Mobility and Load

Crossbows are locked and cocked at full draw by a mechanical device.
Crossbows can be carried loaded and ready to shoot.
Crossbows have minimal movement to shooting position.
The truth revealed.

The above quotes are very popular when discussing the full inclusion of the crossbow into archery season. I'll address the first quote here but it will require some physics lessons so look away if this it not a concern for you. First we will need to understand the power stroke to understand why the crossbow string needs to be held in place by a mechanical device. The easiest way I can think of to describe this is to make a fist with your strongest hand, hold it 6 inches away from your other open hand and punch it. Now repeat that punch from 12 inches, 18 inches, 24 inches. Well your hand that received the punch is probably pretty sore by now but you should have an understanding of the power stoke. The strength and speed required to make that 6 inch punch feel like the 24 inch punch needs to be considerably higher to make the effect equal. The power stroke on a bow is the distance the string travels. I'll have to borrow some information from the folks at TenPoint for the rest of this explanation. I hope they don't mind.

The distance the string travels on most crossbows is approximately 12”. The distance of string travel for bows depending on the draw length is between 20” –22”. With the string on a compound bow accelerating over almost twice the distance of a crossbow, it is necessary to have a heavier draw weight on a crossbow to generate the same energy that propels the arrow downrange.

Now that we have an understanding of what a power stroke is we also know why a crossbow needs to have the heavier draw weight. In order for the crossbow to be as effective as a vertical bow the draw weight must be increased as the power stroke is decreased. Your 6 inch punch is likely less than effective. But if you were to allow someone much stronger and faster attempt it they will be more effective. Now when you consider that crossbows need 150-200 pounds in order to be as effective as a vertical bow it explains why the string must be held with a mechanical device. Are there a few folks that could single handedly draw and hold a 150 pound bow string? There might be but most of us cannot. This same principle applies to the vertical bows as well. A common short bow does not have the effective power and range of a traditional long bow. The invention of the recurve type bow helped to some extent but even the recurve bow becomes more effective as the power stroke is increased. This also explains why the arrow lengths are different between the various bows. They need to be large enough to have an effective mass but still be able to reach the arrow rest.

Now about the statement: "Crossbows can be carried loaded and ready to shoot." Yes they can. This is an option to the hunter however. Are there hunters who do this? Probably so. I personally do not hunt with a crossbow this way nor do I carry it loaded and ready to shoot. I use a tree stand. If I were to do this I would just have to unload it to get into the stand. I don't like the stress on my limbs remaining flexed. So every opportunity I have to un-draw the bow I take it. I don't draw the bow until I am in my tree stand when my hunt begins and I immediately unload and un-draw my bow prior to leaving my stand when my hunt ends. I would speculate this statement is to suggest a hunter will use the crossbow like a gun in a stalk and shoot type hunting style. I would guess that there may be some hunters skilled enough to stalk a deer within 40 yards and shoot it with a crossbow. But the vertical archer could use this same technique. I have never met a hunter that uses either weapon in my lifetime that uses a bow this way. It is an effective technique with a gun because you have distance in your favor. The animals that I am accustomed to hunting are very alert and would never allow you to approach within 30-40 yards without bolting. If someone using any kind of bow has the skill to do this more power to them. Also note that I don't know many gun hunters that use this technique. It is common practice to pick a location to hunt from then have a seat and wait for the deer to come within range.

The age old debate of drawing in the presence of game. "Crossbows have minimal movement to shooting position." One of the most ignorant and diabolical misdirections used in the argument against full inclusion. It takes all of the will I can muster to even respond to such an ignorant statement. But I will try to counterpoint it in spite of that. The movement required is different between the weapons. A vertical bow hunter must place his weapon and body into a comfortable shooting position then draw the bow for a shot in the presence of game while taking aim. A crossbow hunter must place his weapon and body into a comfortable shooting position in the presence of game while taking aim. If you can substantiate or disapprove of the use of the word minimal in the above statement then do so. If a single difference in action qualifies the use of the word minimal then I guess we will just have to accept that. Drawing a vertical bow to the ready to fire position is a difficult task while in the presence of game but only accounts for a single difference between the two weapons where movement is concerned. The ability to use either weapon in the presence of game is entirely within the hunters skill and knowledge of the situation as it applies to each specific shot. Obviously a skilled hunter would not make ANY movements in the close proximity to game until the individual situation presented an opportunity to do so. Tree stands drastically increase your ability to move in the presence of game and ground blinds virtually eliminate this issue altogether. It is unknown how many archery hunters are actually crazy enough to hunt with a bow of any kind from the ground and try to make movements in the presence of game when the animal can notice the movement. It's probably a safe guess there are a few but I don't expect they have taken many wild animals with any kind of success. The reason this statement is made is because it is the one thing that can be pointed out as an obvious difference where the hunt is concerned. During the hunt there is either a time to move or a time to freeze. They know this and so does any skilled hunter.

>Here are a few devices that level the movement issue for any hunter. Note that most bow hunters use similar devices to not only raise their scent signature off the ground but to conceal movements. The limits and ability to remain undetected where scent and movement are concerned are only restricted by the depth of your pocket book.

The facts are: Crossbows are locked and cocked at full draw by a mechanical device. And now we understand why. Crossbows can be carried loaded and ready to shoot. An optional decision of the hunter. Crossbows have less movement only where the draw is concerned. It is solely reliant to the hunter to use common sense in the first place where movement can or can't be made.

Part of Buckeye Dan's Survival Guide To Full Inclusion

by Buckeye Dan