Got my first crossbow kill.

I've had my Barnett Jackal for 4 years but I've never used it for a hunt until this past weekend. I'd moved my ground blind to just 20 yards off the game trail I hunt and since archery was either sex on opening weekend, I figured I'd go for it.

On Sunday, early in the afternoon, I was fortunate enough to have a young (fork horn) buck come down the trail and present a shot just 15 yards from my little one-man doghouse blind.

That was extremely cool. I may not take my rifle out at all this year. I don't have any shots over 35 yards from that blind anyways.

Used a Barnett Outdoors Carbon Crossbow 20-Inch bolt with a Rage Crossbow X Extreme Two-Blade Broadhead.

Congrats!

Way to
Go!!!!!

Welcome to the 1st xbow kill 2017 club.

Where are the pictures?

Tenpin said:

I've had my Barnett Jackal for 4 years but I've never used it for a hunt until this past weekend. I'd moved my ground blind to just 20 yards off the game trail I hunt and since archery was either sex on opening weekend, I figured I'd go for it.

On Sunday, early in the afternoon, I was fortunate enough to have a young (fork horn) buck come down the trail and present a shot just 15 yards from my little one-man doghouse blind.

That was extremely cool. I may not take my rifle out at all this year. I don't have any shots over 35 yards from that blind anyways.

Used a Barnett Outdoors Carbon Crossbow 20-Inch bolt with a Rage Crossbow X Extreme Two-Blade Broadhead.

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awesome! Did that Jackal smoke him? Reason I ask is I'm thinking about getting an X-bow for next season and all my shots will be 15 yards & under (if I can get that close with my recurve now there's no excuse for taking shots any longer, right?) so I'll look into the price on a Jackal if you recommend them.

oldfella1962 said:

awesome! Did that Jackal smoke him? Reason I ask is I'm thinking about getting an X-bow for next season and all my shots will be 15 yards & under (if I can get that close with my recurve now there's no excuse for taking shots any longer, right?) so I'll look into the price on a Jackal if you recommend them.

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It would be hard to recommend it based solely on hunting experience with it - like I said, it was my first kill, it was also my only shot hunting with it.

One shot, one kill.

That being said, the Jackal is consistent when shooting targets and can nail a quarter at 35 yards. I don't shoot at a target more than one bolt at a time for fear of shattering a bolt on the second shot.

I say get one.

I'd say the biggest advantage is not having to draw and attract attention in close quarters.

Tenpin said:

It would be hard to recommend it based solely on hunting experience with it - like I said, it was my first kill, it was also my only shot hunting with it.

One shot, one kill.

That being said, the Jackal is consistent when shooting targets and can nail a quarter at 35 yards. I don't shoot at a target more than one bolt at a time for fear of shattering a bolt on the second shot.

I say get one.

I'd say the biggest advantage is not having to draw and attract attention in close quarters.

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yes, that's what holding me down. I have great spots with plenty of deer at close range, my camo & scent control is perfect, but if I don't have some wind to move the leaves behind me, I can't draw back! sure you can wait until they get their head behind a tree, but they always walk a path where they have complete visibility - I can't blame them!

If all I had to do was squeeze a trigger - it would be a slam dunk. 300 or so FPS at 15 yards away means the deer have very little time to duck down. They might hear a crossbow, but moving their body takes another .1 second - too late most of the time.

I'm honestly thinking about riding out the rest of this season with my son's high quality zoom lens camera. I might as well accomplish something with being able to get so close to deer!