I’ve been shopping for archery equipment over the past few weeks, and I’ve come to the conclusion that a compound bow is the way to go. Crossbows may have one or two advantages over them, but compound bows are the better choice overall with greater benefits for the hunter, who wants the best new equipment but more of the old-fashioned archery experience.
For starters, a compound bow is more like a traditional long-bow and arrow, so it’s truer to the sport. They’re held vertically like a traditional bow, and while they employ a sophisticated lever system of cables and pulleys to flex their limbs, the drawing action is very similar to a traditional bow.
Crossbows are more like rifles. They’re held horizontally, and the arrow is released with the pull of a trigger. They’re easier to master, which makes crossbows a good choice for beginners, the very young and elderly people. However, if you’re going to go this route, why not just buy a gun?
I also lean toward buying a compound bow because its weight is more evenly balanced across the entire weapon, and it’s shorter, which makes it easier to transport. Several reputable online archery dealers, including QualityArcheryBows.com, offer some of the best names in bows, such as Diamond, Martin and PSE Compound bows. I’ve got my heart set on the Pantera model from Martin. For just under $500, you get a light and speedy hunting machine with a new feature that eliminates vibration.