Originally posted by stantond
Virginia just opened up crossbow hunting this year, so I decided to get a crossbow and try my hand at deer hunting. So far, I've gotten the license and some hunting locations. I still need a climbing treestand and of course to "get out there".
The only part I am hesitant about is cleaning the deer after it's shot and getting it back home. I've found some videos on the net and have cleaned plenty of smaller game. Still, a deer is a pretty big animal to deal with after it's shot.
I've even though of ways to get the hide tanned as a fur or just deerskin. Eating the animal won't be a problem and I'm somewhat of an amateur butcher so, other than bones, that's ok. Do people just put the remains in a trash bag and throw it away? That's what I intend to do.
Regarding ethics, I think that's extremely important in this day and age. It's refreshing to know how many supporters of hunting there are, but they aren't vocal. It's the anti-hunters that get on the news and try and influence the general public.
Crossbow hunting is basically the same as regular bow hunting (although a separate license is needed in VA) with the deer dieing due to blood loss. I may get into traditional recurve hunting next year but that depends on how much I practice. The crossbow can keep all shots within 2" at 20 yards (my self imposed maximum range). With the recurve I can keep 90% of the shots within 10" at 20 yards.
I may decide deer hunting isn't for me, but it's a really good excuse to buy a modern crossbow!
Regards,
Malta
I used for a number of years a Horton crossbow with a 150lb pull. I bagged 1 deer in all those years. I successfully pinned to trees a couple squirrels and bagged a couple of rabbits (My 6 arrow quiver still has 2 field point equipped arrows for just such a reason)
I didn't like it because it wasn't for me. It's the business for a lot of people though. The cons for me were:
It's bulky
It's heavier than a traditional bow
It's noisy (but the bolts shoot faster)
It has a weak range compared to a longbow
It IS accurate
It IS consistant
it IS perfect for someone brand new to hunting or with a handicap
I have no problem shooting a target with either out to 40 yards. For grins I have a 60 yard pin on my bow mostly because too many coyotes have gotten away. My first deer with a longbow (Compound bow) was at 40 yards and the rest have been inside of 15. All but one from the ground as I'm not typically in a tree.
As far as disposing of remains...where we live there are lots of farm fields around and one in particular with a ditch about 1000yds long. We've discovered that placing the deer remains in the middle of the field while in the cover of the ditch at night time makes for great coyote hunting. Squirrels nibble on the bones and eventually everything decomposes.
I've never tried throwing them away but do throw away geese, ducks and doves once I breast them out. Other than being much heavier and warranting several bags I don't see the big deal but I'm sure you'll want to quietly check local information on your own.
Even if I do have a deer butchered I take the tenderloin out myself because I do a butterfly-esque cut to them that no butcher has ever seemed to get right. Plus I've had them come back a little light a number of times and you do not mess with my venison tenderloin!
Do enjoy. I find myself using my camera more than a weapon in the last couple years. Must mean there's something worth seeing out there.
Take a look at the movie links I posted above. I walked up on a deer a couple weeks ago and was less than 10 paces from it when I first saw it. I drew on it because all I saw was the back of a head as it was bedded down in heavy wind at the edge of a field. After 3 minutes (and lots and lots of arm pain!) it stood up and I saw how big it was.
It took me a little extra time to get the camera out of my pocket slowly mostly using the bow itself to hide my own movement and finally get the video going. The still picture was taken after the video when the little thing wouldn't run away until the big doe behind it winded me and took off.
