No author has considered crossbows as hunting instruments more thoroughly than Wm. Hovey Smith in "Crossbow Hunting" (Stackpole, 2006). Although crossbows are not legal in all states for use during archery seasons, more states are allowing crossbows every year.

Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Texas and Rhode Island permitted most of their archery hunters to use crossbows for the first time this year. North Carolina passed a similar law, but a legal restriction prevented it from being implemented. These states have joined most of the Southeastern states and a sprinkling of others throughout the Midwest and West in permitting crossbow use.

Much of the reason for the increased acceptance of the crossbow is that they allow women, people with disabilities and kids to participate in archery hunting even if they cannot pull a hunting-weight bow.

Once, crossbows were too underpowered for deer hunting or too heavy for many people to comfortably use. Now, crossbows range from those that are adequate for close-range deer shooting that weigh about 6.5 pounds to others weighing over 12 pounds with built-in mechanical cocking systems and monopods. Every North American maker of crossbows has options for reducing the cocking pull weight on their crossbows by using a string cocker or more elaborate systems.

Crossbows allow extremely accurate shot placement at ranges of up to about 40 yards. The heavier, more powerful, instruments are easier to shoot and have a flatter trajectory. In the hands of experts these crossbows can slightly extend the 40-yard kill range. The limiting factors are arrow drop and wind deflection.

Smith has taught women of all ages to hunt using crossbows by Barnett, BowTech, Darton, Excalibur, Horton, Parker and TenPoint, and can recommend these makers' products.

Most shooters are well served by crossbows that have pull weights of about 150 pounds. Barnett, Horton and others offer short-stocked versions for smaller-framed individuals. Notable among these are the Barnett RC 150 and the Horton Scout. These can take a variety of sight options including scopes, red dot and peep and pin sights. Now anyone can find a crossbow that fits them, they can operate comfortably and will shoot well. The higher-priced crossbows are easier to learn to shoot, but heavier to haul around. The lower-priced ones are nice to carry, but have shorter reliable killing ranges and are less durable.

"Crossbow Hunting" considers all aspects of crossbow hunting from choosing basic equipment, defining terms, discussing the legal aspects of crossbow use and how to hunt with them. Also included are descriptions of hunts for animals as diverse as alligators to African lions. The book is heavily illustrated and concludes with chapters on game processing and a variety of the author's recipes.

The book retails for $19.95 and is available from Amazon.com, other mail-order outlets and may be ordered from your local bookstore using ISBN 7790811733113. More information on Crossbow Hunting may be found on the author's website www.hoveysmith.com.

Article from The Women's Outdoor Wire