cutting edge that extends the entire length of the point. Those with replaceable blades have a shorter cutting edge but the blades can easily be replaced if damaged or dull. Mechanical broadheads have blades that open on contact. These fly most like field points.
With more and more opportunities for hunting with crossbows, now may be the time for you to jump in. Just make sure you do your homework, ask questions and pick the right crossbow for you. This will be a major investment. Make it pay off in the field.
