Crossbow Hunting: How to Get Ready For The Shot With Minimum Movement

It never fails. Every year I receive calls from first-time crossbow hunters complaining about how heavy and cumbersome crossbows can be in the stand.

Unlike vertical bows that are much lighter and can be placed vertically on a tree hook or belt holder, crossbows, for the most part, must be positioned horizontally to maneuver with the least amount of movement.

Holding your crossbow all day probably isn't an option. Even resting the crossbow across your lap can become tedious after a few hours. Hanging the crossbow from a tree hook is great when you're entering and exiting the stand, and even for a short break or snack. However, if the crossbow is hanging when game approaches, most likely you'll be detected as you try to remove the crossbow from the hook and get it into the horizontal shooting position. Therefore we must seek out other options.

A rail around your tree stand can be a great aid for several reasons. If you're already hunting from a ladder stand, I'm sure you're aware of the benefits a rail surrounding your stand can provide. Not only are they a great safety feature, they also help you with stabilization during the time of the shot. Even more importantly, they allow you to keep your crossbow in the basic ready position without much effort before the shot. Safety rails can be purchased as an add on feature for most fixed position tree stands and are a great asset to improve your comfort and shooting accuracy.

Another viable option to help with the weight distribution of your crossbow while in the stand is the shooting sling system. There are currently several models on the market that allow hunters to attach their crossbow to a sling, which hangs in front of the hunter close to the shooting position. With the crossbow attached, the sling helps distribute the weight of the crossbow over the shooter's shoulders. Little movement is need as the crossbow needs to be lifted only a few inches to the shoulder.

Finally, there are some newer products on the market, which attach directly to the tree stand and hold the crossbow securely with the limbs down and the stock up. These products are great for affording the hunter comfort in the stand, but they take the most amount of movement to get the crossbow into a shooting position. There are even models made for ground blinds or hunting in the open.

Regardless of which method you choose, it's always best to use some form of support to help counter balance the weight and size of your crossbow in the stand. Comfort is the first step to success in any hunting situation.