In some states that acceptance of crossbows has been slow. For example, Alabama adopted crossbows in 2004, but it took hunters some time to fully accept them. Once hunters started to use them, this portion of the bow hunting segment has been on fire.
The pro shops in many other states immediately saw a boom in people who were looking for a crossbow for sale. Many of the trade shows that are passing through the Midwest and the South are perfect examples of this pique in interest. Anything, and everything that is even remotely associated with crossbows is being showcased to the public at these shows.
This recent spike in hunter’s interest has opened the door to many new hunters who otherwise would have been unable to hunt. Many of these hunters are older people who can no longer hold a vertical bow at full draw, or people who have a disability of some sort. Surprisingly, there are also a good amount of gun shooters fetter buckshot that are checking out what crossbows have to offer.
Many people are still hesitant to get on the train because of the stigma that crossbows used to hold. The older models that were introduced were extremely front heavy, unbalanced, and [frankly] not the safest hunting items to use. I can honestly say that there has been many technological advancements in crossbows (as well as the archery/bow hunting communities) that can crush these long-held notions.
If you are hesitant about getting a crossbow, I ask you to take these advancements into consideration:
Previously, the fastest speed was 300 FPS, but today, that number is slightly over 400.
The standard weight used to hover around 6-7 pounds, now you can find the average in the 4-5 pound range.
Standard “Auto-Safety” mechanisms are installed to prevent you from dry firing the crossbow
The advancement of different limb systems, string suppressors, and dissipation systems have made these weapons quieter than they have ever been.
The designs for these bows also now protect the shooters fingers from getting caught above the rail, hence preventing the loss of a precious digit.
Crossbows now offer various configurations, not just the standard recurve
If you were looking to get a crossbow for sale, then I would say that now is the time. Most of the manufacturers are noticing the surge in popularity for crossbows and they are catering to that market. I predict that in the next 3-5 years there will be even more advancements in both design and capabilities. This will open up the door to many more hunters, and I presume will even convert some gun and vertical bow shooters. Only time will tell, but as of the writing of this article, I can say that 50% of the states have accepted their use in some form during hunting season. Let’s see what the next few years bring for us crossbow hunters.