The blog
Every post, newest first: what to buy, how to shoot, how to care for your gear and the rules where you hunt. Each one picks a side.
Archery & TechniquesHow to Improve Your Crossbow Accuracy: 10 Causes and Their Fixes
Archery & Techniques5 Crossbow Shooting Positions, Ranked From Bench to Standing
Maintenance & RepairsHow to Lube Your Crossbow Rail in 5 Steps, and What Never to Use
Maintenance & RepairsHow to Sight In a Crossbow Scope in 7 Steps, Zeroed at 20 Yards
Bows & PartsCarbon or Aluminum Crossbow Bolts? 5 Differences and the Better Pick
Bows & PartsHow Heavy Is a Crossbow? 10 Real Models, From 2.5 to 9.7 Pounds
Bows & PartsHow to Choose Your First Crossbow: 7 Checks Before You Buy
Bows & PartsThe 3 Best Compound Crossbows for Beginners, by Cocking Effort
Bows & PartsCrossbow Strings: 5 Materials Compared and When to Replace Yours
Laws & RegulationsPennsylvania Crossbow Hunting Rules: 125 Lb Draw Weight and Licenses
Archery & TechniquesHow Fast Is a Crossbow Bolt? 300–500 FPS in MPH and Energy
Laws & RegulationsAre Crossbows Legal in the UK? Yes for Adults, but Not for Hunting
Bows & PartsCrossbow Ballistics: The 5 Parts Behind Speed, Energy and Accuracy
Laws & RegulationsTexas Crossbow Hunting: 4 Rules on Seasons, Endorsements and Hunter Ed
Laws & RegulationsMaine Crossbow Hunting: 5 Key Rules on Licenses, Seasons and Gear
Laws & RegulationsFlorida Crossbow Hunting Rules: Licenses, Zone Seasons and Broadheads
Laws & RegulationsNew York Crossbow Hunting Rules: The Law Changes and the Age-14 Rule
Archery & TechniquesThe 7 Types of Crossbows and Which One Fits You
Archery & TechniquesWhere to Mount a Crossbow Quiver: Bottom, Side or Top for Balance
Maintenance & RepairsHow Long Can a Crossbow Stay Cocked? 8–24 Hour Limits by Brand
Bows & PartsHow to Fit a Sling to Your Crossbow in 5 Steps for a Quiet Carry
Culture & Community10 Ways to Customize Your Crossbow for Accuracy and Comfort
Archery & TechniquesCan You Spray Paint a Crossbow? Yes, in 6 Steps With Flexible Paint
Bows & PartsThe 12 Parts of a Crossbow, Explained for First-Time Owners
Maintenance & Repairs10 Ways to Quiet a Loud Crossbow Before Deer Season
Bows & PartsHow to Find the FOC of Your Crossbow Bolts in 5 Steps
Bows & PartsCan You Turn a Crossbow Into a Fishing Crossbow? Yes, With 3 Parts
Bows & PartsHow Long Does a Crossbow Last? What Wears Out First, Part by Part
Maintenance & RepairsHow to Transport a Crossbow Safely: 10 Tips for Cars, ATVs and Planes
Archery & TechniquesHow Temperature Affects Your Crossbow: 4 Parts to Check in the Cold
Culture & Community10 Exercises for Crossbow Hunters to Cock, Carry and Hold Steady
Bows & PartsThe Best Crossbow Bolt Weight for Deer: Why 400–459 Grains Suits Most
Culture & CommunityDoes Any Military Still Use Crossbows in Modern Warfare?
Bows & PartsCrossbow or Bow for Survival? 5 Factors That Decide Which Feeds You
Culture & CommunityThe 5 Best Crossbow Brands for New Hunters and Who Each One Suits
Equipment & SuppliesA Crossbow for Home Defense? 10 Reasons People Consider One
Laws & RegulationsOhio Crossbow Laws: 75-Pound Draw Weight, Licenses and Seasons
Archery & TechniquesHow to Load a Crossbow Bolt Safely in 8 Steps and Unload It Right
Culture & CommunityCan a Crossbow Work for Self-Defense? 5 Hard Limits to Know
Equipment & SuppliesThe 3 Best Crossbow Quivers That Hold Your Bolts Tight
Equipment & SuppliesThe 3 Best Crossbow Targets for 400+ FPS Bolts in Your Backyard
Bows & PartsThe 3 Best Reverse-Draw Crossbows for Blinds and Treestands
Equipment & SuppliesThe 3 Best Crossbow Cases to Protect Your Scope and Limbs
Equipment & SuppliesThe 3 Best Crossbow Scopes for Deer, From Budget to Thermal
Bows & PartsThe 3 Best Crossbows for Beginners, Plus the Specs That Matter
Bows & PartsThe 3 Best Crossbow Broadheads: Fixed-Blade and Mechanical Picks
Bows & PartsThe 3 Best Crossbow Bolts for Practice and Deer Hunting
Bows & PartsThe 3 Best Recurve Crossbows and When a Recurve Beats a Compound
Bows & PartsWhat Is an Arbalest? The Medieval Steel Crossbow and Its 5 Key Parts
// FAQ
Questions I get a lot
Quick answers about the blog: how I test, how often I post, and where to start.
How often do you post?
About once a week, usually after a weekend at the range. The newsletter goes out the first Sunday of every month.
Are you sponsored by any brands?
No. I buy my own gear, and nobody pays for a spot on a list.
Where should a total beginner start?
Archery & Techniques. Start with the eye dominance test, then stance, then your anchor point.
Read: Archery & Techniques →Do you use affiliate links?
Some posts do. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It never changes the pick, and links are labeled.
How do you test gear?
Gear I own I shoot for at least 30 days before I score it. Everything else is researched from maker specs and owner reports, and says so at the top.
Do you update old posts?
Yes. When I learn something new or a product changes, I update the post and mark the date.
Can I suggest a topic?
Please do. Most of my posts start as a reader question.
Are you an archery coach?
No. I’m a recreational archer who shoots a traditional recurve. Where a question needs a coach, I say so and point you to one.
Do you cover compound bows?
Some. I shoot a recurve, so most posts lean traditional, but the fundamentals apply to both.
Will you write about bowhunting?
Yes: gear, ethics, state rules and practice for your first season. Taking a deer or a turkey with my own bow is my own goal, too.
// Free printable
Get the range log I actually use.
Seventeen printable pages: session log, score tracker, a 30-day drill challenge, a bow maintenance card, a first-season checklist and more. Join the monthly email and it lands right away.
