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Crossbow question #8462652
09/02/25 04:28 PM
09/02/25 04:28 PM
Joined: Jan 2018
New York
N
nyhuntfish Offline OP
trapper
nyhuntfish  Offline OP
trapper
N

Joined: Jan 2018
New York
All,

Do I absolutely need a range-finder to hunt deer with a crossbow? Or can I wing it somehow? Or does it matter? I might buy a crossbow but didn't know if I also needed to buy that.

Thank you.


********And tip of the day from NY State: "New for fall 2025, hunters in New York State may use a crossbow in the same seasons, places, and manner as a vertical bow for hunting deer and bear. Crossbows have been used throughout most of New York for over a decade, but New York State law previously limited the locations, times, and types of crossbows that could be used." https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/hunting/regulations/crossbow


Re: Crossbow question [Re: nyhuntfish] #8462654
09/02/25 04:32 PM
09/02/25 04:32 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
barton county kansas
Sasquatch91 Offline
trapper
Sasquatch91  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2007
barton county kansas
Do you use one for bowhunting? I would still keep shots under 40 yards. Sure the new ones shoot great out to 100. But an animal can do alot of moving in a short time.


"You skin that one pilgrim."



Re: Crossbow question [Re: nyhuntfish] #8462655
09/02/25 04:34 PM
09/02/25 04:34 PM
Joined: Oct 2014
Wisconsin
8117 Steve R Offline
trapper
8117 Steve R  Offline
trapper

Joined: Oct 2014
Wisconsin
Its not as critical as with a bow. Pretty flat shooting if you don't shoot crazy far. I plan to keep it under 40 yds.

Last edited by 8117 Steve R; 09/02/25 04:35 PM.

Steve
WTA
NRA
Re: Crossbow question [Re: Sasquatch91] #8462673
09/02/25 05:03 PM
09/02/25 05:03 PM
Joined: Jan 2018
New York
N
nyhuntfish Offline OP
trapper
nyhuntfish  Offline OP
trapper
N

Joined: Jan 2018
New York
Originally Posted by Sasquatch91
Do you use one for bowhunting? I would still keep shots under 40 yards. Sure the new ones shoot great out to 100. But an animal can do alot of moving in a short time.


Thanks everyone.

No, I don't have one yet. I just wondered how flat they would shoot at close distances. As Steve R suggested... yes that would be a better way to ask.

But yes, for deer if I get one.


Re: Crossbow question [Re: nyhuntfish] #8462679
09/02/25 05:08 PM
09/02/25 05:08 PM
Joined: Mar 2012
meadowview, Virginia
E
EdP Offline
trapper
EdP  Offline
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E

Joined: Mar 2012
meadowview, Virginia
They shoot accurately way further than they should be used to take an animal because they are LOUD. 40 yds is a good range limit to get the bolt there before a deer has a chance to move too much. 45 yds for the really fast ones. Yes, you need a rangefinder IMO to make ethical shots. It doesn't need to be one of the super long range ones but the range correction for angle is a useful feature especially if shooting down from a very high position. Or, instead, you could do the math for various ranges from your stand. Shooting from a ground blind the angle correction feature has no value.

Re: Crossbow question [Re: EdP] #8462702
09/02/25 05:42 PM
09/02/25 05:42 PM
Joined: Jul 2025
The Maritimes
NorthLake330 Offline
trapper
NorthLake330  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jul 2025
The Maritimes
Originally Posted by EdP
Yes, you need a rangefinder IMO to make ethical shots. It doesn't need to be one of the super long range ones


I agree 110%. I have an Excalibur MiniMax which shoots around 330fps

The arrow (sorry bolt) drop between 20 and 40 yards is more than a foot.

Re: Crossbow question [Re: NorthLake330] #8462713
09/02/25 06:00 PM
09/02/25 06:00 PM
Joined: Oct 2013
East of the Mason-Dixon Line
DelawareRob Offline
trapper
DelawareRob  Offline
trapper

Joined: Oct 2013
East of the Mason-Dixon Line
Originally Posted by NorthLake330
Originally Posted by EdP
Yes, you need a rangefinder IMO to make ethical shots. It doesn't need to be one of the super long range ones


I agree 110%. I have an Excalibur MiniMax which shoots around 330fps

The arrow (sorry bolt) drop between 20 and 40 yards is more than a foot.


Yup


Stop over cooking your meat! It isn’t gamey, it’s over cooked!

Gordon Ramsey, maybe…
Re: Crossbow question [Re: nyhuntfish] #8462715
09/02/25 06:03 PM
09/02/25 06:03 PM
Joined: Mar 2020
W NY
Turtledale Offline
trapper
Turtledale  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2020
W NY
Hunted 30 years with a recurve and compound before I got a range finder.

No you DON'T need one to make ethical shots

What you do need to do is practice, practice, practice!!!!
Shooting and estimating range

When I first started hunting bow I would go to the woods where I was going to sit and hunt. I would measure off 20 and 30 yards in all directions (with a tape measure) and mark distances with two different colored tape on trees and bushes.

Last edited by Turtledale; 09/02/25 06:04 PM.

NYSTA, NTA, FTA, life member Erie county trappers assn.,life member Catt.county trappers
Re: Crossbow question [Re: Turtledale] #8462725
09/02/25 06:15 PM
09/02/25 06:15 PM
Joined: Oct 2013
East of the Mason-Dixon Line
DelawareRob Offline
trapper
DelawareRob  Offline
trapper

Joined: Oct 2013
East of the Mason-Dixon Line
Originally Posted by Turtledale
Hunted 30 years with a recurve and compound before I got a range finder.

No you DON'T need one to make ethical shots

What you do need to do is practice, practice, practice!!!!
Shooting and estimating range

When I first started hunting bow I would go to the woods where I was going to sit and hunt. I would measure off 20 and 30 yards in all directions (with a tape measure) and mark distances with two different colored tape on trees and bushes.


Also, most definitely a yup…


Stop over cooking your meat! It isn’t gamey, it’s over cooked!

Gordon Ramsey, maybe…
Re: Crossbow question [Re: nyhuntfish] #8462727
09/02/25 06:18 PM
09/02/25 06:18 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
AR
T
TurkeyWrangler Offline
trapper
TurkeyWrangler  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
AR
I know it's twenty yards to the corn pile, so no, I don't need a range finder.

Re: Crossbow question [Re: TurkeyWrangler] #8462728
09/02/25 06:22 PM
09/02/25 06:22 PM
Joined: Oct 2013
East of the Mason-Dixon Line
DelawareRob Offline
trapper
DelawareRob  Offline
trapper

Joined: Oct 2013
East of the Mason-Dixon Line
Originally Posted by TurkeyWrangler
I know it's twenty yards to the corn pile, so no, I don't need a range finder.



Well that’ll work too. Lol


Stop over cooking your meat! It isn’t gamey, it’s over cooked!

Gordon Ramsey, maybe…
Re: Crossbow question [Re: nyhuntfish] #8462759
09/02/25 07:24 PM
09/02/25 07:24 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Pa
W
Wright Brothers Online content
trapper
Wright Brothers  Online Content
trapper
W

Joined: Dec 2006
Pa
I in person went shopping for my first today.
The headache is not AS BAD as shopping online lol.
We need a few more choices.
I'm thinking the practice will be a blast.





Re: Crossbow question [Re: nyhuntfish] #8462828
09/02/25 08:36 PM
09/02/25 08:36 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB Offline
trapper
SNIPERBBB  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Rodney,Ohio
Unless you're a savant at guessing the range, use a rangefinder and pick targets in your shooting lanes.

Re: Crossbow question [Re: nyhuntfish] #8462832
09/02/25 08:39 PM
09/02/25 08:39 PM
Joined: Dec 2018
Swords Creek, VA
A
ABeardedTrapper Offline
trapper
ABeardedTrapper  Offline
trapper
A

Joined: Dec 2018
Swords Creek, VA
Definitely need a rangefinder. Eric

Re: Crossbow question [Re: nyhuntfish] #8462836
09/02/25 08:42 PM
09/02/25 08:42 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline
trapper
Law Dog  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Central, SD
I use the sight dot as a range finder you learn where to hold the dot at the estimate range but they shoot flat so out to 45 yards the dot works well for me. It’s the peep sight principle dot for 15-20 yards, half the distance down 30-35 yards, bottom of circle 40-45 depending on the bow/bolt.

[Linked Image]


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Crossbow question [Re: nyhuntfish] #8462862
09/02/25 08:59 PM
09/02/25 08:59 PM
Joined: Oct 2013
East of the Mason-Dixon Line
DelawareRob Offline
trapper
DelawareRob  Offline
trapper

Joined: Oct 2013
East of the Mason-Dixon Line
Heck, there are folks who say they are guns. Just use open sights and you’ll be able to hit anything within 100 yards easy after you practice a few shots.


Lol


Stop over cooking your meat! It isn’t gamey, it’s over cooked!

Gordon Ramsey, maybe…
Re: Crossbow question [Re: nyhuntfish] #8463079
Yesterday at 10:08 AM
Yesterday at 10:08 AM
Joined: Jan 2018
New York
N
nyhuntfish Offline OP
trapper
nyhuntfish  Offline OP
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N

Joined: Jan 2018
New York
Thank you everyone for your advice.


Re: Crossbow question [Re: DelawareRob] #8463101
Yesterday at 10:52 AM
Yesterday at 10:52 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline
trapper
Law Dog  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Central, SD
Originally Posted by DelawareRob
Heck, there are folks who say they are guns. Just use open sights and you’ll be able to hit anything within 100 yards easy after you practice a few shots.


Lol



Up to 50 yards some of that sarcasm is true, if your a shooter hitting a 4 inch circle out to 50 yds with practice and bolt selection is obtainable. Dealing with the limbs can be a problem for beginners on angle shots in blinds or next to trees if you’re not careful.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Crossbow question [Re: nyhuntfish] #8463116
Yesterday at 11:30 AM
Yesterday at 11:30 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Online content
trapper
The Beav  Online Content
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Wisconsin
Here, we go. I see a deer I reach for my range finder I range the deer I drop my range finder I pick up my X Bow I sight in on my target. and I shoot. Seems like a lot fooling around if your just taking shots up to 40 yards.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Crossbow question [Re: The Beav] #8463121
Yesterday at 11:36 AM
Yesterday at 11:36 AM
Joined: Oct 2013
East of the Mason-Dixon Line
DelawareRob Offline
trapper
DelawareRob  Offline
trapper

Joined: Oct 2013
East of the Mason-Dixon Line
Originally Posted by The Beav
Here, we go. I see a deer I reach for my range finder I range the deer I drop my range finder I pick up my X Bow I sight in on my target. and I shoot. Seems like a lot fooling around if your just taking shots up to 40 yards.



I like to range a few trees in my shooting lanes so I already know the ranges. Deer by three big oak, 20 yards deer at water hole. 15 yards. Deer at big holly tree 30 yards.


Stop over cooking your meat! It isn’t gamey, it’s over cooked!

Gordon Ramsey, maybe…
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