Pennsylvania Game News - April 2009 - 57

actions, and 40 yards is a long shot. While many people think that a crossbow’s trajectory is similar to that of a rifle, nothing is further from the truth. With any of today’s high quality crossbows shooting in excess of 300 feet per second, you would have to aim five feet over the top of a deer standing at 60 yards to get a hit. That isn’t taking into consideration branches in the arrow’s path, the possibility of the deer moving at the shot or misjudging the distance. Therefore, when hunting with a crossbow, good hunting techniques are still required to get within the effective range of a whitetail, and THE RED DOT scope features multiple illuminated limiting your shot to 30 yards maxi- dot reticles that represent a different yardage, allowing the hunter to quickly match the dot to mum is strongly suggested. When the estimated range. hunting with a bow or a crossbow the question should never be, “How far can I are not really needed. The compound shoot?” It should always be, “How close can crossbows that use conventional comI get to the target before I shoot.” pound technology are the most common on the market. The Ideal Crossbow The newest addition to crossbow design The good news is that there are many is the Scorpyd Crossbow, which uses regood crossbows on the market at reason- verse draw technology and looks like a bow able prices. The bad news is that with the mounted backwards. The advantage of this expected explosion in crossbow sales, there latest technology is its increased power will be some cheap knock-offs on the mar- stroke (more about that later). A bow with ket as well. If you are buying a crossbow, reverse draw technology and 125-pound purchase it from a knowledgeable dealer draw weight will shoot the same speed as a and, preferably, a pro shop that can make crossbow of normal design drawing 175 sure the bow is set up properly and that pounds. This means the reverse draw techyou have the proper accessories. nology crossbow is easier to cock, shoots There are three basic crossbow designs with less shock and vibration and, conseon the market: recurve, compound and quently, less noise, while still delivering the those with reverse draw technology. Basi- energy needed for big game. cally, the recurve is just that, a crossbow with a set of recurve limbs. Often over- Draw Weight and Power Stroke looked, the recurve is a good basic design. Crossbow draw weights vary between It tends to be lighter and quieter but just 100 and 225 pounds, with the most comas deadly and accurate as its compound mon hunting weights falling between 150 brothers. and 175 pounds. However, draw weight is Remember, because a crossbow is held not the only consideration. Power stroke in the drawn position by a trigger mecha- is a determining factor when it comes to nism, the shooter does not have to hold speed, flat trajectory and downrange back the drawing weight, so the advantages punch. Without getting into a long inof let-off as offered by the compound bow volved technical discussion, power stroke APRIL 2009 57

Pennsylvania Game News - April 2009

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