Hunting The Horizontal Way

With more and more states opening their forests to crossbows, and more hunters taking horizontal bows to the field, now is the time to set aside any misgivings and try out one for yourself. 

Crossbows are gaining acceptance across North America, and why shouldn't they? They take their game with a broadhead-tipped arrow, and thus I believe they should rightly be regulated under archery regulations. It simply makes no sense for a weapon with an effective off-hand range of, say, 60 yards to be classified as a firearm simply because it has the ability to hold its potential--at full draw--mechanically. Many states have realized this and embraced crossbows as archery tackle during the archery season. As of this writing, horizontal bowhunters have not managed to depopulate any species as a result.

The main argument against crossbows has been their ability to be locked at full draw.

Bowhunters initially shunned crossbows, and gun hunters rightly pointed out that the business end of a crossbow is propelled by a string and gains its lethality from a broadhead. In truth, taking a crossbow to the field is a challenge. If you are hunting from a blind, movement, or lack of it, is a moot point with a well-designed blacked-out-interior blind. From a stand, the movement of bringing a crossbow up to a shooting position, clicking off a safety when a wily buck is in or near range and looking through a scope is a lot harder than it sounds--just ask anyone who has tried it.

The advantages crossbows do bring to the hunter's table are simple. First, those who do not have or take the time to really become proficient with a bow will be much more accurate with a crossbow--something all hunters owe the game they pursue. The second advantage is opening hunting season, or seasons, to those who physically cannot pull a bow. However, success rates for hunters in these categories have not proven to be any higher than for hunters hunting with a vertical bow, so I do not see any reason for the separation in hunting laws. At any rate, if you have never bowhunted, but are looking for a new challenge, crossbows are the perfect transition weapon.

TenPoint Turbo XLT
The Turbo XLT is one of the latest descendents of TenPoint's Compact Limb System, but it differs in many ways. The Turbo XLT features a lighter riser and shorter limbs than previous models. The Turbo XLT is powered by TenPoint's High Performance MR Cams with Ultra-Cam strings and cables. The cables feature a tunable yoke, which can be used to balance the limb and prevent limb torque. Safety features include TenPoint's Dry Fire Inhibitor and safety that automatically engages when the bow is drawn. The Power Touch 10 trigger revealed a noticeable amount of travel and was measured at 31/2 pounds.

One the range, the 180-pound Turbo XLT was impressive. The incorporated draw system makes sense, and you'll never have to worry about leaving it behind. The included vibration-dampening blocks were noticeable and kept recoil at an absolute minimum.

Weighing in at seven pounds, 11 ounces, the Turbo XLT had enough heft to feel solid, but not so much as to be burdensome. The Turbo XLT comes decked in Mossy Oak Break Up Infinity: $899 to $999; tenpointcrossbows.com