Category Archives: Crossbow for Hunting and Target

Setting My Sights On An Adventure Filled Maine Bear Hunt – Updated

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An Adventure filled Solo Maine Black Bear hunt is in my plans for September 2024. Come on along as I film some video clips too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_black_bear

 I have not hunted black bear for quite some time, but it can be very exciting with a good outfitter and remote land access. I estimate the weight of this bear in the above image near 400 pounds. 

What is even better is that very often you will see more than one bear or two or more on a 6 day hunt.

Most hunting is done in afternoon and evening on ground blinds or tree stands over bait. 

Baiting is a great way to hunt bear, in particular, because you can be selective; e.g., to pass or shoot a smaller or larger adult bear.

The tough part is to gage the size of a bear coming to bait. Often, bears, particularly big ones, come to bait just minutes before dark, making judging size, and fur color even harder.

I am very pleased with my 10 Point Turbo Crossbow (390 – 400 fps) and my NAP Killzone Cut-on-Contact 100 grain mechanical broadheads.  Bears often hit with a razor sharp broadhead in the heart/lung area, will run flat out for 10 seconds and then collapse deader-than-a-door-nail… never knowing what bit them. Too far forward may result in the arrow hitting the scapula bone and tough tracking so the shot must be true. 

My Equipment, a 10 Point 400 fps Turbo S1 Crossbow Arrow Flight with Killzone Broadhead or my Browning 7mm Rem Mag.

Killzone provides a practice blade. It isn’t easy to assemble the practice blade but once done, it works. Note; that the there is a pencil point type head that you can get as well for this broadhead but i prefer a cut-on- contact point.

Haven’t killed a bear with the Killzone head yet, but we shall see. Many experts suggest fixed blade broadheads on bear. I have some to experiment with as well.

I will have my backup Kimber 45 ACP and my Browning Speed 7mm Rem Mag Rifle along with me as well.

X-Bolt Speed

I called to further discuss rifle at 75 yards vs bow at 20 yds and will decide when I get there. Rifle setups are further away from bait thus allowing less human odor at dusk near bait. Big bruins didn’t get big by being stupid. They use their nose and minor noise to determine when it is safe to approach bait, often after dark. Take away noise and smells at the bait site and maybe enough to to make a show. 

What will I do with the hide, skull and meat? If the bear is large, I will make a rug and have the skull cleaned. I am a meat-eater and home-made butcher and self- trained chef. Bear fat can be rendered for lubricating/rust protection and also the lard makes a great ingredient for pie crust. Bear meat and fat was a real commodity in early America for its versatility in cooking/frying and for both lubrication and rust prevention and even lamp oil.  

My Outfitter “Foggy Mountain Guide Service” hunts deep in the wild woods of Maine. Driving from southern New Hampshire to my Maine hunt location will take me about 5 hours, where I’ll spend up to six days hunting.

https://www.maine.gov/ifw/hunting-trapping/hunting/laws-rules/licenses-permits.html

Fishing during morning and mid-day will be my pass-time before the hunt. 

Stay posted for more on this Adventure filled hunt.

Good Hunting!

© Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved.

 

Arrow Hit Where On The Deer?

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So you shot at a deer with Bow/Crossbow. It all happened so fast and you are not sure if the hit was in the vitals or in the gut. Here is an indicator wrap or a wipe (if you dislike the wrap) to tell you the kind of hit that was made. Wipe the arrow and it changes color. This helps you plan for a recovery of game, to follow now or wait hours or overnight before following up. I like the idea and I will likely buy the wipe type indicator for this fall.

https://www.gutcheckindicators.com/shop-now

We all want to recover and eat the game we hunt, here is a tool that can help.

Good Hunting!

Crossbow Targets – Some Thoughts

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Let me break bow/crossbow portable targets into two categories, bagged targets for field points and block like foam targets which can be used for both field points and broadheads. Bag targets often cost less and foam types often cost much more. What do you really need?

Bag type targets such as the Morrell Crossbow Yellow Jacket YJ-425 are cost effective $30 to $40 dollars for field points and the arrow/bolts are easy to remove.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001RE6ZPW?tag=sa-b2c-new-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1

Morrell Yellow Jacket YJ-425 Field Point Bag Archery Target - for Crossbows and Compound Bows. Packaging may vary

 

On-line customer comments say it can handle 400 fps crossbow bolts. Wow! Cost effective and easy to remove the arrow? I like that! Most foam targets really hold on to your arrow and significant effort is often needed to retrieve the arrow.

Foam type targets on the other hand, are great for both field points and broadheads but they often cost up to 2 or 4 times more than bag targets and the arrows are harder to pull out of the foam blocks.  The advantage of this target however is that “one target does it all”.

Example: The BLOCK Vault below does it all for $95 dollars. But you often will have a tougher time removing arrows and in some cases you will need an bolt/ arrow puller for fast bolts stuck deep.

https://www.amazon.com/Block-Vault-Archery-Polyfusion-Technology

Block Vault 4-Sided Archery Target with Polyfusion Technology - Available in 4 Sizes!

 

 

Many quality foam and bag type targets are rated these days, e.g. 300 350, 400 450 fps etc., so look for the speed rating!

This summer I will likely purchase a very cost effective field point bag target for general target practice. I have 2 foam block targets now but hate to pull the arrows out!

Hope that helps!

©2019

 

 

 

New Excalibur Takedown Crossbows and Cases?

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Take it from me, its worth checking out these new TD crossbows like the Assassin 400 but there is so much more… Wow!

. I will try to get one this coming spring to test.

If you are in the market for a compact crossbow that is designed to be a takedown model and the bow portion easily reassembled, take a hard look at Excalibur’s new 2020 TD crossbows that can be assembled and disassembled in seconds and still maintain their accuracy.

The new 2020 Excalibur TD (takedown crossbows) with QUICKLock™ technology are here and reassemble/un-assemble in seconds such as the Excalibur Assassin TD, Suppressor, or the Micro 360 TD.

https://www.excaliburcrossbow.com/crossbows

 

A softcase to store the crossbow is available. The only thing they need is a hard crossbow case that can be ordered separately for air travel. My guess is that a hardcase is in the works.

 

Check it out!

Good Hunting!

 

 

 

 

Crossbow Hunting – Gone Wild!

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Barnett Whitetail Hunter II Crossbow | Shoots 350 FPS | Includes 4x32 scope, rope cocking device, light weight quiver & two 20 inch Headhunter arrows

Barnett Whitetail Hunter II

First and foremost, as millions of bow/gun hunters get into their senior years, like me, they have difficulty with shoulders, arms, muscles and even eyes thus pulling and holding a traditional bow or compound bow more difficult as compared to the crossbow which still employs stick and string and razor sharp broadheads.

Hunting is not just a pass-time for me, it is a way of life. And for millions of Americans too. We eat the animals we harvest. Wild game meat is the quintessential organic meat, no additives, no hormones. In today’s international food markets that is a very important lesson in raising a family. Safe meat to eat!

The hunter that loves the bow and broadhead will gravitate to the crossbow as prices vary widely from introductory to advanced hunter/shooters from say $300 to $600 and far above. Below the Ravin R29 Crossbow; Cost $2549. Among a long list of other great manufacturers

https://ravincrossbows.com/product/r29-crossbow/

Secondly, the technology of Crossbows is in the midst of a revolution with advanced space age material recurves, compound and reverse compound technology for faster and quieter crossbows. Crank like devices to cock and decock your crossbow, quiet technology to silence the oft louder noise that crossbows make. Rifle like scopes are the norm today with crosshairs and distance hash marks. See the PSE crossbow below Cost $295.00.

https://www.psearchery.com/crossbows/

Coalition® Crossbow

Companies that dealt with just traditional and compound bows realized perhaps that they were losing market share too so they embraced the changes and here we are today. Other companies were always in love with crossbows and led the way.

The crossbow is more in line with a rifle once cocked and loaded. Yes the hunter still has to cock the crossbow, but for most hunters that can be accomplished with some effort or with a string cocking device. See the Excalibur crossbow below

Homepage

Speeds of 300 plus feet per second are the norm and 400 plus fps are at the higher end. Energies delivered are often in the 80 and 90 ft-lbs that can harvest all North American Game with common sense distances attributed to today’s compound bows with a skilled shooter/hunter. Many larger species including elephant have fallen to a well placed broadhead from a crossbow.

Crossbows From Small Game to Elephants

Arrow and broadhead technology has advanced as well bringing newly designed carbon fiber arrows, broadheads and illuminated knocks to see where the arrow struck. This fast paced technology is just mind boggling. The Rage™ mechanical broadhead left and Lumenock™ nocks that illuminate for examples. Note that I do not advocate these as I have not tested them. I do favor fixed blade broadheads.

RAGE Hypodermic Trypan Titanium Broadhead 100 Grain 2" CutLumenok Lumen-Arrow 20-Inch Carbon Bolts with Crescent Bolt End (3-Pack), Green

What is important to know , for me at least, is that crossbows are leapfrogging the technology from year to year making a three year old model seem ancient.

A must for me in New Hampshire is that the crossbow can easily be cocked and de-cocked in the woods or at the beginning or end of your hunting day without having to shoot an arrow into a target making a racket. Or have to shoot a heavy de-cocking arrow at days end.

There are numerous websites for you to research. Just enter your thoughts on your favorite search engine. It is just Wild out there!!

Good Hunting!

©2019 All Rights Reserved

 

Lighted Crossbow Arrow Nock Kit Kurfuffle

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Today’s crossbows really throw and arrow so fast that they are often hard to see in dim light when deer hunting. Some on-line adds for lighted nocks peaked my interest for my crossbow arrow/bolts, particularly Luminok™.  I bought a pack of three for 30 dollars for my Easton Firebolt Diablo bolts (EXCF) and tried to install them but the hard part wasn’t the Lumenok it was the epoxied aluminum inserts in my Easton Carbon shaft. No matter what I did they did not come out.  Heating with water and pulling and/or the 1/8th steel rod failed and I damaged arrows too… a kurfuffle to be sure.

Lumenok EXCF Flat Lighted Crossbow Nock

 

The best solution, for safety sake, and far less frustration is for us to buy the “same exact arrow and length” already professionally fitted with Lumenok’s. Below is what I should have bought! Lesson learned!

https://www.excaliburcrossbow.com/accessories/arrows-accessories/diablo-18-illuminated-carbon-arrow-3pk

Be sure to measure your Front of Center (FOC) for the broadhead weight you shoot because the Lumenok is heavier on the wrong end. I bought some 5 grain brass arrow washers to add to my 100 grain broadhead if needed. Cheap but valuable for moving FOC to the front.

Good Luck and Good Hunting!

© 2019

 

 

Eating Russian Boar – Best Pork Chops on the Planet

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Recently I hunted boar again in Maine as you can see from recent articles. These were mixed breeds that are part Russian Boar.

A few years back I took a larger boar (female) that was said to be Russian.

Below the meat of the Russian boar was more beef like with fat marbled throughout.

These Russian pork chops when grilled were the finest tasting meat my wife and I have ever experienced in our lives. OMG, my wife went bananas over the meat which is why she sent me off to get another one. The meat of the latest boar was not as fatty as this one and it tastes great but not quite as good as the first.

We think that it is the fat marbling that drove our taste buds insane when fire grilled to a blackened crust below.

For my wife and I, pork will never be the same. This wild boar meat was a true culinary experience.  My latest boar meat is still over the top as compared to domestic pig. So I will go hunt one up instead of the pork at the grocery store. Just shoot a fat one!

Good Hunting

© 2019

New PSE Thrive 400 Crossbow – Out of the Box

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https://www.pse-archery.com/pse-thrive-400-crossbow/

For all the years I shot bow and arrow for hunting deer and 3D,  I have never used a crossbow because I loved the basic bow so much and could shoot it well in long bow, recurve and compound. After I crossed the 60 mark, my shoulders and arms and eyes had minds of their own. The rifle has always been my favorite for longer distances thus after 60 it became my hunting tool of choice. I thought that perhaps I could be satisfied to give up the bow, arrow and my favorite Muzzy broadheads.

Along comes the crossbow which is half rifle and half bow for me to test like this one from PSE.

I chose the PSE Thrive because the PSE name and quality have been around for many years and I am familiar with PSE Compound bows. Second, I wanted a bow that had a CNC machined barrel which launches consistently tight groups yet does not rob my wallet (MSRP $499-$599) . Sorry, I am not spending over $1000 on a Crossbow at this time. I need to hunt and practice with an affordable crossbow.

Why the 400 series? Well, I think the Thrive 365 and 400 are just the ticket to reach out to the farthest 40 yards with plenty of speed for a slight miscalculation in arrow drop and energy for penetration on all North American game. That is provide the hunter can string load the 175lb bow correctly and safely.

The Thrive came in a double cardboard box to protect the contents. As all crossbows do, they come un-assembled. It is important to verify the contents of the box before getting started in the crossbow assembly which is very straightforward.

The assembly comes with Allen wrenches but was lucky enough to have my own set of fold out Allen wrenches making it easier to tighten screws. Basically you take the bow portion and intuitively place it on the square and round barrel assembly. It took some finagling to get the barrel inserted but once that was done you added the foot stirrup over the front of the bow and aligned it with the large bolt hole that holds the bow to the barrel. Now it is a crossbow! Time to assemble this far is in minutes. Next to assemble the quiver on the picatinny rail underside but had to move the fore-stock back a few notches so the quiver mount would sit flat. Next the scope came with scope rings attached. Nice! And easily.mounted on the pre-installed scope rail. I had to adjust the verticle of the crosshairs just slightly and tighten the scope rings.

The string rope that came with it, I discovered was too long and I could not load the bow as I pulled it toward my chest. Bobby Vargas at PSE sent me a YouTube to shorten the rope and then I could pull and load it. See below.

There is an automatic safety that when the bow is cocked, it engaged the safety. Like a rifle, you must push the safety off to FIRE.

I made my own target out of shrink wrap, cardboard and a large zippered vinyl cold food insulated bag . My first arrow bolt struck and the shrink wrap did the job of absorbing the impact with my “block” as a backstop.

I created this target so I can easily pull the arrow/bolts. It works! I have shot 1 bolt at 20 yards and 6 bolts at 30 yards with the crosshair markings and adjusted the scope easily up and left/right. And it didn’t even bother my neighbors. I can hit a baseball size target at 30 yards so far on day 1. I will test this crossbow and write several articles so you can read my evaluation.

Well that is it for the Out-of-the-Box! So far I give it a solid “A”

Next is to shoot it at longer distances with a rest such as a monopod, bipod, tripod and bench rest. Then to shoot broadheads.

Maybe one for you to think about for Christmas!

Good Hunting!

 

 

A case for Crossbows in Archery Season in New Hampshire – Updated

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Has the Crossbow as a hunting tool made a deer population control conservation impact above and beyond the long bow, recurve and compound bows. The answer is a resounding yes, in many states that recognize it as a state of the art archery hunting tool. In fact, there are more deer taken in Ohio by crossbow than by other archery means. The crossbow is particularly useful in urban residential areas with high deer densities. This is because the crossbow like today’s compound bows make little noise and does not bother the neighbors.

QDMA’S RECOMMENDATIONS 2018 from page 16

https://www.qdma.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Whitetail_Report_2018.pdf 

NEW HAMPSHIRE IS NOW GREEN. CROSSBOWS ARE LEGAL as specified in new Regs.

“The QDMA is dedicated to ensuring
the future of white-tailed deer, wildlife
habitat and our hunting heritage. As such,
we are more interested in managing deer
and habitat appropriately and protecting
our hunting heritage than debating use of
specific weapons. If the use of crossbows
positively impacts a deer management program
and helps recruit and retain more
hunters, then we fully support it.”

 

I was a traditional recurve archer most of my young life till the compound bow came into vogue in the 1970’s  but archery took a back seat when I had a shoulder issue in 2012 and could no longer get my bow to full draw. Note the Compound bow was seen as a usurper of traditional archery too.  It was disappointing as all get-out to not be able to shoot my bow.

If I can shoot a rifle then I can shoot a crossbow. In addition, the same hunting guidelines and distances (40 yards in open terrain only)  that apply to archery are the same for the crossbow.

The same similarity exists  as the traditional muzzleloader of the revolutionary war began a muzzleloader season and is now supplanted nearly 100 %  by in-line muzzle loaders with a 209 shotgun primers and used for hunting most big game on the planet like elk, moose and brown bear. The crossbow is no less the same.

New Hampshire is suffering loss of revenue in hunter volume and license sales.  Think out of the Box!!

Further that David Risley is an avid deer hunter in Ohio along with over 140,000 buckeyes take to the woods with a Crossbow. Note that as of 2009 David Risley is Ohio’s Wildlife Management Chief. Ohio hunters and non resident hunters are keeping the financial coffers full with the embrace of the crossbow AND serving the conservation effort of whitetails and human/auto collisions alike.

I personally know of 5 female deer that live between houses in southern NH. Next year there will be 15 deer between houses. Who is going to harvest and consume this surplus deer that live among houses and where the deer aids as a tick borne vector which places humans and our children on the brink of an epidemic. Note that the Coyotes live with the deer too. Hey what happened to my pooch? He just disappeared or was pulled from a leash and eaten.

I give local seminars in Lyme Disease prevention. Most of us today have been or know someone that had a bullseye rash and associated flu symptoms later if not caught to  manifest into brain dysfunction, paralysis and joint pain and death.

The state of New Hampshire does an otherwise great job in managing the central and northern herds but there are growing pockets of deer in Southern NH that could use the Crossbow especially in Rockingham County to keep the deer in check and provide added recreation in the archery season and meat for the freezer.

As QDMA states: “If the use of crossbows positively impacts a deer management program and helps to recruit and retain more hunters, then we fully support it. And I support it as a QDMA member.