I'm moving to Kentucky and it has a 15 day modern rifle season but a 4 month crossbow season so I figure that one of my deer management tools will have to be a crossbow.

I am totally ignorant about crossbows and any kind of bolts and broadheads and am not afraid to admit it so any information will help me. I don't see a crossbow/archery forum so I figured that some of you guys who hunt in the mid-west and south would know.

Can you recommend a good quality deer hunting crossbow, bolts and broadheads?

I will need it to be ambidextrous (left hand friendly) and capable of mounting different types of optics (scope, red dot, maybe even thermal sight for coyotes, etc.)

Thanks,

There are a lot of them out there.

I have a 150 dollar Barrett works well.

I also have a six point recurve works well.

Both are very accurate.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
There are a lot of them out there.

I have a 150 dollar Barrett works well.

I also have a six point recurve works well.

Both are very accurate.

Yes, that's why I'm asking for help, the choice is mind boggling.

Being left handed, I don't know if all the makers are lefty friendly. I've got a bum shoulder that will prevent me from drawing a bow so that's why I'm going with the cross bow. The price point is the least important factor if I get a good quality crossbow that I can shoot accurately to 50 - 70 yards, which I read is a reasonable range for an experienced shooter.

I don't mind paying for quality but I don't want to pay for a Rolls Royce if I can do everything that I want to do with my Ram truck.

Last year I bought a Bear Legion 370. I don't think the brand is that important but here are the features I wanted-

A velocity less than 400 FPS: Make that in between 350 and 400 fps. My reasoning is that over 400 fps the arrows get torn up a bit more and I do not think the speed is that crucial once you get above 350. More practice will compensate more than enough for any slight increase in trajectory. Mine has a 175 lb draw weight listed which is not too hard to cock.

Collapsible butt stock: Hunting in october is different than hunting in january around here, it's nice to have a stock that adjusts to a sweatshirt or a pair of insulated coveralls.

AR style pistol grip: And then I put a steeper aftermarket grip on it. I find for hunting wearing heavy clothing a steeper angle on a pistol grip allows you to tuck your elbow in and is noticeably faster to get up and on target, at least for me.

I have a friend who likes his so much he hasn't used a gun since they became legal to use. I asked him what his max range is and he says 70 yards also.

I don't know anything about crossbows, but you might find some answers here;
http://forums.accuratereloadin...rums/a/frm/f/1021043

I use a Ten-Point cross bow. Nice item. Standard archery broad heads work with crossbows.

Brands are rather unimportant as there are lots of good choices out there. BTW- Welcome to flyover country!

I suggest you give a hard look at the Excalibur line of Xbows. They're recurves so their much simpler to operate and maintain. You can perform any maintenance yourself without a bow press. Need to change your string? No problem with Excalibur. If you're shooting a compound you will be heading to the nearest archery store.

I've been using one for many years without any problems. Excalibur customer service is very good as well. Accuracy is great.

There’s a world of information on Excalibur’s forum.

I've got a ten point crossbow and love it ..
It was a package deal all set up and included everything you need ...scope , bolts , quiver , etc.... ready to hunt ...about $1000.00

I've shot a few deer with it and it's lethal

I briefly owned one and found it so heavy and bulky that I got rid of it. You can spend $200 to $2,000 on these without batting an eye.
I recommend perusing the threads in the crossbow forum at archerytalk.com.

https://www.archerytalk.com/forums/

I’ve had excellent results with a Ravin R9 crossbow. It comes complete with a top of the line scope that once zeroed for 20 yards has stadia lines all the way out to 100 yards. It has a crank mechanism and can be de-cocked at the end of the day. Not cheap but as the old saying about quality equipment goes ….”Buy once, cry once.

Excalibur is good and customer service is excellent. Also check crossbow Nation web site.

As long as it flings a bolt down range with accuracy.

With enough power to drive a bolt through a a critter it well work.

I love my ten point. I have probably killed over 50 deer with it.

Where in Kentucky?

I’m in Danville, in the central region of the state.

Buy an Excalibur Matrix 380. (380 FPS) It will have to be used, but Excalibur will still honor the warranty.

That bow has plenty of power, is very accurate and you can do anything for maintenance or repair it might need. I have killed 40 deer with a Matrix 330 (330 FPS)

Buy some NAP Spitfire (3 blade heads) or some NAP Spitfire Double Cross (4 blade heads) and use them. Keep your shots inside 25 yards and you'll have venison to eat.

Sorry for ignoring this guys but I just spent the last 2 1/2 weeks on vacation overseas and didn't log on here once.

Thanks for the recommendations, I'll start looking at them.

We just bought 70 acres near Cynthiana so I'm about and hour and a half north of you, Colin.

This one has a barrel to shoot pellets too

A few weeks ago a friend gave me one of these.

An air rifle which can be converted to shoot arrows.

Have not tried it yet.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
This one has a barrel to shoot pellets too

A few weeks ago a friend gave me one of these.

An air rifle which can be converted to shoot arrows.

Have not tried it yet.

That's interesting but Kentucky has different requirements for air guns including minimum caliber requirements of .50 caliber ( I think)