Compound bow or crossbow for hunting

[Robocok]

I'm thinking about getting either a compound bow or a crossbow for hunting deer and smaller animals.

I heard that Bear is a decent brand for beginners. These are the 2 that I'm looking at but I'm open to suggestions.

Bear Cruzer G2- $345
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bear-Arche...-/333812872158?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

Bear X Intense crossbow- $305
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bear-Arche...-/373243817278?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

Part of the reason I'm drawn to using the compound bow is that I feel like it requires more skill and practice and I am thinking about giving this to my 12 year old son as a Christmas gift. The crossbow seems badass and effective, but maybe it's too easy. The practice involved with getting proficient at using a compound bow could be good for him.

 

[Chesten_Hesten]

I have an old Browning Compound Just like this one. I've kilt all sorts of shit with it, its great. actually this one's for sale at GoodWill!

Since you were asking for advice I'll wait and not bid, but if you don't I may just grab this one as a spare. Seriously, this is a great deal!

https://www.shopgoodwill.com/Item/80357832

 

[Grrrr]

I bought my first bow earlier this year. I wanted something decent but not overly expensive. I did a lot of research and got this.
https://pickabow.com/infinite-edge-pro-review/

I've since changed several things on it. For my uses it has been great. It's super adjustable also so the draw length and pounds can be moved up or down for your kid.

And I didn't comment on the two brands you listed because I don't know much about them. Good luck man.

 

[Robocok]

Now I'm looking at recurves

 

[Robocok]

While that option appears to have ended, there are others currently up. This is a great resource for good deals. I didn't know that goodwill had their own website. Thank you

 

[Chesten_Hesten]

While that option appears to have ended, there are others currently up. This is a great resource for good deals. I didn't know that goodwill had their own website. Thank you

Me neither either. I ran upon it searching for a proper pic of my bow.

The old bows with curved limbs yield a bit of overdraw capability. I started with recurves and never fooled with sights, plus I hold three fingers under the arrow sorta like this goon. But I also cant the bow a bit like a Wild Indian, and used this book as sort've a coach https://kufudokan.org.au/documents/zen-in-the-art-of-archery.pdf

Now let's see some Hos wit Bows

 

[Robocok]

 

[jlagman]

Do you have a separate crossbow season where you are?

I personally don't care for crossbows; too much like a rifle, but lacks many of the benefits. It's quieter, that's about it. A crossbow will still have reduced range, versus a rifle, and will be significantly more of a pain-in-the-ass to lug around than either a rifle or bow.

 

[Robocok]

Do you have a separate crossbow season where you are?

I personally don't care for crossbows; too much like a rifle, but lacks many of the benefits. It's quieter, that's about it. A crossbow will still have reduced range, versus a rifle, and will be significantly more of a pain-in-the-ass to lug around than either a rifle or bow.

No, Tennessee is laid back unlike shitty California where I'm moving from.

 

[Gregolian]

Do you have a separate crossbow season where you are?

I personally don't care for crossbows; too much like a rifle, but lacks many of the benefits. It's quieter, that's about it. A crossbow will still have reduced range, versus a rifle, and will be significantly more of a pain-in-the-ass to lug around than either a rifle or bow.

Many places too if you hunt with a crossbow you have to hunt during the rifle season with it.

 

[RerouteToRemain]

I'm thinking about getting either a compound bow or a crossbow for hunting deer and smaller animals.

I heard that Bear is a decent brand for beginners. These are the 2 that I'm looking at but I'm open to suggestions.

Bear Cruzer G2- $345
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bear-Arche...-/333812872158?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

Bear X Intense crossbow- $305
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bear-Arche...-/373243817278?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

Part of the reason I'm drawn to using the compound bow is that I feel like it requires more skill and practice and I am thinking about giving this to my 12 year old son as a Christmas gift. The crossbow seems badass and effective, but maybe it's too easy. The practice involved with getting proficient at using a compound bow could be good for him.

Get a compound. Honestly don't buy online. Go to a place and set a budget. Have you or your son (whoever is going to be using it) try out a few bows and have the shop set it up for you. Draw length, draw weight, etc.

 

[wvboy]

Here in WV we can use a crossbow in the archery season. That law got changed a few years ago. Previously you had to have a doctors note to say that you couldn't use a compound bow (i.e. a shoulder/back/arm issue). I bought a crossbow when the law changed and haven't looked back. Yes, the compound is more fun to shoot and practice with and is a better learning tool, but I feel that the crossbow is the choice if all you care about is putting meat in the freezer. If it were my son or daughter I would buy a compound bow of any decent brand that has adjustability so that they can grow with it.

 

[jlagman]

Many places too if you hunt with a crossbow you have to hunt during the rifle season with it.

When I lived in Saskatchewan, they paired crossbow season with muzzleloader. They don't make the distinction between crossbow and bow, in Alberta, as far as I can tell, but again, I don't care much for crossbow, but that's just me.

I guess an upside is if @Robocok and his son are sharing it, they won't have to adjust draw length between the two of them.

 

[jlagman]

Also, if you're buying for a 12 year old but you perhaps expect him to "grow into it", the Diamond Infinite Edge (or whatever it's called this year) is a decent bow:

https://diamondarchery.com/bows/edge-sb-1-2/

Looks like you can adjust draw length and weight without a press.

 

[Roaming East]

Crossbow hunting is barely archery. You follow the same 'script' and tactics with a crossbow as you would a rifle, only difference is your range is shorter. Here in VA, you can hunt crossbow during our long ass archery season and the only thing i notice is dingleberries taking bad shots at deer. Gut punch a whitetail with a 30-06 and you still recover meat. Do that with an arrow and all you did was feed coyotes 3 days later.

 

[Robocok]

We're at the archery store getting a recurve for him. He's going with a 16lb to start. Eventually we'll swap out for a heavier limb when he gets the hang of it and has good form.

 

[jlagman]

We're at the archery store getting a recurve for him. He's going with a 16lb to start. Eventually we'll swap out for a heavier limb when he gets the hang of it and has good form.

This is probably too late and I'm not the best resource, but I kept reading get a riser that takes ILF limbs. They're supposed to be the most abundant.