By Glen Wunderlich
Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)
As whitetail deer populations have grown over the years, so has the methodology to hunt them. In Michigan our Natural Resources Commission has recognized issues with high deer densities, and accordingly, has relaxed hunting regulations in an effort to control burgeoning deer numbers – especially in more highly populated areas of the state where car/deer accidents occur. One major step in this direction was to allow the general use of crossbows, when once they were prohibited for all but the physically challenged individuals.
Since then, other states have also allowed the use of crossbows and the added demand has led to numerous innovations to make archery hunting more effective and safe. Excalibur Crossbow of Kitchener, Ontario (https://excaliburcrossbow.com), which designs and builds crossbows, has invented a crossbow that gives hunters a second chance: The new TwinStrike™ with DualFire™ technology, is the first crossbow to feature the ability to fire two arrows in milliseconds.
Any hunter who hasn’t missed a shot now and then either hasn’t hunted much or hasn’t told the truth much, either. And, with the use of a crossbow afield, it’s nearly impossible to produce a follow-up shot before a startled whitetail disappears. Excalibur’s TwinStrike bow provides that second shot without the cumbersome chore of reloading.
The TwinStrike utilizes two match-grade 4-pound, frictionless triggers that operate independently to launch either of two arrows. This is accomplished with integrating a double rail and bow combination in one unit. The front trigger fires the top rail and the back trigger fires the bottom rail, much like a double-barrel shotgun. It employs a compact over/under setup that shoots arrows through the riser for increased consistency and accuracy.
Another fine aspect of the bow is its CeaseFire™ Technology, that ensures the crossbow will not fire unless an arrow is loaded and utilizes a reinforced safety and additional anti dry-fire insurance.
The TwinStrike not only gives archers an instant second shot but produces a rather fast speed of 360 feet-per-second. It is perfectly balanced and ultra-compact. To top it all off, the TwinStrike features industry leading accessories, including Excalibur’s new Rebolt™ Quiver and Overwatch™ Scope. Without accessories the bow weighs in at a mere 7.5 pounds. Its skeletonized design creates a crossbow that is up to a 1/2 pound lighter than competing single-shot crossbows. At a price of $1600 it comes with a lifetime guarantee with its second chance “insurance policy.”
The safety features alone make this bow a viable option for anyone entering the market or for those choosing to upgrade less-safe crossbows of the past. I cannot help but think how beneficial the built-in safety innovations would have been for my friend, Joe, who almost lost a thumb during a decocking procedure with a typical crossbow a few years ago.
