Crossbow Shooting Tips

The hunting season is getting closer and closer. Are you ready? Now is the time to grab your hunting crossbow and fine-tune your shooting skills so that you are ready for the new season and ready to land a buck.

The key to being a good crossbow hunter is to not only practice frequently, but to practice under conditions that will be similar to hunting conditions. That way you will get the feel of the arrow and broadhead combination so that you will know how it will feel while hunting. Many people are good about getting out and practicing, but not doing so from ground blinds, elevated positions, or from the stalked position. Whatever method is your preferred style for hunting, this is how you should practice in the off-season. After all, if you constantly practice at the range from a standing position and you are a hunter who prefers a tree stand, you won't get the feel for how gravity can impact the trajectory of your arrow. In this example you would want to start practicing from an elevated position. If you do so, you should see some improvements in your accuracy this hunting season.

So get out there and inspect your hunting crossbow, see if you need to pick-up any new bow hunting equipment and get out there and start practicing.

Pennsylvania Approves Crossbow Hunting

Great news for Pennsylvania hunters for the 2009-2010 hunting season. The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners gave final approval to a change in regulations that will expand the use of crossbows.

Crossbows are now legal for anyone to use during the archery deer and archery bear seasons. They are no longer restricted to hunters with a disabled person permit. Hunters will simply need to purchase a hunting license and archery stamp. Other licenses may be required, such as an anterless deer license or a bear license. A bear stamp is not required for the archery bear season. A hunter simply needs a general hunting license and a bear license.

As outlined on the Pennsylvania Game Commission's website, the requirements for crossbows and bolts is as follows:

• Crossbow must have a peak draw weight of at least 125 pounds. There is no maximum.
• A bolt must have a broadhead that has an outside diameter, or width, of at least 7/8 inches and have at least 2 cutting edges on the same plane throughout the length of the cutting surface.
• Broadhead shall not exceed 3 inches in length, measured from the tip of the broadhead to the point that fits against the bolt.

In addition to being able to use crossbows to hunt during archery deer and bear seasons, hunters can continue to use crossbows during the fall turkey season, spring gobbler seasons, elk season, firearms bear season and the two-week firearms deer season.

Now that these regulations have changed, you may be ready to pick-up your first hunting crossbow. Or, to upgrade your existing crossbow. Some crossbows to consider would be:

Horton Summit HD 150 Crossbow Package. The Summit HD 150 Crossbow with Red Dot Package is one package that you "gotta have" if your are ready to start Bow hunting. It has a Summit HD Crossbow, a single dot Red Dot Sight, a Hunter Elite Quiver,3 practice arrows and 3 practice points.

Other options would include the Crosman Teton 175# Crossbow Package for the experienced hunter looking to upgrade; Excalibur Crossbow Packages or TenPoint Crossbow packages. All will provide lots of good options for you.