Crossbow at close range

[Annapolis]

I may have an opportunity to hunt with a crossbow at very close range—think approx 15ft—from a ground blind. This would be with a Ravin R10 using an expandable broad head that’s rated for the speed the R10 puts out.

I’m assuming at such close range that deer is going to get the full force of that crossbow’s power and probably won’t have the time to drop/duck at all, so I should be aiming exactly where I want to hit?

Any other variables I might not be thinking about here?

I’m also just curious—those who may have hunted with a mechanical out of an R10–how far did the deer run? (I do know there are many factors to this, not least shot placement.)

 

[Sadie]

You don't have to worry about the deer ducking the arrow at that range..last deer I shot with a 2 and a quarter inch schwacker.ran 166 yards with a good hit. You will probably be more fortunate. He did leave a good blood trail. Bow was a 405 matrix. Good luck.

 

[Sadie]

Excalibur crossbow

 

[Rich M]

Deer won't be ducking.

Would love 15 ft shots.

Punch him thru the lungs and heart, they run somewhere between 5 and 200 yards to an arrow. If it goes over 200 yards, you definitely didn't double lung it. Realistically, think 60-80 yards. A quick sprint and tea cup over tea kettle...

I use chinese knockoff rages out of a Crosspoint x-bow and like em.

Good luck.

 

[EdP]

My crossbow is an effective killer but I have lost more deer than I am happy about. It is due to no blood trail to track and dense underbrush. Using Grim Reapers and shots 40 yds or closer.

 

[North of 60]

No worries if you just wait for a broadside shot and shoot through both lungs. Hardest part may be finding the bolt after a good shot (after how far it goes after exiting the deer)

Bow hunting deer close (within 5-10 yds) is great fun.

 

[Rich M]

My crossbow is an effective killer but I have lost more deer than I am happy about. It is due to no blood trail to track and dense underbrush. Using Grim Reapers and shots 40 yds or closer.

I shot my first xbow deer w a grim reaper.

Deer jump the string on me a lot w bow. I rarely bow hunt due to this. Never had trouble finding blood, even on the bad shots.

Not being critical - have you tried different points of aim? Heart is just above the deer’s elbow - straight up the leg. The guys on tv usually shoot too far back.

 

[Big Lew]

I may have an opportunity to hunt with a crossbow at very close range—think approx 15ft—from a ground blind. This would be with a Ravin R10 using an expandable broad head that’s rated for the speed the R10 puts out.

I’m assuming at such close range that deer is going to get the full force of that crossbow’s power and probably won’t have the time to drop/duck at all, so I should be aiming exactly where I want to hit?

Any other variables I might not be thinking about here?

I’m also just curious—those who may have hunted with a mechanical out of an R10–how far did the deer run? (I do know there are many factors to this, not least shot placement.)

I shot a 6 point at 10 yards. He was broadside and I hit him through both lungs with a Ramcat Diamondback Hybrid.

He ran approximately 50 yards. The Ramcat provided an excellent blood trail and he was easy to find.

 

[EdP]

Not being critical - have you tried different points of aim? Heart is just above the deer’s elbow - straight up the leg. The guys on tv usually shoot too far back.

I have spent many hours searching unsuccessfully for deer shot through the vitals via my crossbow, only to find the decaying carcass days later. With thick underbrush and zero blood trail it has been a frustrating experience. Most I do find but I don't like failing to find any deer I have shot. Even the deer I find there is rarely any blood trail at all. A few drops in the direction the deer ran is all I have ever gotten until I find the dead deer in a pool of blood. The shafts I sometimes find but often they are sunk into the ground and I never see them again due to the downward angle of most of my shots.

 

[Annapolis]

I have a (low end but very decent) thermal monocular that I’m hoping will prove useful if I’m struggling to find the deer. I mean, large warm mass that’s not moving… should stand out?

 

[Texasbuckeye]

I have shot a bunch of deer, doe and bucks, with a crossbow at ranges from 10 yards to 35 yards. I don't shoot much farther than that at deer as they can create bad shots if given the time.

I have had deer run from nothing to 100+ yards, most are shot and drop within 50-60 yards. Blood trails have been anything from scant to heavy. I have not found a broadhead that did better or worse in that regard, and i have shot many types, currently using the tenpoint EVO-X and have been happy with it, but have shot grim reapers, and some others. It wasn't a matter of losing deer and trying to different things, it was just trying to get better and try different things. I have not lost a deer I have shot with the xbow yet. I have been with and witnessed two shots that "should" have been deadly that ended up with lost doe.

My biggest suggestion is get lighted nocks. They are a game changer and you can see exactly where the bolt hit the deer.

Second suggestion, at the range you are shooting, aim right where you want to hit. I always try to aim a little lower in the mid chest and hope to hit lower third of chest, it allows a quicker and more obvious blood trail than a high chest shot.

Third suggestion, if you have not shot a deer before with a xbow, shoot some doe first. Don't try to start with a buck.

The ravin is a solid xbow, it will do that job well. But if you are not doing your part, a bow is easily more mess-up-able than a gun. A good broadhead and bow will cover quite a few mistakes, but sometimes there are variables that just make for a tremendously difficult track or a lost deer if you are not doing your part 100%.

Good luck and shoot straight!

 

[Texasbuckeye]

I have a (low end but very decent) thermal monocular that I’m hoping will prove useful if I’m struggling to find the deer. I mean, large warm mass that’s not moving… should stand out?

Thermals work great in open crop fields that have no stubble or standing crop. They work not so good everywhere else.

If you are hunting in an area with tall grass, forget about it. No thermal will cut thru tall grass to help find an animal. I have had plenty of time behind a thermal and they really were of zero help finding downed animals.

I am not saying to not use it. But use it as a last resort. Good blood tracking technique will far surpass the thermals abilities on any day of the week. Technology does not usurp woodcraft in any regard, esp with downed animals.

What is the type of vegetation you will be hunting in and how dense is it? And what is around as far as woods or forest or swamp? What state are you hunting in?

 

[North of 60]

Definitely go for the lower 1/3 behind the shoulder broadside which is what i meant with a good broadside shot earlier. Agree with Texasbuckeye that it will also help with more blood generally speaking.

And if you were to miss, it is better to miss low than to hit too high where the odds of wounding and not finding the deer are much increased.

Secondly, most deer will crouch and spring before running when they hear a bow being shot, and aiming for the lower 1/3 helps with that expected crouch for me.

 

[Annapolis]

Thermals work great in open crop fields that have no stubble or standing crop. They work not so good everywhere else.

If you are hunting in an area with tall grass, forget about it. No thermal will cut thru tall grass to help find an animal. I have had plenty of time behind a thermal and they really were of zero help finding downed animals.

I am not saying to not use it. But use it as a last resort. Good blood tracking technique will far surpass the thermals abilities on any day of the week. Technology does not usurp woodcraft in any regard, esp with downed animals.

What is the type of vegetation you will be hunting in and how dense is it? And what is around as far as woods or forest or swamp? What state are you hunting in?

This is an open yard adjacent to overbrowsed deciduous forest. Based on what I’ve seen the deer travel through the woods and come into the yard to feed—I expect that once hit, the deer will bolt into the woods and (assuming a good shot) pile up somewhere in there. Ground cover in the woods isn’t super heavy, which is why I’m thinking the thermal might come in handy, but it’s certainly not something I plan to depend on.

 

[Texasbuckeye]

Woth thermal, stumps, rocks, and other loose soil may show as hot if the temps are early fall temps. Once the weather turns cold, the sun will still heat those things to some degree and make finding a deer in there with strictly the thermal more challenging.

If your forests are like mine, i can throw a basketball in the summer 30-40 yards and lose it completely. Its perfect density for deer. But makes finding a piled up deer challenging, and the thermal useless. By late winter a lot of the greenery is dead and makes things a little easier, but still could not see much deer activiity on thermal unless the deer were right at the tree line or within a few feet.

 

[North of 60]

@Annapolis - Some other variables to consider as you seem fairly new, and sincere apologies if stepping on toes

Helpful tips for extreme close-up whitetail hunting on the ground in pressured areas (in my experience):
1. Be sure to hunt the wind...with the wind is in your face you are giving up everything behind you (smell)
2. Wear very quiet clothing (think fleece)
3. Camo helps tremendously for pressured whitetails
4. Include camo on your head, face and hands
5. Natural ground blinds (branches and such) will usually work better on pressured deer than fabric, tent-like ground blinds newly put in place at a hunting spot