Easier? crossbow or compound hunting

[Pydpiper]

I am a believer that a bow hunter is just that, a guy or gal who has the ability to get close enough to a deer to slip an arrow through it, I never looked at it as one tool being easier or harder once the greatest accomplishment has been made, the up close and personal aspect.
Understanding of course that this is a crossbow forum and the response may be a little biased, but I can't help but wonder how many people focus more on the hunt than the last few seconds when the arrow is released.

Excluding physical limitations, would you consider a crossbow easier to hunt with than a compound? (not talking about longbows) In a blind it doesn't matter, every movement is masked, in a stand you are still primarily out of sight and afforded a bit more range of movement.
If you respond, please include how you hunt, ground, blind, stand..

[Pydpiper]

I'll start, I never pay attention to what I am hunting with until the moment of truth, when I hunt with compound guys I use my compound, when I hunt with crossbow guys I use my crossbow, when I am alone I just take whatever winks at me before I walk out the door. I get a comfort out of sitting at the base of a tree deer hunting like I do when I turkey hunt, the crossbow is way easier to do that with. Getting there, I would much rather be carrying a compound.
Trekking the woods, compound is way easier and shoots flatter..
I guess I don't really have an opinion, I don't see a difference. If you can't get close to a deer you may as well be holding a tennis racket, and if you can get close to deer it doesn't matter what you have, you are a bowhunter.

[MADMAX2]

Crossbow is easier for me in that other than sighting it in I do not neet to practice as much as my compound I have shot longbows instictive since I was twelve years old and would practice almost everyday I don't have that luxury anymore hence the crossbow is my tool of choice today

[NewGuy]

I use my compound early season when i dress light and go to the crossbow once i start dressing heavier. I much prefer carrying the compound. I have yet to harvest a deer with my crossbow and have only gotten 2 with my compound(1 from the ground and 1 from a stand).

edit, i see i screwed the poll up already. voted "doesn't matter" but meant "same"

[lscha]

I had to vote 'easier' because no matter how much I practiced, I never had the confidence to be consistent with a vertical like I am with a crossbow. Yes the vert was easier to carry around and I never had that much trouble drawing on deer while on stand but to have that un-wavering faith in putting my arrow where I aim it (when I know the distance) makes the hunting experience easier for me. So, bottom line: the crossbow is easier to learn, therefore, easier for me to hunt with.

[hetichunter]

i have no physical limitations and i hunt out of treestands with a Mathews HyperLite. i cannot hunt with my excalibur here in illinois but i have shot it a lot. i took both the compound and the crossbow up in a couple of my stands and shot targets with both and the Hyperlite is a lot easer to use with a much wider range of movement when shooting behind the tree. i also acquire the target faster with the Hyperlite then i did picking it up with the scope on the crossbow. both bows were real accurate at 35 yards in and i think it is a tie in that area. the only dif i would see with hunting is the draw vs the predrawn. having the bow alreay to go and not have the extra movement is a plus for the crossbow.

the biggest dif was accuracy at 40 yds and out to 50 yds. the excalibur just ate up the hyperlite. thats one of the arguments made all the time at archery talk and the other forums i visit when crossbows come up. but i always say so what we are always pushin the envelope with all the things we use to hunt with. look at how far muzzleloaders shoot now with three inch groups and where is all that bellyachin!

for me i see no total advantage of the excalibur over the hyperlite or any other high end compound and other then shootin farther it has some disadvantages. the reason i want to hunt with the excalibur sooooooo bad is that it is a blast to shoot and lots of fun.

[Cossack]

Voted easier because I can't pull a compound any longer; both shoulders and back cut. Phoenix keeps me in the game I love at goin on 70.

[Rich]

I voted easier, I have taken over 60 deer with a vert bow and somewhere around 20 with the Excal. The difficult part of either weapon is getting the deer within bow range, either weapon requires the same tactics. After the deer is within range I see 3 main advantages for me:

1. I like to be comfortable in my stand so I sit the majority of my time, can't tell you how many times I have been busted trying to stand up for a vert bow shot. With that being said it is much easier to sit with the Xbow in the ready position and just pick it up when a deer approaches, bottom line "less movement".

2. It is much easier for me to sight in on a deer with the scope than a pin sight. Plus my eyes are not as good as they use to be.

3. Accuracey. I consider myself a very good vert bow shooter, however, my Excals will shoot bullet holes all day long at 20 yards. Get a deer within 20 yards and just put the crosshairs on the bolier room and squeeze the trigger. Accuracey does not make up for range estimation though. Being able to judge yardage is important with either weapon.

I do consider either vert or Xbow an accomplishment when taking a deer.

Rich

[ninepointer]

I voted easier for a crossbow. Having hunted with both a vertical compound bow, then switched to a crossbow, I've never been shy stating the following attributes of crossbows:

1) I can raise and shoot my crossbow from a seated position with less movement than a vertical bow would require. This is important to me when a deer is present because my stands are rarely more than 15 feet off the ground.

2) My crossbow offers me a wider shooting radius than a compound bow. When I'm in a treestand I do not have to worry about my elbow hitting the tree trunk and preventing me from drawing the bow.

Otherwise, effective hunting range and hunting methods are the same.

An often overlooked advantage that vertical bows have is the ability to relatively quickly and silently get off a second shot. With a crossbow it is not so easy, and for some hunters or models of crossbows it is not possible at all. I think more deer have been killed with a second shot (after the first shot missed ) than many hunters like to admit (I'll admit it, I once took one on the second shot). Between the "twang" of the bow to one side of the deer and the sound of the arrow smashing into the forest floor on the other side of the deer, I've seen deer stand around confused or even jump in closer to the hunter.

[sumner4991]

In general terms, they both have their strengths and weaknesses. I adjust my hunting to the weapon I'm using. Therefore, both seem easy enough to me. Hunting doesn't get easier with either bow because the effective range is the same. I can say this, the crossbow is harder to use while stalking. It's harder to get through the woods/brush, it gets heavy, and it's harder to aim freehand. However, if you catch a deer in a spot to where you need to crawl to it and shoot from your belly . . .then the crossbow is awesome. All depends on the situation you find yourself in and unfortunately we don't see it coming. There has been many a hunt that I wished I had brought a different weapon.

I voted the same because I really don't see an all out advantage until you start talking about a hunter's physical limitations.

I have stopped compound hunting because I don't trust my shoulder anymore. It's strong and feels great for a change and I would like to keep it that way.

[one shot scott]

I voted for easier. The target is magnified, Less movement in stand, and during cold days its easier because you dont have to draw.

I should add that I think its more humane because of less chance of wounding. At least when it comes to a less experienced hunter.

The drawbacks have already been mentioned. Its wider, therfore harder to stalk, from a treestand its harder to navigate around the tree for shot placement, its loud. So the negatives put it on a level playing feild with compound archery in my opinion.

I hunt mostly tree stands.

[awshucks]

Same. The harvest stats where kept prove no net advantage to either. I've never had a problem picking up some one elses compound and getting hunting accuracy w/ no practice. I get along fairly well w/ anything that has sights on it.

Remnants of a mis-spent youth.

[rt2bowhunter]

I voted the same as far as the hunt goes. I have hunted and taken game with all types of bows. I will say this there is no bow that will make you a bow hunter. Bow hunting to me is about how close you get not what kind of bow you use. Im a ground hunter and have been for the most part for years. I did climb one tree this year. Its just not the same as being on the ground with them.

[bob1961]

wow i must be in the minority....i find using my crossbow harder then my compound....if i had a choice on what to use, the compound would be going out more with me....the crossbow is harder to carry ready for a shot while stalking, cant be used in a trestand as easy as a compound....maybe it's just me.................bob

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[ecoaster]

I love my compound for its maneuverability and light weight. I have yet to take an animal with it, but it does have some definite advantages over a crossbow in thick cover. Trees don't grow sideways .

On the other hand I love the crossbow for ground hunting. I have set up many times with my back to a tree and can rest the crossbow on my knee to balance it for a shot.

They both have advantages and disadvantages, and that's why I love both!