By Glen Wunderlich Outdoor Columnist Member Professional Outdoor Media Association
The use of crossbows in Michigan’s woods will increase dramatically this hunting season with relaxed regulations paving the way for consumer stimulus via the devoted hunting community. In a nutshell, the Natural Resources Commission approved the use of crossbows for all bowhunters in southern Michigan this year. In addition, archers over 55 years of age are permitted to use them in northern Michigan, as well. With a burgeoning deer herd and hunter numbers in decline, (and hunter revenue, too) lawmakers took a bold move to address these issues.
I realize misconceptions exist, because I harbored some of them myself. But on a recent media shooting event in Missouri, I was able to get the facts from the International Hunter Education Association and was able to test one of the slickest crossbows going.
Here are some basics. Crossbows are believed to have existed for over 2000 years, well before gunpowder was introduced. By the mid 1970s short crossbow seasons were tested in Ohio and Arkansas to determine the impact on hunters and wildlife populations. Since then, seasons have been expanded and have provided greater opportunities for hunters.
To produce the same arrow speed as modern compound bows, crossbows must have more than twice the draw weight than that of compound bows. The reason is that “power stroke” – the distance the arrow is pushed – is less than half of the compound’s. The crossbow must have substantially more mass to absorb the shock so that it is not transferred to the shooter. Because of this, they make more noise when discharged than the compound bow.
Ballistic tests show that there is very little, if any, difference in the impact of broadheads shot from a crossbow and a compound bow. The trajectory of arrows shot from each is virtually identical in a 40-yard shot comparison.
What makes crossbows inviting, however, is the fact that they can be cocked at the beginning of a hunt, and therefore, remain at the ready without further effort and movement. With cocking aids such as hand cranks, hunters without the strength to pull back a compound bow or a crossbow are able to do so.
At the range, I was able to test a modern crossbow and was surprised at the ease of operation. It was no big deal to simply pull the string back with the proper use of my legs and arms. No special mechanism was necessary. Lee Zimmerman, Director of Market Development for Horton Manufacturing, gave clear instructions on the grip with the supporting hand: Keep the fingers away from the arrow’s flight groove or your texting chores would become a bit more difficult.
Next we performed a side-by-side comparison of Horton’s new Vision compound bow to a more conventional model. The Vision makes up a substantially smaller overall package than others because of its innovative reverse limb design. Arrow speed is advertised at 325 feet per second, and although not the fastest on the market, it might be the quietest! (And, what hunter doesn’t want a quiet bow?) Shooting it was a breeze, which is another great feature of crossbows and the learning curve is short.
As stated in a previous column, I like tools that can get the job done with minimal risk of errant shots. A decked-out crossbow fits the bill and I look forward to the day when I tote one afield.
