Thread: Seeking Advice - New to Hunting

Get rid of the crossbow and the recurve - trade them in on a min 65lb draw compound bow. Couple of reasons. Crossbows have a very limited range in terms of the kinetic energy of the bolt. At short range they are very effective killers. Unfortunately at longer ranges they tend to wound more easily than kill. And even more unfortunately because you can pick one up and as a complete novice, use it like a firearm, I.e. point and fire, you learn squat about archery. And novices with crossbows are a recipe for wounded animals. They shoot at stuff because the bolt can get there, not because it can kill when it does. An arrow from a bow has the kinetic energy to penetrate a broadhead well into or through an animal at its most extreme range. Because of the weight of the arrow. As the French found out at the wrong end of English longbows.

The recurve is a lovely bow but will take you much longer to become proficient with as you have to hold the full weight of the bow pull at full draw. 65lb is a very effective weight for a hunting bow. Yes, you can hunt with a 45lb. But its like the difference between hunting with a rimfire and a centrefire.

The compound bow allows you to hold as little as 40% of the full pull weight at full draw length. Gives you time to hold and aim with less strength or fatigue. Also the string accelerates whereas a recurve decreases its shove on the arrow instantly from release.

With a 65lb bow or higher you can kill rabbits effectively with a blunt. Broadheads are far too expensive to waste on rabbits. Instead use a field pile and drill two holes behind the tip, flat or pointed tip, at 90 degrees to each other, one behind the other, and pass a panel pin nail through. Bend it at each end against the hole edge, each end in opposite direction, so that it is locked in place. With both pins bent and trimmed to about 5mm each leg, you get a swastika like pattern. Without the nails the rabbit or possum or wild cat will depart the scene dragging your arrow. With the nails, the full kinetic energy of the arrow is transferred to the target. Instead of penciling thru, you get broken bones and destroyed tissue. I.e. bang-flops.

I hunted and shot an awful lot of rabbits in Foxton hedgerows back in the day. A 55lb bow will do the job but only just. 65lb is much more efficient.

Hunting rabbits in hedgerows and above ground habitats don't bother with long shots. Walk slowly up on them, they will take cover and freeze. Look in the hedge, gorse, grass for the eye. Use your peripheral vision. Most folk will walk right past them. Learn to see the eye and you will shoot a lot of orchard and paddock rabbits.

The skill level you need is to be able to consistently hit a matchbox at 25 paces on the ground. I used to always have my bow in the back of my HQ Holden Station Wagon as I visited rural folk in my work. I silenced many a scoffer when they saw the bow with the match box on the lawn trick. And won a few wagers not to mention hunting rights. To be fair, I practiced daily.