Crossbow vs. compound
Stopped at KJ’s Kustom Archery in Carmichaels the other day expecting to hear tales about all the huge bucks roaming the fields and woodlots of Greene County. Instead, I learned more about the local fishing situation than the deer season outlook.
Catfish are the rage this year with everyone interested in catching flatheads near the locks on the Mon and throughout Ten Mile Creek.
Still, all visitors at the shop were there to talk deer hunting or check out the new goodies to improve the hunt.
Kevin Sr. is back in town early this year, taking a break from his job of selling archery equipment throughout the Midwest.
While he hasn’t had time to catch up on Pennsylvania’s Game Law changes, he said he was aware of the shortened antlerless deer season in some WMUs and glad to hear that.
“I think it will save some does,” he said.
As to guys showing up at the shop, most have not even been out scouting because it is too hot.
“Usually the guys are coming in in July and talking about the bucks they are seeing,” Kevin said. “This year they have been fishing instead, and lately they aren’t even doing that because it is so hot.
“Preparation for archery season has been in low gear so far. This was one of the busiest days we’ve had in three weeks,” Kevin said.
As far as new bow innovations, there isn’t much to report. Parallel limbs are definitely the rage on every brand of bow.
Kevin did note that speed is up on some of the new bow models, but not much else has changed.
Kevin said, “What I’m noticing is that crossbow sales have slowed down.”
Does Kevin think crossbows caught on to the point he thought they would once they were made legal for all hunters to use, not only those with disabilities?
“It caught on to the point where a lot of guys are buying them as an excuse because they are saying that this hurts me or that hurts me, but have they caught on for everyone? I would have to say no.” Kevin said.
“Ninety-five percent of my people out here are staying with compound bows.
“I do nine states. Crossbows are getting bigger. They are getting more people into hunting, even in our state, but in every state I deal with, everyone is behind in crossbow sales from last year.
“I believe it’s a fad that is going to fade. Don’t get me wrong. You are still going to have those few guys who hunt with them, but many find them big, heavy, cumbersome and expensive.
“More people are coming in and asking about crossbows than ever before because of the legality of them.
“If guys came in and we let them shoot a crossbow and a compound, I believe 75 percent of them would leave with a compound.
“The biggest disadvantage of the crossbow is the noise factor. You’ve got to watch shooting 60 or 70 yards at a deer. Not that they won’t shoot that far, but the deer will jump the string. It’s the same with a loud compound.
“The new compounds with parallel limbs, where the limbs don’t move and all that stuff, are so quiet that you can shoot at a deer two or three times and he won’t move.”
However, Kevin did note that there are quiet crossbows out there.
Kevin said, “What most customers are saying is that it (the crossbow) is a tool for the second season.
“One guy said this morning that he may buy one because he knows its going to go off, where over the years flintlock hunters have had so many times, where their muzzleloaders did not go off for one reason or another,” Kevin said.
I do know the feeling.
Kevin feels that a lot of guys contemplate buying a crossbow just for that reason.
He pointed out that it’s cold in the late deer seasons, requiring too many clothes, making drawing a bow much more difficult.
Plus there is the movement with no foliage, so the deer can see you easier, plus there is always more than one set of eyes because the deer tend to congregate in groups when it gets cold.
They come into feed in groups, so instead of one set of eyes to spot you, there are multiple sets of eyes looking at you, making it hard to draw on them.
I think I’ll stick with my smokepole and hope for the best.
What about equipment innovation?
“Nothing has really changed. Nothing has really changed in the sights. The fall-away rests are by far the most popular, but I can’t believe the number of whisker biscuit rests that are sold,” Kevin said.
“People want the containment. Whisker biscuit rests have just come so far. I love the fall-away rests. I believe they shoot better. I believe the arrow flies better with them. We try to point out the benefits of them, but two out of three people who come into the store prefer the whisker biscuit rest for deer hunting because it all but eliminates the possibility of you arrow falling off the rest while you are in the stand. It’s all about containment.”
Kevin went on to say that video trail cameras are very big with numerous sportsmen buying them to track game movement.
Carbon arrows are still big with more brands coming on the market all the time, and lighted nocks are still extremely popular.
Since he sells all sorts of equipment, I asked Kevin how he felt about the lights designed to help a hunter pick up a blood trail.
“We have not sold any,” Kevin said, but they are getting big in Illinois. They are big right now. They work, and they are effective. There are some good ones out there, but I don’t think they’ll ever catch on around here. Really, I don’t.
“In Illinois a lot of guys have them in their camps, but I don’t think they will catch on in Pennsylvania.
“They are legal. You are going to find one out of the 10 deer you wouldn’t find, but the ultimate blood magic is to put a good shot on him and recover him within 100 yards.
“Any deer that goes over 150 yards only has a recovery rate of 25 percent, and there is nothing you can do about it. It’s all about arrow placement.”
While there is a diehard group of archery bear hunters in Fayette County, I asked Kevin why it hasn’t caught on with more members of the bowhunting community. He said that most hunters from Greene County never even consider it. He doesn’t know why.
I realize there aren’t huntable bears in Greene County, but many local hunters go for the joy of the hunt, and are still waiting to see there first bear.
Maybe this will be the year of the archery bear hunter.
Herald-Standard Outdoor Editor Rod Schoener can be contacted online at rschoener@heraldstandard.com.