A crossbow can be used for many things. It can be used in a competitive sport and it can be used for hunting as well. One of the most used case scenarios for a crossbow is deer hunting. Each hunting season lots of hunter searches the market for a better crossbow for deer hunting. If you are looking for the best crossbow for deer hunting, welcome. I wish I could say a corny line like, “welcome to hunters-den”. But we are not doing that.
Anyway, moving on. You probably know by now that, this is going to be a long read. I suggest a warm cup of tea or coffee. Be comfortable and read through the entire review. You may learn and pick up some useful stuff that will help you a lot while hunting.
- How To Choose A Crossbow For Deer Hunting
- What Is The Best Crossbow For Deer Hunting?
- 1. Ravin R20 Crossbow Package
- 2. Tenpoint Vengent S440 Crossbow Package
- 3. Tenpoint Stealth NXT Crossbow Package
- 4. Killer Instinct Ripper 415 Crossbow Package
- 5. Barnett Whitetail Pro Str Crossbow Package
- 6. Wicked Ridge M-370 Crossbow Package
- 7. Centerpoint Sniper 370 Crossbow Package
- Frequently ASK Questions
- Conclusion: Best Crossbow For Deer Hunting
How To Choose A Crossbow For Deer Hunting
How do you know which crossbow is the best for you? A modern crossbow has so many features, it’s easy to get confused among them. A deer hunter doesn’t need all the feature available in a crossbow. There are some parts of the crossbow that you couldn’t care any less about. What are the parts that you should care about then? Let’s find out.
Speed is absolutely necessary. You don’t need 470 FPS for deer hunting. Granted, that would help nonetheless. But that’s not absolutely necessary. Anything over 330 FPS is more than enough for deer hunting.
Kinetic Energy: As the name suggests, it’s the energy each arrow packs while flying towards the deer. Some crossbow can generate a humongous amount of kinetic energy. While lower end crossbows can’t even generate half of that. Does that mean a $3000 crossbow with 190 ft-lbs of kinetic energy necessary? No, it’s not necessary. Any crossbow that is capable of generating more than 100ft-lbs of kinetic energy can easily slay a deer. 90 will do as well. but it’s recommended to get one with more power.
The draw weight is an important part of a crossbow. Recurve crossbows tend to have a monstrous amount of draw weight. That’s not good for a beginner by any means. Depending on the draw weight, your reloading time will also vary. That’s why, choosing ta crossbow with lower draw weight for deer hunting is necessary. If your crossbow has a cranking device or supports a cranking device, that’s a huge plus.
Lightweight: Just like design, weight can be a preference as well. I have known people that can’t tolerate lightweight crossbows. But on-field, it’s better to have a lightweight crossbow than dragging a rock behind your back. Lightweight crossbow is easier to carry and easier to aim. Get a lightweight crossbow. Even if you prefer a heavy one, go for a lightweight one.
Durability always varies from crossbow to crossbow. If the crossbow has good reviews to back up the claim, then it’s a safe bet. But if reviewers are saying the build quality is questionable, then it’s better to stay clean from that crossbow.
Size: Compact crossbows are the best crossbows for deer hunting. You can squeeze them inside tiny places where a recurve crossbow can’t ever fit. The value a compact crossbow provides is straight up insane. Most of the time, compact crossbows are also lightweight. That’s an added benefit. Usually, size isn’t that big of a factor (that’s what she said). Anyway, the size of the crossbow will only matter if your height is short. Tall crossbows are harder to cock for shorter people. That’s why, choose a short crossbow if you have bad experience with tall crossbows before.
Safety: Anti-dry fire is a must for crossbows. Without this, you will misfire a lot. That’s not acceptable while deer hunting. Misfire can cause sound and make the deer aware of your current location. We don’t want that. That’s why, avoid getting crossbows that doesn’t have any safety to prevent misfires.
Warranty: Depending on the brand, the warranty period will vary. Most expensive crossbows come with a limited lifetime warranty. While cheaper crossbow usually offers a 5-year warranty max. Research a bit about the brand you are buying from. See if the brands after sales service is good or not.
What Is The Best Crossbow For Deer Hunting?
While there is no single best crossbow of all time, but I can offer my perspective on it. Here are the crossbows that I think are the best crossbow for deer hunting at the moment.
1. Ravin R20 Crossbow Package
Specifications | Speed: 430 FPS; Kinetic Energy: 164 ft.lbs; Power Stroke: 13 Inches; Draw Weight: 220 LBS; Axle To Axle: 6 / 10.5 Inches; Length: 34.5 Inches; Weight: 7.1 LBS.
Ravin R20 was the winner of best crossbow of the year 2019. Ravin R20 is quite powerful and expensive crossbow. You will find countless reviews about the crossbow that are saying this is worth every penny. That’s indeed correct.
Ravin R20 is capable of firing arrows at up to 430 FPS. Each arrow will pack a punch worth of 164 ft-lbs of kinetic energy. No matter how big of a deer you are hunting, it stands no chance.
Ravin R20 is a compact, lightweight, and fast crossbow. Everything you want for deer hunting is present on this crossbow. The crossbow comes with a cranking device as well. You don’t need to waste too much energy loading the crossbow.
The anti-dry fire safety will stop you from misfiring. 3lbs trigger pull is not that high. It’s not that low either. In my opinion, 3lbs trigger pull is just perfect.
After cocking the crossbow, the width of this crossbow becomes only 6”. That’s quite narrow. Sometimes, I wonder how they managed to make such small crossbows so powerful.
Pros
- Lightweight and compact.
- 430 FPS.
- 164 ft-lbs of kinetic energy.
- 12 lbs drawing force.
- Anti-dry fire safety.
- Built-in sling mounts.
Cons
- The included scope is not that good. At that price-range, you are expecting a better crossbow scope than that.
2. Tenpoint Vengent S440 Crossbow Package
Specifications | Speed: 440 FPS; Kinetic Energy: 166 ft.lbs; Power Stroke: 14 Inches; Draw Weight: 250 LBS; Axle To Axle: 5.8 / 11 Inches; Length: 35 Inches; Weight: 7.7 LBS.
Tenpoint is the leading competitor of Ravin crossbows. Each year, both of these crossbow companies goes head to head battle to deliver the best crossbow possible. Like Ravin, Tenpoint is also crowd favorite brand. They often provide excellent crossbows for a small amount of money.
The Vengent is capable of firing arrows at up to 440 FPS! That’s fast and impressive. It can generate up to 166 ft-lbs of kinetic energy. That’s more than Ravin R20. It’s everything that you need in a deer hunting crossbow. In many regards it’s a better crossbow than Ravin R20.
The S1 trigger and the ACUdraw cranking device is a good combination. Together they make the crossbow easy to use and quite appealing to newbie hunters. The crossbow comes with anti-dry fire safety as well. It’s quite necessary to prevent misfires.
Pros
- Lightweight and compact.
- Superfast.
- Powerful.
- Good crossbow scope.
- ACUdraw pro Cranking Device.
- S1 trigger.
Cons
- It’s quite expensive. Even though the crossbow is quite beginner friendly, it’s not recommended to someone who never held a crossbow before.
3. Tenpoint Stealth NXT Crossbow Package
Specifications | Speed: 410 FPS; Kinetic Energy: 144 ft.lbs; Power Stroke: 13.5 Inches; Draw Weight: 220 LBS; Axle To Axle: 6 / 11.3 Inches; Length: 33.6 Inches; Weight: 7.3 LBS.
Tenpoint Stealth NXT is one of the most compact crossbows in this price-range. From looks to performance, the stealth is excellent. The crossbow comes with ACUdraw Pro cranking aid. Using that cranking aid, you can load the crossbow with only 8.5lbs of drawing force.
The Stealth NXT can fire at up to 400FPS. That’s quite a bit of speed it packs. The crossbow can generate up to 144 ft-lbs of kinetic energy. Each arrow will hit like a truck!
The Stealth NXT is deadly silent. From the cams to the string, there are dampeners dampening the noise and reducing the vibration of the crossbow. Tenpoint Stealth NXT can easily hunt any size deer at any given season. Even from range shooting, the crossbow can easily hunt deers.
One of the best parts of this crossbow is the size. It’s so compact! It’s amazing how small crossbows has become. Yet they are super powerful.
Pros
- Excellent build quality.
- Lightweight and compact.
- Ready to hunt package.
- You only need one bolt to assemble the crossbow.
- 400 FPS.
- 144 ft-lbs of kinetic energy.
Cons
- ACUdraw Pro elite package costs a fortune. Not worth it, don’t buy that package.
4. Killer Instinct Ripper 415 Crossbow Package
Specifications | Speed: 415 FPS; Kinetic Energy: 149 ft.lbs; Power Stroke: 15 Inches; Draw Weight: 200 LBS; Axle To Axle: 14.25 / 17.75 Inches; Length: 35 Inches; Weight: 6.2 LBS.
If you have searched for best crossbow for hunting, then you are already aware of Killer Instinct crossbows. They are known for their budget-oriented crossbows. Most of their crossbows are quite affordable and packs a strong punch.
Killer Instinct Ripper 415 is an affordable compound crossbow that can reach 415 FPS with ease. The rail of the crossbow is constructed from CNC machined aluminum.
The anodization on the aluminum is top-notch. The buttstock of the crossbow is almost similar to an AR rifle buttstock. They are quite easy on your shoulder and they are not too hard on your muscles either.
The Ripper can generate 149 ft-lbs of kinetic energy. That much of energy is enough to rip through any deer. I couldn’t help with the pun.
But I can help you decide how to choose the best crossbow for you. If you are on a tight budget and want good performing crossbow for upcoming hunting season, just take this. You won’t regret for a moment.
Pros
- Excellent build quality.
- 415 FPS.
- 149ft-lbs of kinetic energy.
- Good customer service.
- CNC machined aluminum with excellent anodizing.
- AR style buttstock.
Cons
- The draw weight can be an issue for a lot of people.
- Not compatible with ACUdraw cranking device.
5. Barnett Whitetail Pro Str Crossbow Package
Specifications | Speed: 400 FPS; Kinetic Energy: 135 ft.lbs; Power Stroke: 16.25 Inches; Draw Weight: 187 LBS; Axle To Axle: 17.625 Inches; Length: 36.5 Inches; Weight: 6.9 LBS.
Barnett Whitetail series of crossbow is well known for their versatile performance and excellent price to value ratio. Whitetail Pro STR uses the Triggertech technology made by Barnett crossbows. The trigger creep on this crossbow is nothing threatening. It’s quite easy to control as well.
Whitetail Pro STR is not the most powerful crossbow ever. But it’s quite powerful and can easily slay any deer. The Pro STR is capable of reaching up to 400 FPS and can generate 135 ft-lbs of kinetic energy. Both of those are nothing to joke about.
When you consider just how affordable this crossbow is, it makes the deal even better. It’s quite heartwarming to see manufacturers are working to provide better budget crossbows.
The weight of this crossbow is 6.9 (nice) lbs. Quite lightweight without any accessories. Even with added accessories such as scope, quiver, slings, arrows etc. The weight of the crossbow won’t be that high either. It’s not that compact. The one downside of this crossbow.
Pros
- Affordable price tag.
- Good build quality.
- 400 FPS.
- 135 ft-lbs kinetic energy.
- Cranking device compatible.
Cons
- The included scope is not that good. At that price-range, you are expecting a better crossbow scope than that.
6. Wicked Ridge M-370 Crossbow Package
Specifications | Speed: 370 FPS; Kinetic Energy: 118 ft.lbs; Power Stroke: 13.8 Inches; Draw Weight: 180 LBS; Axle To Axle: 9.5 / 14 Inches; Length: 35 Inches; Weight: 5.8 LBS.
Wicked Ridge is a sub-brand of Tenpoint. Tenpoint releases budget crossbows under the Wicked Ridge banner. The M370 is one of them. The decked-out version of M370 is not quite budget crossbow. But the base version can be considered as one.
The Wicked Ridge M370 is a lightweight compound crossbow that can fire bolts at 370 FPS. That speed is quite excellent for deer hunting. To make sure the prey stay down, each arrow packs 118ft-lbs of kinetic energy! That’s a lot of power packed in this small killing machine.
The axle to axle width of this crossbow is only 9.5”. That’s compact as hell. Well, hell is not compact but you get my point. It’s one of the few budget crossbows that got a green signal from me for having a good stock crossbow scope.
You don’t need to upgrade the scope anytime soon. If you go for the base version, then you should upgrade to the ACUdraw pro cranking device ASAP.
Pros
- Affordable price tag.
- Balanced weight distribution.
- Good build quality.
- Good stock scope.
Cons
- Instead of making the cranking device a separate purchase, they should have made the crossbow with the cranking device included to begin with.
7. Centerpoint Sniper 370 Crossbow Package
Specifications | Speed: 370 FPS; Kinetic Energy: 112 ft.lbs; Power Stroke: 13.5 Inches; Draw Weight: 185 LBS; Axle To Axle: 18 / 21.5 Inches; Length: 36 Inches; Weight: 7.9 LBS.
Centerpoint crossbows are known for their budget crossbows. The Centerpoint Sniper 370 is an excellent budget and beginner crossbow.
As the name suggests, the Centerpoint Sniper is capable of firing at up to 370 FPS. That’s more than enough for any kind of deer hunting. You just have to make sure you don’t shoot from too far. The Sniper can generate up to 110 ft-lbs of kinetic energy. Quite impressive for a crossbow at this price range.
Even though the crossbow looks like cheaply made, the weight and the construction of this crossbow is mind blowing. The weight of the Sniper 370 is 7.7lbs. That’s without any accessories. You add some accessories and a better scope the weight will be over 9lbs easily.
Don’t let the appearance fool you, it’s one of the best budget crossbows on the market. Don’t believe me? Check out the Amazon user reviews. You will find over 2000 people agreeing with me.
Pros
- Affordable price tag.
- Good build quality.
- AR style buttstock.
- 370 FPS.
- 110 fp-ke of kinetic energy
Cons
- The included scope is not that good.
- Draw weight is quite high as well.
Frequently ASK Questions
Can You Kill A Deer At 100 Yards With A Crossbow?
Short answer, yes, you can. You most definitely can. It will depend on how stealthy you are and how close you can get to the deer without getting noticed. Most of the crossbows aren’t known for their range. That’s why most hunters will tell you to keep the distance within 60-80 yards. In that range, the crossbow shines the most.
But at 100 yards, it’s doable. You have to keep the weather and your skill in mind. If you are confident on your skills, I am sure you can pull that off.
How Far Can You Shoot A Deer With A Crossbow?
That will entirely depend on the crossbow and the environment. If the weather is too windy, then you might not even land a shot at 100 yards. If the weather is at your advantage, you might even land 150 yards shot. Compound crossbows can shoot up to 300 yards or so. The accuracy at that range? Non-existent.
That’s why I said, it will depend on the crossbow and the environment. 100-120 yards is a safe bet.
Are Crossbows Good For Deer Hunting?
Yes, they are super good for deer hunting. I will go as far as to say they are one of the best weapons for deer hunting. They are silent, deadly, and powerful enough to land a grown-up deer flat. They are not flashy or loud like a rifle. They are not as fast as a rifle either. But they are fast enough to hunt a deer.
Crossbows have low recoil and almost no noise. A rifle lacks both of those. A full crossbow setup will cost less than a complete AR or sniper rifle setup.
Riflescopes often costs more than a crossbow itself. You can wonder why people opt for crossbows over guns. Achieving a gun license is not that easy either.
How Many FPS Do You Need To Kill A Deer?
Earlier in the article, I said that, anything over 330 FPS is good. When the truth is, even a 270 FPS crossbow can kill a deer. If you are close enough to the deer, anything around 300 FPS will kill the deer guaranteed.
Why Do Many Hunters Choose A Recurve Crossbow Instead Of A Compound Crossbow?
Recurve crossbows are simple and easy to operate. That’s the reason why many hunters choose recurve over compound crossbows. Replacing the string on a compound crossbow is quite hard. You can do that easily with the recurve crossbow. Changing the string on the fly has an advantage on its own. That’s why, you see many hunters choosing and recommending recurve crossbows over the compound. Even though compound crossbows are obviously better. But recurve is simpler. If that makes sense.
Conclusion: Best Crossbow For Deer Hunting
In conclusion, my back hurts. Boy how many cups of coffee did you finish while reading it? I sure have gulped a gallon or two.
I know it isn’t the usual review we do. But I felt like providing a grand post for my grand viewers. It was more than just best crossbows for deer hunting reviews. I hope my insights on this post will improve your hunting and will help you decide on your next crossbow.
That’s all I am, a guide to direct you to the right path. I sound like a religion preacher. Anyway, welcome to deer hunting, enjoy your stay and spread the love among hunters.