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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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…

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

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.

Unless you're a savant at guessing the range, use a rangefinder and pick targets in your shooting lanes.

Definitely need a rangefinder. Eric

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.

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

Thank you everyone for your advice.

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.

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.