Midieval Crossbows

Description of a crossbow from the middle ages

The crossbow had a wooden stock coated in a varnish

It normally spanned three feet

The bow was made of wood

The string was made of  hemp or sinew

The crossbow dates back to 6000 BC  China then migrated to the Romans and Greek civilization.The crossbow was reintroduced to England by William the Conqueror  and the Normans in 1065 . The medieval crossbow had a range of 350 yards and could penetrate a Knight’s armor which was one of the reasons that led to downfall or need of Knights. Crossbows were fine defensive weapons for castles but there slow rate of fire ( about two bolts per minute ) proved to be a problem on the battle field . The crossbow was easy to use, it required minimum training and young boys and old men could use it. The medieval Knight   was the most powerful warrior of his time and said to be worth ten to twelve foot soldiers who  were considered expendable. The tables got turned and the Knights  lost many members. In 1139 Pope Innocent II issued a judgment against Christian using crossbows  against other Christians. This judgment was ignored and the use of crossbows increased in England and Europe.Article 51 of the Magna Carta banned from the Kingdom all foreign Knights, Crossbow men and mercenary solders.

Medieval Royalty and the crossbow

Many European and English Royals used crossbows for sport and hunting including King James I and Queen Elisabeth I. You might have heard the term ” A bolt out of the blue ” This came about because it implies a crossbow bolt hitting someone without warning.

King Richard died in France in 1199 of gangrene after being shot with a bolt from a crossbow.

The main disadvantage of the crossbow was how hard it was to manufacture  and its slow rate of fire.

The shield of the crossbow man called a Pavise was his only protection on the battle field.

How to Find the Best Deer Hunting Spots

Selecting a hunting area is the first thing you should be thinking about when you go into the woods this spring scouting for that new hot spot for next fall.

Keep a lookout for deer antler sheds and moral mushrooms while you scout the area. I was out two weeks ago and found one side of shed and if that is any indication of the kind and size of deer that live here this might be a prime hunting spot.

One of the things I look for are red oak trees as the acorns from them are a favorite natural food for deer. You must understand that a deer is a herbivore and will eat almost any plant it can find. Up here where I live in Northern Michigan we must fence off all our gardens and flower beds near our house all summer long as the deer think that they are desert.
The next thing I look for is a place for the bucks to drink. Even though the deer get water from the plants they eat they still require up to a gallon of water a day in the  summer and a half gallon a day the rest of the year.
The bucks like to stay hidden in the fall so they will not stray too far from cover to drink or eat.
Another thing I look for is where the deer like to bed down. I know that they like a spot that has high grass so they can hide but I also know that they like to lay on a north slope so they can get good sun from the south. I have observed deer in the winter laying on a north slope so they could absorb all the warmth possible.
I also watch deer trails as deer are social type of animals – more the does than the bucks but keep in mind the bucks will cast off his reserve in the mating season and chase herds of ten to fifteen does selecting the does that are ready to mate with him.

I also watch and pay attention to the prevailing winds in selecting the tree I would like to hunt from.
Last but not least yes I am watching for the deer but this time of year I am also out looking for morel mushrooms, I love morels and this allows me to do two things at once.

How to prepare docoys for hunting

I always try to be very careful handling a deer decoy when I take it to the woods and when I set it up.

When I get a new decoy I always wipe it down with clean paper towels and sent

removing  material. When I finish that I wrap it in plastic. When I take it to the woods I leave it wrapped until I set it up. If the decoy is a buck I have the face of the decoy facing me because if another buck come to challenge my decoy he will face the decoy and in so doing present the hunter a broad side shot or quartering away shot.

If the decoy is a doe I will have her facing ninety degrees to one hundred eighty degrees from me plus I will put sent on the ground  near her hind quarters.

No matter whether  you use a male or female decoy make sure that you are upwind of you decoy. Good luck hunting.

A Beginner’s Guide to Crossbow Hunting

In the beginning, hunting was a means of survival. Location was the deciding factor of what you hunted, including anything from high-altitude game in the mountains to salt-water fish along the coast, but over time as new and improved resources became available, hunting became a form of recreation for the majority of the civilized world and people could decide what they wanted to hunt and where.

If you’re a beginner interested in crossbow hunting, which is a form of archery, consider checking out the Barnett Wildcat – A Great Crossbow Package for Beginners along with the following tips all about how to get started.

Note: Hunting laws and license requirements vary depending on your location. Be sure to check with federal, state, and local requirements before getting started.

5 historical facts about the crossbow

1.    Though crossbows can be found in the histories of many countries, the earliest historical recovery related to the crossbow dates back as early as the mid 5th century, BC.
2.    Innovative crossbow manufacturers led to the development of the handheld, multiple-shot, and repeating crossbows.
3.    Crossbows were primarily used by the militaries throughout the world.
4.    Crossbows were replaced by more powerful, gunpowder weapons.
5.    The crossbow is referenced in Sun Tzu’s classic book, The Art of War.

Getting Your Hunting and Crossbow License

After referring to your state and local laws regarding hunting and crossbow license requirements, you can approach the process with a better understanding. For the most part, you will need to take a class (usually a minimum of 8 hours) from a certified instructor or school, pass the final test, and pay the fees for your hunting license. These fees are annual, so you will need to update your license every year.

Once you have your hunting license, you can set out for your crossbow license, which also requires passing a test. You might not have to pay an additional fee for this license depending on your location, so be sure to check with the requirements of your city and state.

Finding the Best Crossbow Equipment

You will find a wide selection of crossbows and equipment available, including recurve and compound styles. Study the various models to learn the differences in how each crossbow type works, what they requires from the operator, and what modifications can be made.

If you’re interested in adding a red dot site or scope to your crossbow, be sure to find a model that accommodates such add-ons.

Consider the type of hunting you want to be doing. Planning on hunting long-range will require a larger weapon. In turn, you will need to find the appropriate bolts (sometimes called quarrels or arrows). Bolt length will dictate the range of accuracy and distance, so if you are planning on using a scope and larger crossbow, you will need to consider the various long-range bolts that accommodate the weapon.

Understand what hunts you can join

Though crossbows are a form of archery, many states classify crossbows alongside gun powered weapons and restrict the use of such weapons during archery season (with the exception of handicapped hunters). Research how your state views crossbow hunting in order to gain a better understanding of which hunts you can join.

Approach your hunt with a strategy

Over the course of the hunting evolution, we’ve gained more powerful weapons and developed tools that help to a hunter more efficient and successful. However, it’s the development of strategy that has helped us create our own unique approach to hunting, just as a lion or bear, and thus helped us achieve more success with our hunting efforts.

Scent – If they can smell you, they can see you

Just as our approach to hunting has evolved over time, the animal’s senses and approach to survival has as well. Though we only depend on it mildly, scent is a huge factor in terms of survival for the game you’re likely going to be hunting. To avoid being detected by an animal during the hunt, be sure to wash regularly using an unscented soap. Obviously, wearing your finest cologne during the hunt isn’t a smart idea. This applies for your clothing and gear as well. Be sure to wash everything you plan on brining into the hunt with baking soda regularly (urgently if returning from successful a hunt) to avoid any lingering scents.

You probably wouldn’t hang around if you saw blood; likewise, animals aren’t going to hang around if they smell it.

Camouflage – stay hidden, but stay safe too

Everyone knows what camouflage is –the art of becoming invisible. With a wide range of different types of camouflage designed to blend with different environments, including different types of forests, lighter climates, and more, hunters have the ability to disappear from view by wearing pants, jackets, and even tarps or nets.

There are a few approaches to this aspect of hunting. While one hunter might believe it’s best to hide him or herself completely out of view, other hunters believe animals don’t recognize safety colors, such as bright orange, as a threat and therefore ignore it.

Consider studying this debate and create your own perspective. You will also need to consult the various regulations, requirements, and both local and state laws in place.

Patience – let your prey come to you

As a crossbow hunter, your equipment only allows for so much distance before your bolts lose their accuracy, so it’s better to approach your hunt with the ability to wait. While lures (if legal in your area), such as acorns and other food, might help decrease the time it takes to see your first potential prey.

Hunting equipment manufacturers make this possible with the production of camp-like pitch tents and platforms you can install in trees. Consider your options and comfort needs, as you will likely be waiting for several hours before seeing prey.

Shortly after your prey enters your zone of accuracy and you take the shot, refrain from running after the animal in excitement. This action will cause the animal to dash away, which even if injured might be able to lose you in the thick and find a secluded area or hiding spot. Depending on how critical your hit was, the animal may die shortly after or recover. Instead, observe where you hit the animal and how critical it seems. It’s likely the animal will stagger from where they were hit, but not far. Wait for up to an hour before approaching the animal. This will help avoid the animal from sensing the danger you present by your sense of urgency and escape.

Tracking your prey

After you’ve waiting for a considerable amount of time, you can begin to track the animal. Tracking is the practice of looking for clues regarding which direction a subject has headed. In this case, you will most likely find blood and prints in the ground (depending on weather). Following the trail of blood is the surest way to lead you directly to your prey.

Field dressing your prey quickly

Once you’ve discovered the animal, you need to complete the kill and field dress the animal as quickly as possible. This keeps it short for the animal and provides you the opportunity to preserve the freshness of the meat.

Perfecting your hunting technique

Once you return from your first hunt, whether you were successful or not, spend some time thinking about how it unfolded, how you can improve, and what you would like to try during the next hunt. If you made scared off an animal, consider what scared them. Was it your scent? Did you make noise?

Developing your skill will help you improve your technique and increase the amount of success you find as a hunter over time.

Consider saving this article for future reference, and definitely check out that great crossbow package for beginners mentioned earlier.

War and how it shapes history

If we as a people want to surge forward into the future we must look at our history so we do not make the same mistakes again.We must also understand that all war is  diplomacy of a final order. Today I would like to talk about history and war and how the crossbow fits in. The crossbow was invented by the Chinese about 200 to 300 hundred BC. and did not find its way to Europe until 1200 to 1300 AD.when trading became common between the Roman empire and the Chinese. From the time of the Roman empire wars and statecraft were very personal, one against one  soldier against soldier until the invention of the longbow and knights. The Knights dressed in armour were impervious to peasants with sticks and clubs so it was easy for them to defend their king.

The longbow took several months to master  so the only people to use it were the knights . When the crossbow showed up it only took a few hours to learn and any peasant could learn  to shoot it. The bolt from a crossbow could penetrate the armour of the knight so that was the beginning of the end for knights, kingdoms and castles.

In the fourteenth and fifteenth century gunpowder, another import from China was introduced to Europe. Once it was introduced castles could be easily defeated making them obsolete so here again it shows how warfare changed and directed history.From this point until the early 20th century when tanks were invented

How war and trade shapes history

It is a given that the Chinese invented the crossbow and gunpowder well before the time of Christ. It is also a given that they were a closed society until the early 1900’s.

Until the Roman empire came along the Greeks had city states and everything else  in Europe  was unorganized . With the advent of the Roman empire societies began to form and Rome with its legions ran all of Europe. Not much changed for 1200 years everything was done the Roman way. Between 1200 AD and 1300 AD a new weapon began showing up in Europe. The crossbow came with trade  and now the Knights and their Kings could not defend against it. For hundreds of years society was run by the ruling class held up by the power of the warrior Knights using their swords and longbows to enforce whatever laws the King wanted. Now any peasant could learn to shoot a crossbow in a  few days  and the Knights armour could be penetrated making Knights and their amour obsolete. This had a profound effect  and began changing Europe’s society. Within a few hundred years gun powder was introduced along with the canon. This made castles obsolete as a secure place to defend ones kingdom. The time of the Knight was over and society  was again affected by war and trade.

Except for small regional wars all was quiet until world war 1 broke out in 1914. This energized the industrial revolution and The United States of America brought its might to bear against the Axis powers. After World War One the United States tried to return to its pre-war neutral stance. When World War two came along in 1940 The United States started producing war material and that sparked more research and development which pushed society forward again.

America got involved in two more wars in the 1950’s an 1960’s and this was the time that the computer was invented.since that application warfare trade and history have skyrocketed  to unimaginable heights and taken turns that no one could have foreseen.

History war and trade have changed so fast we can only wonder what the future holds.

Barnett Quad 400 Crossbow Package with 4×32 Scope

Yesterday I received my new Barnett Quad 400 Crossbow with the 4 X 32  Scope. This crossbow is truly impressive. It took me about fifteen minutes to assemble it with no problem. I took it out to the pole building to shoot it and wow it shot right through a bale of hay the long way and went into the foam target behind the bale.The Quad 400 – Speed, comfort, looks, and value. Features a composite stock, vented quad limb assembly coupled with the “Veloci-Speed” high energy cam system, a thumbhole grip, and a built-in crank cocking device attachment (crank device is optional). You’ve got unmatched power at an affordable price. The scope for this crossbow is very nice with the lines in it so no guessing or sighting in for yardage after initial 10 yard set up.
Specifications:
– Draw Weight: 150-lb
– Power Stroke: 15.5″
– Foot Pounds Energy: 122
– Speed: 345 fps
– Max Hunting range: 60 yards
– Limb Type: Compound

Includes:
– Quad 400 Crossbow
– QDQ Quiver
– Four 22″ Arrows
– 4×32 Scope

This is the crossbow I will be hunting with next deer season. For first time crossbow hunters I recommend this package knowing it will serve you well for the next several years.

Barnett has several other crossbows which I liked a lot and almost purchased but the Quad 400 was the one that apealed to me the most.When you want to shop for crossbows check out my website for Barnett, Excalibur and Horton crossbows. I know you will find one that you will like. All purchases over $100.00 have free shipping and I personally promise the best service on the web.

Getting in Shape

Well here it is one day after the Super Bowl and I know a lot of people including  myself ate and drank too much while we watched the game. This is also a little over a month from all those New Years resolutions. So what does this and crossbows have in common ? It has a lot and this is the time of year I need to stretch the muscles, build some bulk and begin to think about next bow season. Now is the time to get in shape so next hunting season I will be able to tote my crossbow into the woods and hold it steady for the best shot on the big deer. We also must think about hauling the deer out of the woods and I can attest that it takes a lot of stamina to haul one out by yourself.

I use three pieces of equipment all year-long to stay in shape, The first is the Total Gym which I am on  thirty minutes a day doing all sorts of squats for my legs, leg lifts,french curls, pull ups and many other exercise can be done on this machine and I highly recommend it. The second machine I like and use is the tread mill. I try to walk on it at least thirty minutes a day and work up a good  sweat in ten minutes. If I do this all winter I will not have a problem dragging the deer out next fall. The last piece of equipment I use is the inversion table. I find it relaxing to hang around upside down for ten minutes. This is the method I use to prepare for hunting season 2011.

Compound vs Crossbow

I am a hunter and believe that there is a time and place to use all of your tools. Today I will describe the differences between crossbows and compound bows.

First compound bows : I have used a compound bow for about fifteen years while hunting from a tree stand. The compound worked very well for me there. It was easy to handle, light and maneuverable. Making sure I was belted onto the tree I could lean way out or around the side of the tree to watch for game  or get a shot at one. With a lot of practice I could hit the kill zone from twenty feet up the tree and forty feet away from my tree stand, the down side is that I needed to practice a lot. I would try to shoot my bow for at least one hour a day every day in September and then shoot it for ten minutes a day all during bow season. As I get older the idea of going up a tree became tolerable and after falling out of more than one tree in two years while getting into or out of my tree stand became downright impossible. That brings me to the crossbow.

Second The Crossbow : The crossbow is easy to learn to shoot, It just took me a few hours of playing with it and than learning that pulling back the string was very important. I purchased a crank for it so I could pull the string back straight every time insuring the bolt would fly straight. I think one of the first things that surprised me was how heavy my first crossbow was and that if I was going to tote it into the woods I better be in shape and I better plan on using a ground blind. All is well now I will talk more about hunting with a crossbow in future posts.

Cocking & Decocking your Crossbow

When I write my blog I try to impart some nugget of useful information. One of the important things I have not addressed yet is cocking and decocking of your crossbow. I will start with cocking a crossbow. Safety first and always.While some people just pull back the string —  that is not the best way. I would recommend a crank or rope to insure that you pull back the string to the same spot every time and also that you pull it back on center, That insures that your bolt will fly straight and true resulting in a clean kill. I do not like to track a wounded animal any further that necessary .

Second and just as important is decocking  your crossbow. Different states have different rules as to when your crossbow needs to be decocked. What I do is when I am ready to descend from my treestand I insert a nicked up practice bolt in my crossbow and shoot it into the ground. I never dry shoot my crossbow as that will shorten the life span of the string and could very easily damage your crossbow.  I have heard of several different ways of decocking but thinking and doing things safely makes the possibility much  better of me coming back to hunt another day.