Crossbows: Myths & Facts

MYTH: Crossbows are unsafe.

FACT: Based on thirty years of statistical data, accident rates involving crossbows are identical to those of vertical bows. Considering numbers of hunters and hunting hours involved, both crossbows and vertical bows are considered among the safest hunting weapons.

MYTH: Crossbows are a poacher’s tool.

FACT: Crossbows, like vertical bows, have short range capabilities, are too cumbersome to discharge from a vehicle, and kill by hemorrhage not shock. Where crossbow hunting is legal, violations are minimal. If crossbows were efficient poaching tools their use would be wide-spread by game thieves.

MYTH: Crossbows are too easy to shoot.

FACT: Experienced rifle shooters can expect to quickly achieve tight arrow groups on targets up to forty yards (the effective hunting range of a crossbow). However, to be successful, a crossbow hunter must master all skills and tactics common to bow hunting.

MYTH: Crossbow hunting will squeeze other hunters out.

FACT: In states that have lengthy crossbow seasons, crossbow hunting is popular. However, no other season or bag limit has ever been reduced as a result of crossbow hunting being permitted. The crossbow does not discriminate in favor of the physically strong. It enables a wider range of sportsmen (women, youth, and older hunters) to enjoy the challenges of bow hunting.

MYTH: Crossbow hunting will wipe out the deer herd.

FACT: In states with generous crossbow seasons, the success rate of crossbow hunters and vertical bow hunters are virtually identical and the deer populations continue to flourish.

MYTH: A crossbow is much more efficient than a vertical bow.

FACT: A modern 150# draw weight crossbow delivers the same speed and stored energy as a 65-70# compound vertical bow. The crossbow requires twice the amount of draw weight because the power stroke (draw length) is half as long as that of the compound bows.

MYTH: The crossbow controversy creates division among sportsmen, and the public image of crossbows makes proposed hunting with them counter to the sportsman’s interests.

FACT: The controversy has been created by a few individuals who deem themselves and their chosen method of hunting as superior to all others. The public image of crossbows stems from the lack of knowledge of a crossbow’s limited capabilities, as well as the myths touted by those who oppose their use. The TRUE controversy and tragedy of the crossbow issue stems from the time, effort and money spent by so called conservation-minded bow hunting organizations to deny others the opportunity to hunt rather than promoting the virtues of all types of bow hunting.

MYTH: There is an independent study which dramatically shows the superior capability of the crossbow over the vertical bow.

FACT: The study was commissioned by the Anti-Crossbow Committee of a national bow hunting group. Its author is a member of that group. It is the purpose of the game regulations of each state to control what advances in technology are suitable for sporting use.

MYTH: Because it is not hand-drawn and released, the crossbow is more closely compared to a firearm than a vertical bow.

FACT: The vertical archer spends hours and hours working on the physical conditioning required when drawing, aiming and shooting their chosen weapon prior to ever going into the field – nothing mystical, just physical work. Once the season starts, the act of drawing, aiming and shooting (especially with high let-off compounds utilizing a triggered release aid) is no more difficult for a vertical bow hunter than a crossbow hunter. Movement is required by both (one to draw back the - other to raise the crossbow into a shooting position) to obtain the target at an average of less than twenty yards. Both hunters must be accomplished woodsmen to get that close to a whitetail and still mask those necessary movements.

MYTH: Nobody wants crossbow hunting except the crossbow manufacturers.

FACT: In Ohio, crossbow hunting has been permitted for thirty years and the Ohio Division of Wildlife endorses crossbow hunting and the opportunities it creates. Currently there are more hunters participating in the archery season using a crossbow than are using a vertical bow. These licensed, legal, law-abiding sportsmen in Ohio are commonly the target of slanderous, erroneous and often untruthful attacks from bow hunting groups opposed to crossbow hunting. Many Ohio crossbow hunters also enjoy shooting with vertical bows.

MYTH: Just because crossbow hunting has been a success story in states like Ohio, Arkansas and Wyoming we don’t want it in ours. All the bow hunters of “our” state and all of “our” enforcement officers are opposed to it.

FACT: The crossbow is a challenging but effective short-range, single-shot hunting tool which offers additional hunting opportunity and recruitment to hunting ranks. If such an option is not considered advantageous by the sportsmen and the game management agencies within the state, then the wildlife resources of that state are not being managed to maximize opportunity for MOST citizens. The sportsman’s cause and the future of hunting in that state are therefore at risk. Recruitment to hunting ranks should be the goal of ALL game managers and sportsmen. As long as the hunting tool falls within logical parameters of safe, capable and humane harvest capabilities, such recruitment should not be based upon, “do it my way or you can’t do it at all.” How can any organization which represents such a small percentile of the total number of archery tag purchasers in a state be so presumptuous to speak for all bow hunters and deny others? Does not their small total membership compared to the large number of archery hunters suggest perhaps they do not represent the views of the majority?

CONCLUSION: Crossbow hunting is documented as safe, responsible and popular where permitted, and has no ill effect on wildlife resources. Ohio ranks the crossbow as a major recruitment tool for women, youth and professionals. The crossbow hunting opportunity does not create division amongst sportsmen – quite the opposite; it gives the firearms hunter a hands-on perspective of the challenges of archery hunting. The REAL concerns surrounding the crossbow hunting opportunity is the concept that there’s no room for recruitment to hunting ranks unless the tool used is one based upon the emotional, purism standards of a few. Wildlife resources should be managed for the most opportunity for most citizens/sportsmen, not for a select few. Facts, not emotion, document the crossbow hunting opportunity as positive for sportsmen and game management programs everywhere it is available for use.