Study: Crossbow Users Aren’t Newbies

A common belief among traditional bow-hunters is that the majority of crossbow hunters are gun-hunters with no previous bow-hunting experience. That is not true, according to a 2009 survey of new crossbow hunters.

Of the 1,637 hunters surveyed, more than 72 percent said they had previously hunted with compound bows, and almost 18 percent said they had hunted with recurves.

The survey also indicated that 75 percent also hunted with rifles, while 74 percent said they hunted with shotguns. More than 64 percent hunted with muzzleloaders, and 29 percent hunted with handguns.

Only 1 percent of those surveyed said they had no prior hunting experience. Based off of those results, the survey, conducted by TenPoint Technologies, indicates that a majority of crossbow hunters are multi-season deer hunters.

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

I wonder if they got the age of each of the respondents in that survey.  The reason I ask that is because I would guess that if that big a percentage were previous compound bow hunters, it would tell me that there are either a lot of guys getting too old to pull a compound bow and want to keep hunting or there are a lot of lazy people out there that think it is easier to hunt with them without the practice a compound takes.

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

I have waited awhile to comment on this issue. 
 
I have had major shoulder problems that have prevented me from shooting or hunting with my compound, and it has completely bummed me out.  Still, I would rather sit out an entire bow season or two than hunt with a crossbow.  If I am not able to ever pull a compound bow again I probably will give up bowhunting altogether.  For me, shooting a crossbow and killing an animal with one would take all the fun out of bowhunting. 
 
I think the new rage in crossbow use comes down to two things: The large sums of money that the crossbow companies are paying hunting "celebrities" to endorse their use during bow seasons and the fact that people are just getting plain old lazy and want an easier way to "bow hunt", and no longer want to take the time it takes to practice in order to get proficient with a compound or recurve.  That to me is sad.
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve
 
 

Y'all know my feelings on this and they are pretty much the same as Steve's. I have bought 2 of them in the last few yrs. One for my dad and one for my wife, both of whom are not able to pull a reg bow back due to shoulder problems. I enjoy hunting with both of them and in that respect I have no issues, but it is as we have said in the past , the lazy sob's that run out and buy one and call themselves "Bowhunters" that really erk me. JMO.

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

I think I would agree with what you guys are saying, especially the purist that is coming out when Steve posts on this subject.  I think they fill the bill for someone who is handicapped and wants to continue in the sport, but anyone who just buys one to circumvent the practice it takes to use the traditional or compound bows does draw my ire as well guys!!!

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

Steve, Do you hunt with any other kind of weapon ? Rifle, Shotgun, ML. Or bow only.