A scope will have crosshairs or a single dot that you place over the target. If you put all your chips on deer coming in from the north, you risk losing opportunities deer, especially rutting bucks, will also come in from the south, west or east. 
If gravity doesnt pull as hard on your crossbow arrow initially, then the arrow doesnt drop and the arc is not as steep as it would have been on flat ground. To keep things quiet, wrap your treestand rails with thin foam and secure with electrical tape. I use the Summit rail to shoot in front. To increase your shooting zone, get into the stand and look around. Video: Bowhunter Shoots Turkey and Then . During this process, it's important to never let your hands cross the horizontal plane of the bowstring where they'd be hit and almost certainly injured if you accidentally fired the bow. I aimed six inches below his belly and squeezed off the shot. 
I stuff the top end of the knee pod down in my backpack with the half ring sticking out. Why Is It So Expensive? One important point we want to make here is that treestand safety and best practices suggest never to cock your crossbow using a push-pull system while you are in a treestand. I might put a rug inside the door. I took it off. Most modern crossbows have a specific notch here for cocking ropes. A crossbow can seem intimidating at first glance, but by following this guide, you can start using one successfully without much hassle. To beat those deer, I put another stand in a tree quartering to their approach trail, and nailed a nice buck that (honestly!) Put one foot one top of the other to raise either knee up, and rest elbow on knee. Bad as this might sound, it's better than hurriedly attempting to turn around, get on target and thread an arrow down through leaves, limbs and twigs. A crossbow arrow, as with any arrow, has significant drop even at close distances. In other words, even though you have a lightning-fast crossbow that can shoot quarters at 60 yards from a stable rest, dont be tempted to play gun hunter with your crossbow. Go higher, move the stand to a new location or leave the stand in place as a decoy even consider a ground blind downwind of approaching deer. More importantly, it may shatter and injure you or someone nearby. . As you can imagine, this isn't exactly easy. That's exactly what you'll find below. 
Then simply attach the hooks and turn the crank until the bowstring reaches the latch. Youre up in your tree stand. Recocking a crossbow after the shot is where a lot of new crossbow hunters experience a bit of fumbling. Quartering toward shots, straight on shots, where the deer is facing you, and rump shots aren't good ideas. Lets be honest, weve all been there. This means removing any limbs, twigs and branches that could interfere with your crossbows vertical or horizontal range of motion, or potentially impact your limbs when making the shot. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. I have both the tall with the base and mini that I converted to a knee-pod which is my favorite. However, I have a few hang-on portables and ladders with tiny platforms and no shooting railsin areas I love to bowhunt, but Ive never been able to figure out an effective crossbow rest that works well from these compact stands. When hunting with a crossbow, Ill shoot only with the aid of a solid rest. Qad hdx. There are several lightweight crossbows on the market today, but even the lightest among them tend to be a bit heavier than most of us can comfortably hold in a freehand position for more than a few seconds. "Cocking" is the term for drawing your crossbow, pulling back the string until it catches the trigger latch and remains in place. I LOVE Hunting,Fishing, my Excalibur and that thing that makes men weak and starts wars. Actually I bought a 2nd base in Cabelas bargain barn for about $4 and I use the 2nd strap that keeps it inline with my shin much easier. Just make sure you have enough limb clearance if you shoot behind or along side you. Todd heres some more pics - I can switch it from a knee pod to a stand pod. You must always ask, "Which stand site will give me the most opportunities with the fewest complications?". Does an upper-story limb need to be cut so you can cover deer coming in from behind either shoulder? |, Video: Black Bear Attacks Bald Eagles Nest, Video: Tips for Cleaning Walleyes Using an Electric Fillet Knife. The more you have around you, the more likely it will make a noise, interfere with your shot or cause a distraction. Get 10% off your next accessory purchase when you sign up to receive product updates, hunting tips, and more from TenPoint. If you do this, the energy that would normally be transferred into the bolt is transferred into the crossbow itself, which can cause permanent damage to the device. I fired at a nice Ohio buck, but a twig became wrapped up inside a pulley, yanking the crossbow out of my hands and leaving it hanging 10 feet out of reach. In many situations, you'll even have to shoot from a seated position. Im mainly talking about loc ons. The trade-off, of course, is that it takes a lot longer to cock the crossbow in this case. Unsuspecting deer will usually approach stand sites from the same direction each time (morning or evening), but if you train them to avoid the spot (by shooting Hail Marys at them) there is no place to put a stand that will work. If you sell crossbows in your archery shop, then it makes sense to add the Swagger Stalker QD42 rest to your inventory. I neglected to do this once. Now all my stands are the big Bone Collector models along with a ladder stand and an API Grand Slam Supreme.all with a rail. He was at 35 yards. I use this portable one when i am on the road. They've got you cornered and, sad to say, they usually win. This will help keep those alarming scrapes and clangs to a minimum and prevent scratching the finish on your crossbow when you take a rest. It is easiest to hit the kill zone if the deer is standing broadside, perpendicular to you so you can see its entire flank. Location, range and visibility were perfect, but comfort was nil. This is more true for narrow crossbows like compound models. A one-time event might not be worth it, but if deer keep coming in from behind you, obviously, the solution is to turn the stand around. Since most of my sets are in the timber, I don't like to be sitting with a rest, which limits maneuverability in a dynamic situation. It's a lot like cocking your crossbow with your hands, but it gives you a better grip and more leverage. I admit carrying it around can be a pain in the butt but it works very well to steady your shot! EXPLORE OTHER MEDIA 360 PROPERTIES FOR OUTDOORS ENTHUSIASTS, How to Get the Most Power Out of Your Crossbow, How to Shoot-Tune Your Crossbow Arrows for Tighter Groups, Assemble a Stellar Crossbow Shooting Toolbox, Space Technology in the Whitetail Woods | DeerTech TV, Ozonics HR500 is the New-and-Improved Ozone Generator, The Other Red Meat | Deer & Deer Hunting TV. If you don't want to bring your iPad into the bathroom, we can send you a magazine subscription for free! No matter what type of crossbow you choose, just remember to have fun and stay safe. There are range finders out there with levels built in to compensate for such angles, but they can be pricy. My advice, just practice and then practice some more. At the same time, hold the crossbow grip with your dominant hand, wrapping your thumb around one side and your fingers around the other. Tracks, trails, rubs and assorted other sign are great ways to gauge deer numbers, but they are not always reliable indicators of direction of travel. Crossbows caught on as weapons of war during the Medieval Period specifically because they were easy to use and required little training. I never shoot beyond 30 yards. For those of you who are just starting the journey, we wanted to put a few tips in your pocket to help shorten the learning curve. Do you shoot free hand or use some sort of shooting stick on your lap/ platform? I have killed deer by simply sitting in my climbing stand set just above ground level a comfortable seat offering an excellent view of a well-used creek bottom crossing. When hunting from a ground blind, have your cocking device ready to deploy as soon as you make your shot. hunting tree Come join the discussion about optics, hunting, performance, troubleshooting, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! The strategies and techniques hunters must employ to utilize these specialized bows to their maximum efficiency often vary radically from those of the standard rifle or compound bow user. PAID PARTNER CONTENT. (The monopod isnt attached to my crossbow.). And every one of them stares right at that stand, even though it is 20 feet high! Do you need to cut shooting lanes to the left or right? Cranks can be separate devices that you mount on your crossbow or they can be built into the stock of the crossbow itself. If a right-handed shooter is set up for a shot to the north, he will be in trouble if the deer comes in from the south or east. Unlike a rifle, which has only a small muzzle stuck way out there that must have a clear line to the target, a crossbow has a much larger operational footprint. Not only can it hurt when the bowstring digs into the skin, but you may risk getting your fingers caught in different mechanisms. If one of them happens to hit a tree limb or other obstruction in the process, youll miss the shot, make a horrific racket and possibly damage your crossbow. The problem is that one wrong slip and that crossbow can make a terrific clang against those aluminum tubes. Had I been any higher I'd have been looking down the backs of the deer as if I were shooting northern pike in Vermont, and those types of spine-only shots are iffy at best with any bow. Thats understandable since they are still getting used to the crossbows operation. A forum community dedicated to bow and crossbow owners and archery enthusiasts. by wabi Fri Aug 06, 2010 12:39 pm, Post Both with my Matrix 380, I was lucky and recovered all three bolts as they were clean pass through heart/lung shots. One of the differences between a compound bow vs crossbowis a crossbow will need to be uncocked after a hunt, if a shot is not fired. However, this phenomenon is much less pronounced with crossbows. In the end, you will be a far more successful hunter and youll have even more memories to share. As ladderstand mainly all have side bars and optional shooting rest. This produces a nice, even arch down range to the target. Axcel Accutouch. Fire your crossbow while aiming at the bullseye. When you are up to your butt in alligators, it is hard to remember your intent was to drain the swamp. With that said, one must practice offhand to get proficient at it. My arrow struck halfway up the buck's body right behind the shoulder and gave me a perfect, no-glitches pass-through. The only problem with the SteadyEddy is its designed exclusively for TenPoint crossbows. Essentially, you simply need to practice like you will be hunting. The best thing to do is to set up and see what works. Heres what I discovered and its all good! The higher the crossbow draw weight, the more difficult this is, and it will take a considerable amount of upper body strength regardless. A nice 8 point out at 35 yards. Many first-time crossbow hunters make the transition from rifle hunting. Do what you can to improve your odds for success by facing in the proper direction within known range of the most likely target approach lanes. As I teased in this articles subtitle, Ive been searching for a solution to this problem for years. Ladder up, climb up or jack up, the idea is to get off the ground to avoid being seen, smelled or heard by approaching game. The leg length adjustments were silent, simple and quick. Even though a crossbow can shoot hundreds of yards, the ethical range for shooting a deer is only around 40 yards. If you're shooting from a standing position, place your feet shoulder width apart with your trigger-side foot planted firmly behind you for balance. This is the one that you'll slide into the groove of the crossbow rail. Something to really be careful about. Best of luck to ya. A forum community dedicated to Pennsylvanias hunters and enthusiasts Come join the discussion about trails, licenses, fishing, game laws, styles, reviews, optics, accessories, classifieds, and more! I dont need a rest that close. Weve had plenty of trouble with this due to folding stools and chairs being too short to provide a clear sitting shot through a blind window when hunting sloping terrain. Theyre super-maneuverable in tight quarters, and the narrow limb widths minimize the chance of impacting branches upon release. The key to the SteadyEddy monopod is you can place the base of it near your waist; it doesnt touch a treestands platform. Its no different than many first-time muzzleloader hunters who havent yet developed an efficient reload process. Then lightly press your index finger against the trigger and disengage the safety. Looks like I epoxied a nylon bushing into the bottom of the uni-pod and then tapped a 1/4-20 thread in it for the countersunk screw. Generally, if you extend your arm in any direction and can touch a twig, branch or limb with the tips of your fingers, start trimming. Furthermore, the sling swivels can squeak if not lubricated or if they have a bit of surface rust. by MR. GADGET Fri Aug 06, 2010 9:13 pm, Post Do this for different angles and ranges so you can be sure that wherever a deer presents a shot, youll be able to take it unhindered. Good suggestions above and if the tree stand has a solid base, a bi-pod is even more stable. Ron is an archery instructor and expert bow hunter that lives with his wife and kids in central Ohio. Doing this with whitetails at close range was 100 percent silent and effective. By following these stand set-up tips, youll be sure to maximize your chances of success this season. In other words, all the incredible speed and destructive power of a crossbow bolt, you have to produce that yourself with your own muscles by pulling back the bowstring. when I was forced to switch to a crossbow I found out very fast that a rest was super important so, every treestand I have has a shooting rail. Two items that are inherently necessary to a functional hunting crossbow outfit are also items that can get you into trouble on a standthe quiver and the sling. Winds were howling and I didnt spot the fast-walking rutting buck until he was already within 25 yards. This, along with the right amount of pressure to shoot, will take some getting used to. 
Please enable JavaScript to view the comments. For compound bows and recurves, this means you should aim slightly lower when shooting from a tree stand. Join other outdoor enthusiasts who already get great content delivered right to their inbox. In a treestand, I use it as a monopod. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo, VerticalScope Inc., 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. These stands consist of a revolving seat atop a tripod system, allowing the hunter to spin completely around to cover various trails. The "wrong way" problem is best solved with patience. What options will you have if your buck comes in from an unanticipated direction? Any modern crossbow will perform as designed when shooting from the bench, but things change when you're up a tree in dim light on a rainy afternoon in November. Aside from this difficulty, its even more challenging to hold them steady enough for a good freehand shot. Heres most of mine (even a home made Steady Eddy), I also have a mini bipod and tripod. I enjoy the variety of using all three bow designs. I find it difficult to support and hold a crossbow steady in a tree stand without a shooting rail. Horton Crossbow Innovations has a great blog article about turning your target practice to trophy taking. As you can see from this article's lead photo, I scored recently on a Wisconsin bow buck and the QD42 allowed me to quickly get on target. However, this phenomenon is much less pronounced with crossbows. These cranks make cocking your crossbow much easier because, as levers rotating in 360 degrees, they let you do the same amount of work by applying a much smaller force over a much longer distance. I know some hunters think you don't need to practice with a crossbow- well, they are wrong. Using a rangefinder, mark the distance from your stand out through your shooting lanes. A cocking rope consists of handles on both ends with hooks attached to the rope by pulleys that let them glide along the length of the rope. stick shooting bow archery using stand paraplegic draw Place the stirrup against the ground and slide your foot through it so that the crossbow is stable and secure. Because of the rest requirement, I hunt from the ground with a crossbow 90 percent of the time. We always recommend resting a crossbow to achieve a sure and stable shot. 2022 Archery Business All Rights Reserved Deciding which direction to face a tree stand is not always as simple or obvious as "where the deer will come from." Better to simply remove the sling from your crossbow until its time to move on. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. There are 12 windows in my stand, I can cover 360 degrees. Shooting your crossbow accurately primarily involves sighting in your scope correctly and then using proper form. This is one of the key advantages of the latest short-axle-width crossbows, such as the Stealth NXT or the Nitro X from TenPoint Crossbow Technologies. This is because crossbows are not only long, but also wide, and that limb width will create problems when you try to shoot too far to the right or left that tree trunk and associated branches you forgot about are going to stymie you every time! The Primos Mono Pod with treestand basegoes up to 5 feet for even high angle shotsis light and easy to maneuver around in tree stands. Any ideas that work for you? 
And of course, if you decide to leave a treestand and hunt from ground, the rest works just as well. Crossbows are powerful weapons that can seriously injure you or people nearby. Although I have hunted with a vertical bow from the ground and a tree stand I'm still kinda new to the X-bow and have really only been on the ground with it. Loading a crossbow bolt is actually pretty straightforward, but there are a few things to keep in mind. A cocking rope is the most basic device to help you cock your crossbow. Then locate the differently colored (usually white) of the three fletchings. For example, it's often nearly impossible to turn 360 degrees while in a tree stand and holding a crossbow, and even more difficult to turn 360 degrees in a tree stand while aiming a crossbow. One final tip on tree stand hunting with a crossbow use colored tape or some other method to keep track of the distances to your shooting lanes. I killed a nice buck in Ohio last season from a stand that was no more than 20 yards from a creek-bottom trail. by phil Fri Aug 06, 2010 10:11 pm, Post I have the same base as reeltight but I use the strap around my leg that clips onto the monopod. I have a Treepod too but I prefer the Primos Unipod as well. Do Deer Move In The Wind? MSRP for the Swagger Stalker QD42 is $129.99, so its a solid add-on sale. Each scope will have a different way to adjust it, so check your manual. Once you've cocked your crossbow, loaded the bolt and taken aim, it's time to shoot. Fairly new to crossbow hunting. Cut shooting lanes or holes to each trail and be sure your seat, bearings and footwear allow you to look, spin, aim and shoot without rattling, squeaking or chattering. Makes a simple gate that you can close once seated and rest your bow on. In both cases, you shouldn't bend over or roll your shoulders to look through the scope. The hang-on platform isnt wide enough to move the monopod for the 9 oclock shot. Lots of lessons here, number one being you must get as high as necessary to keep from spooking incoming deer, but only as high as is required. Bending over and trying to perform this operation from up high can be dangerous. Grip the bowstring on either side of the rail and pull up until it's secured by the latch. The game begins with stand placement. But I was in a tree that was 20 yards up a steep ridge (hand-over-hand to get to) and then 16 more feet up a rickety, forward-leaning ladder stand. shooting portable ladder climbing deer turkey hunter stand steel tree This "kill zone" is located about a third of the way up a deer's torso and a third of the way back, just behind its front shoulder blades. If your shot lands to the right, you have to turn the scope a little to the right. But, when the 9-pointer followed a dozen does out of the creek bottom, I had my chance. If you're shooting from a seated position, make sure you're sitting upright with your back straight and your feet planted firmly on the ground. No more than 7 seconds passed from the time I spotted the buck until my broadhead penetrated his lungs at 15 yards. 
To sight your scope in, you need to go to a range and shoot from a consistent distance. A bipod or rest is more potential noise and hassle IMO. Quartering away shots, where the deer is walking away from you at an angle, are also good shots to take. If you hunt from a tree stand, practice from an elevated position. As a rule, crossbows dont have crisp, clean triggers like those found on top-notch centerfire rifles, and as a result its difficult to accurately shoot a crossbow freehand. I have had some luck in the East with the Texas-style rotating tripod stands by placing them in thick brush where several hot trails converge. With two hands on my crossbow, the chance of the monopod falling to the ground is high. Hold the front of your crossbow with your non-dominant hand under the foregrip, supporting it horizontally. It adjusts from 14 to 42 inches and can be used as a monopod or bipod. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 2022 Grand View Outdoors All Rights Reserved The Swagger Stalker QD42 comes with an adapter so it can be mounted on a crossbow or firearms sling swivel. My crossbow was resting on my lap, with the QD42 hanging vertically from the foregrip. Ten Point Havoc with Oracle X. It also saves your fingers. Similarly, be sure to clear your shooting lanes between your stand and likely travel routes or stopping points deer may take. Crossbow hunting is an exciting sport for both archery veterans and for those used to hunting only with a rifle. Models vary widely, but most function much the same way as cocking ropes with hooks that connect to the bowstring on either side of the rail. bolt cutters. You pull the trigger on your crossbow and watch, painfully, as the arrow flies mere inches over the bucks back. For this reason, if your scope is sighted in for, say, 40 yards, you need to have a good grasp of that distance when aiming. Dont laugh. Cabelas sells a base that attaches to the bottom of the trigger stick which sits nicely on the foot platform of your stand , it is very stable . . Depending on the amount of creep your particular trigger has, you may be able to pull it back with a slight amount of pressure before it finally fires. The most basic method for cocking a crossbow is to just do it with your hands. My crossbow has a Picatinny rail on the bottom of the stock, so I knew the QD42 would easily mount to it. by M&M Mon Aug 09, 2010 2:13 pm, Post - Elite Impulse 31. Its actually a fairly easy mistake to make from a tree stand if youre not used to shooting from elevated positions. I zip tie this to my tree stand, then I screw a primos trigger stick into it. On the target range, you will have to adjust the scope until the bolt accurately hits where the crosshairs or dot is. The best way to combat this problem is to practice shooting your crossbow from an elevated position. Yes, they shoot fast, but their arrows are typically a lighter weight, which means they shed a significant amount of energy beyond the 40- to 50-yard mark. Heres how to place stands to your best advantage, to minimize problems. Ive been aware of Swagger shooting rests for several years, but only recently while pondering my crossbow/treestand problem did I consider the companys Stalker QD42. All the energy that goes into the bolt is stored in the crossbow string by this action. From a treestand height of 15 feet, and planning for shots of 10 to 30 yards, I had the Swaggers legs adjusted to 20 inches, and I could easily aim over that entire range by slightly leaning forward or backward. Crossbow shooters in treestands move the base of the QD42 from thigh to thigh in order to aim and shoot effectively throughout a wide range. I use a primos trigger stick , the mono pod . 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Went back to the vertical bow for stand hunting and am saving the crossbow for blind hunting. For example, as a right-handed shooter in the sitting position, if I set up a monopod between my feet for shooting straight ahead (12 oclock), theres no way I can adjust it for shooting to my left (9 oclock). Comments on this site are submitted by users and are not endorsed by nor do they reflect the views or opinions of COLE Publishing, Inc. The key to preventing this is to remember that the arrows flight path (or bore axis) is significantly lower than the scopes axis. fleetfarm umbrella Shooting a crossbow from a tree stand is not much different than shooting from the ground, but you do have to adjust your form based on the space available. was staring up at the other stand. I support all hunters, regardless of weapon or technique! To cock a crossbow by hand, push the stirrup firmly into the ground and stick your foot into it so that your body weight holds down the crossbow. First, hold the bolt near the tip but make sure that your hand or fingers are not actually covering the tip itself. Wyvern LS 390 Solution, 476gr BEE @ 350fps. JavaScript is disabled. If your crossbow uses a cranking-style cocking device, then you can safely recock while remaining seated in your stand. I don't use a cross bow but my uncle does and he almost got thrown out of his tree. Theres probably a crossbow hack on YouTube for mounting a SteadyEddy to other crossbow brands, but I was hoping to find something simpler.
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