Crossbow for deer season in Ohio

[Johnpenguin]

I am looking to find a decent entry level crossbow for this season. I am thinking about the wicked ridge rampage right now, but was hoping some of you guys could give me your opinion. Thanks in advance.

[Skunkmaster-k]

I use the Barnett Penetrator. I’m pretty sure it was around 600$ in 2013- ish.  That dude is a beast. 

[Johnpenguin]

3 hours ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

I use the Barnett Penetrator. I’m pretty sure it was around 600$ in 2013- ish.  That dude is a beast. 

It doesn’t seem like they sell that one anymore 

[GaryH]

Wicked ridge are great crossbows. There made by Tenpoint imho the best crossbow on the market.

[InfantryMP]

I have a killer instinct 410. I have only shot it practicing and sighting in, but I like it. I think I paid $380 for it, and then I bought a crank as well to help pull it back. I have been very accurate at 45-50 yards.

[Johnpenguin]

4 hours ago, InfantryMP said:

I have a killer instinct 410. I have only shot it practicing and sighting in, but I like it. I think I paid $380 for it, and then I bought a crank as well to help pull it back. I have been very accurate at 45-50 yards.

Do you think 370 fps will be as accurate?

[InfantryMP]

35 minutes ago, Johnpenguin said:

Do you think 370 fps will be as accurate?

 

It will be accurate as much as you can shoot well to be honest. I sighted in and zeroed on a tripod. There is not room for error to zero it. After that it would be up to me for accuracy. 

[T-Billy]

My old excalibur matrix 330 ain't the fastest, lightest, or smallest, but it's dead simple, super accurate, uber reliable, and it's made several dozen deer dead. It's paid for itself over and over again in meat.

[gim]

You guys are so lucky that Ohio allows the use of a crossbow during “archery” season. Minnesota won’t allow them unless you are at least 60 or have a disability permit. Only traditional compound or recurve bows are allowed. This is the same state that still has a completely closed season for bass from February to mid May. #bushleague

[Bird]

Only cross bows I've owned were ten point.

 

Seems VA is considering the use of air bows for archery season.

I've shot one and it's actually a step up in speed and accuracy and a major step up in ease of use.

[Johnpenguin]

On 9/13/2022 at 7:24 PM, gimruis said:

You guys are so lucky that Ohio allows the use of a crossbow during “archery” season. Minnesota won’t allow them unless you are at least 60 or have a disability permit. Only traditional compound or recurve bows are allowed. This is the same state that still has a completely closed season for bass from February to mid May. #bushleague

That is really tough.. you can’t fish when the giants are biting

[gim]

10 minutes ago, Johnpenguin said:

That is really tough.. you can’t fish when the giants are biting

It actually used to be in late May and they moved it to mid May about 10 years ago. I think parts of Ontario don’t open until June.

 

Bear in mind we often have ice on the lakes 

until early to mid April too.

[JackstrawIII]

I have a Barnett Ghost 410. Been very reliable and I've used it on deer up to about 65 yards... though it could go further easily I'm sure. 

 

The real benefits to a faster crossbow are less holdover and wind deflection. Due to the heavy bolts, lethality is pretty good even from slower bows. 

[Johnpenguin]

2 hours ago, JackstrawIII said:

I have a Barnett Ghost 410. Been very reliable and I've used it on deer up to about 65 yards... though it could go further easily I'm sure. 

 

The real benefits to a faster crossbow are less holdover and wind deflection. Due to the heavy bolts, lethality is pretty good even from slower bows. 

It doesn’t seem like you can get the ghost anymore

[JackstrawIII]

On 9/16/2022 at 11:04 PM, Johnpenguin said:

It doesn’t seem like you can get the ghost anymore

I don't follow new releases in the bow world, but I'm sure whatever they're making these days is decent. If I was looking for a new bow today, I'd be looking for the lightest/smallest crossbow I could afford that shot over 400 fps. 

There's nothing magical about that number, but that's what I'd be looking for. 

[gim]

I've got a couple friends who have the Ravin crossbows.  They aren't cheap but they seem like they are the Cadillac of crossbows.

[Johnpenguin]

I ended up going with the wicked ridge rampage. Lays them in at 50 yards no problem at all.