Updated October 2026. Adult supervision is required. A youth crossbow is a real projectile device, not a toy. Match draw weight and speed to the shooter, use a crossbow-rated target, and check state age and season rules before any hunt.

The old “youth” lists on this site still name bows Barnett and the other brands no longer sell. This version keeps only packages that were in stock on Amazon when we checked on October 4, 2026: two Barnett entry compounds, two Bear X pistol crossbows for backyard practice, and a CenterPoint mini recurve.

What actually matters for a youth bow

• Weight and length of pull. Under about 7 lb, with an adjustable butt pad, is easier for a smaller frame than a full hunting rig.
• Cocking. Rope cockers cut effort roughly in half. Cranks cut it further. Do not let a child cock a 150 lb+ bow without an aid and an adult present.
• Safety hardware. Anti-dry-fire and an automatic safety are the features worth paying for. Dry-firing ruins limbs and can injure the shooter.
• Use. Pistol crossbows (60 lb, about 175 fps) are for targets. Full-size 150–185 lb compounds are small-game or, where legal, deer bows for older teens — not a first bow for a grade-schooler.

Quick picks

• Best first hunting-style bow: Barnett Recruit XP
• Best compact step-up: Barnett XP370
• Best backyard starter: Bear X Desire XL
• Best starter with a red dot: Bear X Desire RD
• Best mini recurve: CenterPoint Hornet

1. Barnett Recruit XP — best first full-size youth bow

Barnett built the Recruit XP for new shooters and smaller frames, and the package is in stock on Amazon (about $340–$400). It is listed at 350 fps, 150 lb draw, about 6 lb, and 13 inches axle-to-axle cocked, with a TriggerTech trigger, anti-dry-fire, an adjustable stock, a 3-dot illuminated sight, two 20-inch arrows, a side quiver, and a rope cocker. The rope groove is the point: a teen can cock it without fighting the full 150 lb. It is still a hunting crossbow, so it belongs with an adult, not as a first toy.

Best for: ages roughly 12 and up who already shoot targets and want a bow they can keep.
Skip if: the shooter cannot safely handle a rope cocker.

Check price on Amazon

2. Barnett XP370 — light entry compound

The XP370 is the next step in Barnett’s Explorer line, sold on Amazon as an Explorer XP package around $300–$350 from the manufacturer’s $349.99 list. It uses the same quick-adjust stock idea as the Recruit, with a rope cocker and a ready-to-shoot kit. It is a better fit for an older teen who has outgrown a pistol crossbow than for a first-time 10-year-old. A separate crank (BAR20021) fits this series if rope cocking is still too much.

Best for: older youth and small adults who want a current Barnett package under $400.
Skip if: you need the lowest possible draw weight. Look at the Desire XL instead.

Check price on Amazon

3. Bear X Desire XL — best backyard starter

This is the bow to buy before a full-size hunting crossbow. Bear lists it at 60 lb draw, up to 175 fps, with a self-cocking arm, a stock that extends about 2.5 inches, and three bolts. Amazon has it around $55–$75, and it is one of the few youth-scale crossbows that actually stays in stock. It is for foam targets in the yard, not deer. The self-cocker is the safety win: no rope, no foot stirrup, no adult having to draw it every shot.

Best for: supervised target practice.
Skip if: the goal is hunting. Speed and bolt weight are far below hunting minimums in most states.

Check price on Amazon

4. Bear X Desire RD — red dot added

The Desire RD is Bear’s compact pistol crossbow with a red dot sight on top. Bear rates it at 60 lb draw and up to 175 fps, with a self-cocking arm, a forearm grip, and three bolts, at 1.9 lb. It was $58.47 on Amazon, sold and shipped by Amazon, with 4.1 stars from 411 ratings; Bear lists it at $84.99. The red dot helps a new shooter see where the bow is pointed; it does not replace a safe backstop. Same rule as the XL: targets only.

Best for: kids who aim better with a visible dot.
Skip if: you want one bow that can later hunt. Buy the Recruit XP.

Check price on Amazon

5. CenterPoint Hornet — mini recurve

The Hornet is CenterPoint’s compact recurve pistol crossbow: few moving parts, a short overall length, and a price that usually lands under a full compound kit on Amazon. Recurves are simpler to maintain than compounds, which is useful in a youth bow that will get dropped. It is still a target and small-game tool, not a deer bow. Confirm the Amazon listing includes bolts; some mini kits ship without them. It had 3.8 stars from only 16 ratings when we checked.

Best for: a simple second bow after a Desire XL.
Skip if: you want a scope and a rope cocker in the box. The Tyro 4X recurve package is the closer match, when Amazon has it.

Check price on Amazon

What we left off

Barnett Recruit Youth 30, Youth 60, and Youth 100, the Parker Bushwacker, Excalibur Vixen II, and the old SA Sports Fever kits are discontinued or no longer reliably stocked on Amazon. We also dropped the Bear X Desire XLZ and the CenterPoint Sniper G4D, because we couldn’t find a current Amazon listing for either. For an older teen who is ready to hunt, the Recruit XP or XP370 above is the next step.

The post Best Youth Crossbows You Can Still Buy on Amazon appeared first on Best Crossbow Hunter.

A recurve crossbow is the simplest kind you can buy: a pair of limbs, a string and a stock, with no cams, cables or axles. That simplicity is the appeal, but it also makes recurves slower and harder to cock than compounds. This guide explains the trade-offs, who a recurve suits, and the three recurve crossbows we’d look at today, plus two Excalibur models that are getting hard to find.

We haven’t shot these crossbows for this article. Specs come from the makers’ websites and listings. Prices, stock and ratings were checked on Amazon on October 4, 2026, and they change often.

Quick picks

• Best overall: Excalibur Mag MAX. 350 fps in a 32-inch, 6 lb package, about $800.
• Best budget bow for deer: Barnett Wildcat CRX. 280 fps and ready to hunt, about $240.
• Lowest price: SAS Jaguar. A 175 lb recurve for targets and small game, about $170.

Recurve vs compound crossbows

A compound crossbow uses cams and cables to store energy. That lets it reach high speeds with shorter limbs, so compounds tend to be faster and narrower for their power. The CenterPoint Wrath 430, for example, is rated at 430 fps. The fastest recurve here, the Mag MAX, is rated at 350 fps.

A recurve stores all its energy in the limbs, so it needs a heavier draw weight to match a compound. In practice:

• Simplicity: a recurve has no cams to time and no cables to stretch or fray, so there are fewer parts to fail in the field.
• Strings: you can change a recurve string yourself with a stringing aid, without a crossbow press. On a compound, string and cable work usually means a trip to a shop with a press.
• Maintenance: both need the string waxed and the rail lubed. A recurve has nothing else to adjust. A compound also needs its cables, cams and axles checked.
• Cocking: high draw weights make many recurves hard to cock by hand. A rope cocker cuts the effort by up to half, and a crank makes it easy.
• Width: recurve limbs are often wide. Excalibur’s older Matrix GRZ 2 is 26.5 inches wide when cocked, which matters in a tight blind.
• Noise: recurves can be loud and buzzy, so look for string suppressors. Excalibur fits its R.E.D.S. suppressors to reduce shock, vibration and noise.

Who should buy a recurve crossbow?

A recurve makes the most sense if you want a crossbow that just keeps working: one you can restring at camp, that doesn’t need a shop to tune, and that has few parts to break on a long trip.

A compound is the better choice if you want the most speed for the size, the narrowest crossbow for a ground blind, or the lowest draw weight. For smaller or younger shooters, see our guide to youth crossbows. Most of those use lighter draw weights than a full-power recurve.

The best recurve crossbows you can buy today

1. Excalibur Mag MAX: best overall

Excalibur has built recurve crossbows for decades, and the Mag MAX sits near the low end of its current price range. Excalibur rates it at 350 fps from a 13.2-inch draw length. It weighs 6 lb bare (7.9 lb with accessories) and is 32 inches long, which is compact for a recurve this fast.

You get CeaseFire anti-dry-fire protection, so the bow won’t fire without an arrow loaded. Excalibur’s High-Output limbs and R.E.D.S. suppressors come standard. The kit includes a Dead Zone scope, rings, a 4-arrow quiver, three 16.5-inch Quill arrows with field points, and a rope cocking aid. Excalibur lists a limited lifetime warranty.

One thing to plan for: Excalibur’s spec sheet lists 175 lb of draw effort for the rope-aid package, or 14 lb with its optional crank. Many buyers will want the crank. The Mossy Oak Country DNA package was $799.99 on Amazon, under Excalibur’s $829.99 price, with 4.1 stars from 11 ratings. It was sold by a third-party seller and shipped by Amazon, with only 3 left.

Check price on Amazon

2. Barnett Wildcat CRX: best budget bow for deer

The Wildcat CRX is one of Barnett’s current recurves, and it gets you into a hunting-ready recurve for well under $300. Barnett rates it at 280 fps and 66 ft-lb with a 380-grain arrow, from a 195 lb draw weight and a 12.5-inch power stroke. It weighs 6.1 lb and is 33 inches long. Published specs put it at about 18.4 inches wide when cocked, narrow for a recurve.

The Amazon bundle includes a red dot sight with a neoprene cover, a rope cocking device, a side-mount quiver, three 20-inch Headhunter arrows and broadheads. Barnett’s anti-dry-fire trigger and Rope-Hold markers for consistent cocking are standard. It was $239.99 and in stock, shipped by Amazon from a third-party seller, with 4.1 stars from 10 ratings. For more options from this brand, see our Barnett crossbow reviews.

Check price on Amazon

3. SAS Jaguar: lowest price

Southland Archery Supply’s Jaguar is a basic 175 lb recurve with fiberglass limbs, an aluminum rail and an automatic safety. SAS rates it at 245 fps. The package includes a 3-dot red dot sight, a 6-bolt quiver and four 16-inch aluminum arrows.

It was $169.99 with 4.2 stars from 74 ratings, the same price as on SAS’s own site. Note that the Amazon offer was from a third-party seller, so check the return policy. Think of the Jaguar as a backyard target and small-game crossbow. For deer, we’d step up to the Wildcat CRX and swap the aluminum arrows for carbon ones. Check your state’s rules too, since some set minimums for crossbows and arrows.

Check price on Amazon

Hard to find right now: Excalibur REV X and Matrix GRZ 2

Both were on this list until our October 4, 2026 check. The REV X is Excalibur’s crank-cocked recurve: Excalibur rates it at 400 fps and lists just 16 lb of draw effort with the built-in ChargerX crank, at $1,649.99. The older Matrix GRZ 2 is rated at 305 fps and had the best owner feedback of any recurve we found, 4.7 stars from 75 ratings. But Amazon was down to its last new unit of each, from a third-party seller, and Excalibur’s own US store showed the REV X sold out. So we’ve taken them off our picks. If you want one, ask an Excalibur dealer.

Recurve crossbow buying guide

Plan for cocking

Draw weight matters more on a recurve than on a compound. If a bow lists 175 to 200 lb or more, test whether you can rope-cock it comfortably, or budget for a crank. A crank also lets you decock without shooting. Excalibur sells one for the Mag MAX, and some of its bows, such as the REV X, have one built in.

Use the right arrows

Recurves are often built around one arrow length. Excalibur makes 16.5-inch Quill arrows for its Micro-series bows and 18-inch Diablo arrows for the Matrix series. Its current arrows come with Rhino nocks, which work with CeaseFire. Use the length, weight and nock your manual calls for. Our crossbow bolts guide explains nocks and arrow weights.

Check the strings and spares

Field-serviceable strings are a big reason to buy a recurve, so make sure you can get them. Excalibur sells replacement strings (about $38) and a stringing aid (about $36) on its US store. Wax the string often and replace it when the serving wears or strands break.

Measure width and length

If you hunt from a ground blind or a tight tree stand, compare cocked widths. The Wildcat CRX is about 18.4 inches wide cocked, narrow for a recurve. Older Matrix bows such as the GRZ 2 run about 26.5 inches.

Think about noise and the seller

A bow that includes string suppressors saves you buying them later. The Mag MAX listing had only 3 left, and all three picks come from third-party sellers, so check stock and who’s selling before you buy.

Own a 2017-era recurve? A note on the older models

This page used to cover the Excalibur Matrix 380, Matrix Mega 405, Micro 335 and SA Sports Fever. None is sold new by its maker anymore, but a well-kept recurve can shoot for years.

• Matrix 380 and Mega 405: Excalibur’s Matrix Series String fits all Matrix crossbows and lists at $37.99, though it showed sold out when we checked. The Matrix 380 was specified for 18-inch arrows of at least 350 grains with the point, and Excalibur’s current Matrix arrow is the 18-inch Diablo. Check your manual for the Mega 405.
• Micro 335: Excalibur’s Micro Series String ($37.99) was in stock. The Micro 335 was specified for 16.5-inch arrows of at least 350 grains with the point, such as a Quill with a 100-grain point.
• Any Excalibur: Excalibur says its Rhino nock works on all its crossbows. Inspect the limbs for cracks or splinters before every season. Don’t shoot a bow with cracked limbs.
• SA Sports Fever: SA Sports no longer lists the Fever on its website. If yours needs more than a string, the Wildcat CRX or Jaguar is an inexpensive replacement.

The bottom line

For most hunters who want a recurve, the Excalibur Mag MAX is the one to get: fast, compact, simple to maintain, and backed by Excalibur’s warranty. If cocking is the worry, budget for Excalibur’s crank. On a tight budget, the Wildcat CRX is the sensible deer bow. For compound crossbows and more, see our crossbow reviews home page.

The post The Best Recurve Crossbows You Can Buy Today appeared first on Best Crossbow Hunter.

The bolt is the only part of the setup that has to match the bow. Wrong length, wrong nock, or a finished weight under the maker’s minimum can wreck a string, a rail, or the limbs.

These four packs cover the jobs most shooters actually have: a matched universal carbon, a heavy hunting bolt, an Excalibur-specific carbon, and Barnett’s Headhunter pack for Barnett bows. All four were in stock new on Amazon when we checked on October 4, 2026.

What to match before you buy

• Length. 20-inch and 22-inch are not interchangeable. Compact and reverse-draw bows often want 16-inch or shorter. Read the manual.
• Nock. Half-moon (flat) is the common modern nock. Capture, Omni, and Ravin clip-on nocks are not. A loose nock can dry-fire the bow.
• Finished weight. Count shaft, insert, nock, vanes, and the point you will hunt with. Stay at or above the bow’s minimum, usually 400 grains on current compounds.
• Straightness. ±.003 is a normal hunting spec. ±.001 costs more and only shows up if the bow and rest are already consistent.

Quick picks

• Best all-around: Black Eagle Executioner, 20 or 22 inch
• Best heavy hunting bolt: Carbon Express PileDriver
• Best for Excalibur recurves: Excalibur FireBolt 20-inch
• Best Barnett restock: Barnett Headhunter 22-inch, 5-pack

1. Black Eagle Executioner — best bolt for most full-size bows

This is the default restock for Barnett, Killer Instinct, Mission, and older full-size compounds that take a half-moon nock. Black Eagle sells fletched 20-inch and 22-inch Executioners with 3-inch Fusion vanes, brass inserts installed, half-moon nocks on the shaft, and flat nocks in the 20-inch pack. Straightness is sorted to .001 or .003, weight tolerance is ±1 grain, and shaft weight is about 9 grains per inch before the point. The 20-inch insert is 110 grains, so a 100-grain point puts finished weight in a normal hunting range. Do not shoot them in a Ravin or a TenPoint that requires an Alpha-Nock.

Best for: most non-proprietary crossbows.
Skip if: the manual names a capture nock, Alpha-Nock, or Ravin nock.

Check price on Amazon

2. Carbon Express PileDriver — heavy bolt for penetration

PileDriver is the heavy option Carbon Express still sells through Feradyne, in 20-inch and 22-inch 6-packs. On Amazon only the 22-inch pack was in stock new when we checked: about $52 from a third-party seller, with 4.7 stars from just 13 ratings. The 20-inch pack was offered only by other sellers, so if your bow takes 20-inch bolts, buy them from a dealer. Finished weight is about 440 grains before a broadhead, straightness is ±.004, and the pack includes moon nocks plus C-nocks for older capture-nock bows. Four-inch vanes are there because a heavy, short bolt needs more steer. They are slower than a light carbon and they are the right pick when the bow is in the mid-300 fps class and the shot is inside 40 yards. On a 430-fps-plus bow, confirm the finished weight still meets the minimum after you swap the point.

Best for: deer and hogs when you want momentum more than a flat trajectory.
Skip if: you need .001 straightness or a proprietary nock.

Check price on Amazon

3. Excalibur FireBolt 20-inch — Excalibur only

Excalibur lists the FireBolt 6-pack (22CAV-6) at $66.99: 20 inches, about 250 grains before the point, .003 straightness, 4-inch offset vanes, and Rhino nocks. They are built for the EXO-Traditional series and other Excalibur models that use a flat nock, including CeaseFire bows. They are the wrong bolt for a narrow compound. Light shaft weight is normal on a recurve; still add the point weight your manual calls for before you hunt.

Best for: Excalibur recurve owners replacing the factory pack.
Skip if: the bow is a compound from another brand.

Check price on Amazon

4. Barnett Headhunter 22-inch — Barnett restock

Barnett still lists the Headhunter 22-inch 5-pack at $59.99, and Amazon carries the same family in 20-inch and 22-inch. These are the simple restock for current Barnett compounds that shipped with 22-inch Headhunters: matched length, Barnett nock, and a price that makes sense for practice. Use the length printed in your manual. A 20-inch bolt in a bow cut for 22 inches can sit wrong on the rail. Lighted Headhunter packs exist on Amazon if you hunt last light; they cost more and the battery nocks are the part that fails first.

Best for: Barnett owners who want the factory bolt length.
Skip if: you shoot a Ravin, TenPoint, or Excalibur.

Check price on Amazon

What we left off

TenPoint CenterPunch and Ravin Premium bolts are the correct arrows for those brands, but they use proprietary nocks and should be bought from the bow maker’s chart, not as a universal pick. Generic 16-inch aluminum packs and old MTech bolts are practice ammo at best. Carbon Express discharge bolts are for de-cocking into the ground, not for hunting. The 2017 Bloodsport and Maxima Hunter writeups on the old page are outdated; Executioner and PileDriver cover those jobs now.

How many to buy

Twelve hunting bolts is the practical minimum: six to sight in and practice, six kept for the season. Cheap aluminum is fine for a target butt. Do not hunt with the bolts you have already shot through a bag target twenty times.

The post Best Crossbow Bolts for Hunting and Practice appeared first on Best Crossbow Hunter.

Most crossbows now come with a scope in the box, so the real question is usually whether the one you have is good enough, and what to buy if it isn’t. This guide explains what makes a crossbow scope different from a rifle scope, how to choose one, how to sight it in, and four scopes worth a look at different prices.

We haven’t tested these scopes ourselves. Specs come from the makers’ own product pages and manuals. Prices, stock and ratings were checked on Amazon on October 4, 2026, and they change often.

Do you need a crossbow scope?

You need some kind of sight, and for most hunters a scope is the best choice. A crossbow arrow drops a lot more than a bullet, so a crossbow sight needs separate aiming points for different distances. A good crossbow scope gives you those points, plus some magnification and better light in the first and last minutes of the day, when deer move most.

Your options are:

• Red dot or multi-dot sight: no magnification, fast to aim, fine for shots out to about 30 yards. Many budget crossbows come with one.
• Crossbow scope: usually 3x to 5x, with a reticle made for crossbow arrows. This is what most hunters should use.
• Rangefinding scope: measures the distance and shows you the right aiming point. Very easy to use, but heavy and expensive.

If your crossbow came with a scope that holds its zero, is clear enough to see a deer at dusk, and has aiming points that line up with where your arrows land, keep it. Upgrade if it won’t hold zero, is too dim at first and last light, or its aiming points don’t match your bow’s speed.

How a crossbow scope differs from a rifle scope

• Aiming points: a crossbow reticle has several horizontal lines or dots, usually 10 yards apart, so you can aim for 20, 30, 40 yards and beyond without guessing.
• Speed calibration: those aiming points only work if they match your arrow speed. Some scopes are made for one speed. Others let you set your bow’s speed on the magnification ring.
• Short-range settings: crossbow scopes have parallax and focus set for typical crossbow distances (Hawke’s are fixed at 50 yards, Vortex’s at 75) rather than rifle ranges.
• Built for crossbow shock: a crossbow jolts a scope differently from a rifle, so makers build their crossbow scopes to handle that. Don’t swap in a cheap rifle scope and expect it to hold its zero.

How to choose a crossbow scope

Magnification

Most crossbow shots at deer are inside 40 yards, so you don’t need much. A fixed 3x or 4x scope is plenty. A low-power variable, such as 1.5-5x or 2-7x, is useful if you also practice farther out. The old version of this article mentioned scopes up to 32x. Ignore that: high magnification narrows your view and darkens the image, which is the opposite of what you want at dusk. On many crossbow scopes, the magnification ring is also the speed setting, so you leave it in one position once the scope is set up.

Reticle and speed range

This matters more than anything else. Look up your crossbow’s rated speed with the arrows you shoot, then pick a scope whose speed range covers it. A scope made for 340 fps won’t give accurate long-range aiming points on a 420 fps bow. If your bow is very fast, a scope that adjusts up to 425 or 450 fps is the safer choice.

Illumination

Red or green illumination makes the reticle easier to see against dark timber at dawn and dusk. Turn it down to the lowest level you can see, or it will glare. Some places have rules about lighted or electronic sights, so check your state’s regulations before you hunt with one.

Tube size and rings

Crossbow scopes use 1-inch or 30 mm tubes, and the rings must match. Some scopes come with rings, but many don’t. Check before you order, and make sure the rings fit your crossbow’s rail (most are Picatinny or Weaver).

Durability and warranty

Look for a scope that’s waterproof, fogproof and nitrogen-purged, with a warranty you can actually use. Hawke has a no-fault lifetime warranty on these models, and Vortex’s warranty is unlimited and unconditional. If you buy from a third-party seller, check that the warranty still applies.

How to sight in a crossbow scope

1. Mount it solidly. Tighten the rings evenly and set the scope so you get a full view with your cheek on the stock.
2. Set the speed. If the scope has a speed setting, start at your crossbow’s rated speed with your arrows.
3. Zero at the distance the manual gives. It varies: Hawke’s XB scopes use a 20-yard zero, the XB1 manual calibrates the speed at 30 yards, and the Vortex uses 40 yards. Shoot three-arrow groups from a rest and adjust the turrets.
4. Check every aiming point. Shoot at each distance you might hunt. If the lower points hit high or low, adjust the speed setting as the manual explains, not the turrets.
5. Use your hunting arrows. Practice with arrows and points of the same weight as your hunting setup. A broadhead can hit a little differently from a field point, so shoot one before the season.

Our crossbow bolts guide explains arrow weight and nocks, and our guide to crossbow accuracy covers the other things that move your arrows around.

Four crossbow scopes worth a look

All four were in stock new on Amazon when we checked:

• Best budget pick: Hawke XB 3×32 SR. Simple fixed 3x for bows near 340 fps, about $100.
• Best value: Hawke XB1 1.5-5×32 SR. Adjusts for 250 to 425 fps, about $160.
• Best overall: Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 Crossbow Kit. Covers 275 to 450 fps, rings included, about $200.
• Easiest to use: Garmin Xero X1i. Measures range and shows the aiming point, about $1,400.

1. Hawke XB 3×32 SR: best budget pick

This is a simple fixed-power scope. Hawke calibrates it for 340 fps, with a 20-yard zero and aiming points every 10 yards out to 70 yards. The reticle has red or green illumination with five brightness levels, and a bracket that measures 17 inches, about the depth of a typical whitetail’s chest, to help you judge distance. It has a 1-inch tube, weighs 11 oz, and is 8.5 inches long.

The fixed calibration is the catch. It suits crossbows that shoot near 340 fps. On a much faster bow, the lower aiming points won’t line up. Rings aren’t included. It was $99.99 on Amazon, under Hawke’s $119 US price, with 4.6 stars from 127 ratings. It was sold by a third-party seller and shipped by Amazon, with 15 left.

Check price on Amazon

2. Hawke XB1 1.5-5×32 SR: best value

The XB1 fixes the 3×32’s main limit. Its magnification ring doubles as a speed selector from 250 fps (at 1.5x) to 425 fps (at 5x), so it can match almost any modern crossbow. The reticle has illuminated aiming points out to 60 yards and unlit marks from 70 to 100 yards. Hawke’s manual has you calibrate at 30 yards, after which the other points should line up as long as you leave the ring alone. It has a 1-inch tube, weighs 13 oz and is 8.3 inches long.

Rings aren’t included with this listing. It was $159.99 on Amazon, under Hawke’s $179 US price, with 4.7 stars from 338 ratings, the best average here. It was sold by a third-party seller and shipped by Amazon, with 11 left.

Check price on Amazon

3. Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32 Crossbow Kit: best overall

Vortex’s crossbow kit has the widest speed range here, 275 to 450 fps, which covers even very fast crossbows. Its XBR-2 reticle uses a 40-yard zero with holdover points from 20 to 100 yards and red or green illumination. The FPS setting is marked on the magnification ring. It has a 30 mm tube, weighs 14 oz and is 9.5 inches long.

It’s also the most complete package: two 30 mm rings, flip caps and a neoprene cover come in the box, so you don’t need to buy anything else. Vortex’s warranty is unlimited and unconditional. It was $199 on Amazon, well under Vortex’s $279.99 list price, with 4.6 stars from 710 ratings, the most owner feedback of the four. It was sold by a third-party seller and shipped by Amazon.

Check price on Amazon

4. Garmin Xero X1i: easiest to use

The Xero X1i takes the guesswork out of distance. Press a button and its built-in laser rangefinder measures the distance (up to 250 yards on game, with angle compensation), then lights up the right aiming point. Once you set a 20-yard aiming point, it can calibrate the rest out to 80 yards from your bow’s speed, though Garmin says you should confirm accuracy at 50 yards. It has 3.5x magnification, mounts directly on Picatinny or Weaver rails and runs on two AAA lithium batteries.

The trade-offs are weight and price. At 1.9 lb, it’s more than twice as heavy as the other scopes here. Electronic and rangefinding sights aren’t allowed everywhere, so check your state’s rules first. It was $1,399.99 on Amazon, the same as Garmin’s launch price, sold and shipped by Amazon, with 4.4 stars from 79 ratings.

Check price on Amazon

The bottom line

A crossbow scope doesn’t need to be expensive. It needs aiming points that match your bow’s speed, enough light at dawn and dusk, and a mount that holds its zero. For most hunters, the Vortex Crossfire II kit is the one to buy. The Hawke XB1 does nearly as much for less, and the Hawke XB 3×32 is a good budget choice for bows near 340 fps. Buy the Garmin if you want the range measured for you and can live with the weight and cost.

Still choosing a crossbow? See our best crossbows guide, our TenPoint and Barnett reviews, or our guide to crossbow types and brands.

The post Crossbow Scopes: Do You Need One, How to Choose, and 4 Good Picks appeared first on Best Crossbow Hunter.

This page used to promise the “largest collection of crossbows”. What we can honestly offer is more useful: a plain guide to the main crossbow types and brands, with a link to every crossbow review and guide on this site. Use it to work out which kind of crossbow suits you, then jump to the page that covers it.

There are no prices on this page. Each review we link to lists current picks with the price, stock and rating we found on Amazon and the date we checked. This guide was last updated on October 4, 2026.

Where to start

• Just want a good hunting crossbow? Start with our best crossbows for hunting guide.
• Like a particular brand? See our TenPoint and Wicked Ridge reviews or our Barnett crossbow reviews.
• Want a simple, tough bow? Read our guide to the best recurve crossbows.
• Buying for a young or smaller hunter? See our best youth crossbows.
• Already own a crossbow? Our guides to crossbow bolts and crossbow scopes will help you get more from it.

The main crossbow types

Compound crossbows (forward draw)

Most crossbows sold today are compounds. Cams and cables store energy, so a compound can shoot fast with short limbs and a fairly low draw weight. That makes them narrow, which helps in a ground blind or a tree stand. The trade-off is more parts: the strings and cables wear, and serious string work usually needs a crossbow press at a shop. Almost all the bows in our best crossbows guide, our Barnett reviews and our TenPoint reviews are forward-draw compounds.

Reverse-draw crossbows

A reverse-draw crossbow turns the limbs around so they sit behind the front of the bow. That gives a longer power stroke in a shorter crossbow and moves the weight back toward your hands. The downsides are a wider bow when uncocked and, often, a higher price. The Wicked Ridge Fury 410 in our TenPoint reviews is a good example.

Recurve crossbows

A recurve has no cams or cables. All the energy is stored in the limbs. That makes it simpler and easier to maintain: you can change a recurve string yourself with a stringing aid, without a press. Recurves are usually wider, louder and harder to cock than a compound with the same speed. Excalibur is the best-known recurve maker. See our recurve crossbow guide.

Youth and compact crossbows

Youth crossbows have lower draw weights, shorter or adjustable stocks and lighter frames. Many are fine for close-range deer hunting where the law allows, and they also suit smaller adults. Our youth crossbow guide covers the options and what to check.

Pistol crossbows

Pistol crossbows are small, one-handed bows with low power. They’re mostly for target shooting and pest control, and some are set up for bowfishing. Most are too low-powered for deer hunting, so check your state’s rules before using one for any game. Our guide to bowfishing with a crossbow includes a compact pistol crossbow.

Cocking systems

How a crossbow is cocked affects how easy it is to use, how quiet it is and even how accurate it is. There are three main options:

• By hand or with a rope cocker. Most budget bows come with a rope cocker, which roughly halves the effort and centers the string. It’s the cheapest option, but it takes real strength on a powerful bow.
• Add-on crank. Many makers sell a crank that attaches to the stock. Not every crank fits every bow. Our page on the Barnett Jackal crank cocking device explains how to check fit.
• Built-in crank. TenPoint’s ACUdraw and ACUslide systems are built into the stock, need only a few pounds of effort and, on some models, let you de-cock safely. They add cost, but many hunters think they’re worth it.

The brands we cover

TenPoint and Wicked Ridge

TenPoint is a family-owned company from Suffield, Ohio, founded in 1994. It’s known for built-in cocking systems and narrow, fast compound and reverse-draw bows. Wicked Ridge is TenPoint’s lower-priced line. Read our TenPoint crossbow reviews.

Barnett

Barnett has made crossbows since 1962 and is now based in Tarpon Springs, Florida. It focuses on affordable compound and recurve bows, many with a rope cocker and scope in the box. Read our Barnett crossbow reviews.

Excalibur

Excalibur is the name most people think of for recurve crossbows. Its bows are known for simple, durable designs that you can restring without a press. Read our recurve crossbow guide for current Excalibur models.

Parker

Parker Bows of Virginia closed in December 2018, so there are no new Parker crossbows and no factory warranty. If you own one, our Parker crossbows page covers parts, strings and bolts, plus alternatives.

Other brands

Brands such as Ravin, CenterPoint and Killer Instinct are popular too. We don’t have dedicated pages on them yet. Where one of their bows compares well, it appears in our buying guides.

Older models we reviewed

Some of our early reviews covered bows that are no longer made. We’ve rewritten those pages as owner guides, with specs, parts advice and current alternatives:

• Barnett Ghost 410: a fast compound from the mid-2010s.
• Barnett Jackal: a popular budget compound.
• Excalibur Matrix 355: a compact recurve.

How to narrow it down

• Check the law first. Crossbow seasons, minimum draw weights and who may use a crossbow vary by state. Our page on crossbow hunting qualifications and safety training explains where to find official rules.
• Set a budget for the whole kit. Include arrows, broadheads, a target and maybe a crank. Good complete packages start at around $350 to $450. A built-in crank adds cost: TenPoint’s ACUdraw and ACUslide bows start at roughly $800.
• Don’t chase speed alone. About 330 to 400 fps is plenty for deer at normal ranges. Faster bows are often louder, wider or harder on strings. Our guide to how deadly a crossbow is explains what really kills cleanly.
• Think about size and weight. Check the width when cocked if you hunt from a blind, and the weight if you walk a long way.
• Plan for accuracy. A clean trigger, consistent cocking and matched arrows matter more than the brand. See the most accurate hunting crossbow.

A short history

Crossbows were used in China more than 2,000 years ago and later spread across Asia and Europe. In medieval Europe, the heaviest crossbows, with steel bows, were called arbalests. They needed a crank or windlass to cock and could pierce armor. The appeal then was the same as now: a crossbow holds the string back for you, so it takes less strength and training to shoot well than a regular bow. Modern hunting crossbows use the same idea with cams, light materials and good optics.

How our reviews work

We haven’t shot every crossbow we write about, and each page says so. Our picks are based on the makers’ specs, the features that matter for hunting, and the number and quality of owner ratings on Amazon. We say plainly when a bow has only a few ratings. We check that every pick is in stock new and we date each price check, because prices change often. When a bow is discontinued, we say so and suggest current alternatives instead of linking to old stock.

The bottom line

There’s no single best crossbow, only the right type for how and where you hunt. Most hunters are best served by a forward-draw compound with a rope cocker or crank. Pick a recurve if you want simplicity, a reverse-draw bow if you want a short bow with a long power stroke, and a youth model for smaller shooters. Then use the review pages above to find a current model, and check your state’s rules before you buy.

Still not sure? Our best crossbows for hunting guide is the best place to start.

The post Crossbow Types and Brands: A Guide to Every Crossbow We Review appeared first on Best Crossbow Hunter.

If you own a Barnett Jackal and want a crank cocking device for it, here’s the short answer: Barnett never listed one that fits the Jackal, and we couldn’t find a reliable aftermarket crank made for it either. What does work is a good rope cocker, which halves the pull. This page explains why the cranks don’t fit, which rope cockers to buy, how to cock and unload the Jackal safely, and when a crank is worth it.

We haven’t tested these products ourselves. Compatibility information comes from Barnett’s own product pages, past and present. Prices, stock and ratings were checked on Amazon on October 4, 2026, and they change often.

Is there a crank cocking device for the Barnett Jackal?

No. Barnett’s crank cocking devices come with a list of the crossbows they fit, and the Jackal has never been on one. In 2015, while the Jackal was still on sale, Barnett sold two Power Stroke crank devices (for bows with power strokes up to 15 inches, and from 15 to 18 inches). They listed models such as the Quad, Wildcat, Panzer V, Ghost, Buck Commander, Penetrator, Vengeance, Recruit, Razr, Brotherhood, Raptor and BCX, but not the Jackal. Barnett’s crank for the Predator fit only the Predator and Revolution.

The current Barnett Standard Crank Cocking Device doesn’t list the Jackal either. Its list includes the Whitetail Hunter STR, Ghost 410, Ghost 360 and 375, Wildcat C6 and Recruit models. Even the old version of this page said the Jackal couldn’t take a Barnett crank.

Cranks from other brands won’t help. Excalibur’s Charger EXT is made for Excalibur crossbows, TenPoint’s ACUdraw is built into TenPoint and Wicked Ridge stocks, and CenterPoint’s Power Draw fits only CenterPoint stocks with its buffer tube. A crank needs to attach solidly to the stock in exactly the right place, and a poor fit can let a 150 lb string slip. Don’t drill, clamp or improvise a mount.

Rope cockers that work with the Jackal

A rope cocker is a cord with a handle at each end and either two hooks or a sliding sled in the middle. The cord runs behind the stock like a pulley, so you pull about half the draw weight: roughly 75 lb on a 150 lb Jackal. It also pulls both sides of the string evenly, which helps accuracy. Barnett’s own Jackal page didn’t list a cocking aid in the box, so if you don’t have one, it’s the first accessory to buy.

Both of Barnett’s current Premium rope cockers were in stock new on Amazon from third-party sellers, shipped by Amazon:

• Best for most Jackal owners: Barnett Premium Rope Cocking Device (hook). Simple and light, about $25.
• Easiest to keep centered: Barnett Premium Rope Cocking Device (sled). About $30.
• Only if you upgrade your bow: Barnett Standard Crank Cocking Device. Doesn’t fit the Jackal. About $150.

1. Barnett Premium Rope Cocking Device (hook): best for most Jackal owners

This is the classic design: a hook on each side catches the string next to the rail, and you pull both handles together. Barnett says it reduces cocking tension by up to 50%. It has a 50-inch rope and a magnetic lock to keep it tidy when it’s not in use. It folds small enough to keep in a pocket or pack.

It was $24.99 on Amazon, with 4.7 stars from 139 ratings, the best feedback of the three. The hooks need to be placed evenly on each side of the rail every time, which takes a little practice.

Check price on Amazon

2. Barnett Premium Rope Cocking Device (sled): easiest to keep centered

Instead of two separate hooks, this version has a sled that rides along the rail and catches the string in the middle. That makes it easier to pull the string back straight, which is the main reason to choose it. Barnett gives the same up to 50% reduction, 50-inch rope and magnetic lock. Barnett says it’s compatible with most crossbows but not the Hyper Raptor. It doesn’t mention the Jackal by name, so check that the sled slides freely on your rail before you pull.

It was $29.99 on Amazon with 4.4 stars from 125 ratings. If you’re not sure the sled will clear your rail and scope mount, the hook version is the safer choice for a Jackal.

Check price on Amazon

How to cock a Jackal with a rope cocker

1. Check the bow. Make sure there’s no arrow on the rail and the string, cables and limbs look sound.
2. Point it down. Rest the front of the bow on the ground, pointing down and away from you, and put your foot all the way into the stirrup.
3. Place the rope. Run the cord over the stock behind the trigger, where the manual shows. Then hook the string on each side of the rail, close to the rail. Barnett’s instructions say to keep the hooks facing up.
4. Pull evenly. Stand up straight and pull both handles up together, using your legs and back. Keep the handles level so the string comes back square.
5. Listen for the latch. The string should lock into the trigger and the safety should engage. Check both sides of the string are seated.
6. Remove the cocker, then load. Take the rope off before you load an arrow, and only load when you’re ready to shoot.

If the string sits further back on one side than the other, your shots will drift. Don’t fire. Shoot it off into a target and cock it again more carefully.

How to unload a Jackal safely

A rope cocker can’t let the string down, and you should never try to do it by hand. With a Jackal you have two safe options:

• Shoot it into a target. Load a field-point arrow and shoot into a target or soft ground you’re sure is safe. Many hunters carry one field-point arrow just for this at the end of the day.
• Use a de-cocking bolt. These are heavy, blunt arrows made to be shot into soft ground. Barnett sells its own. Make sure the one you buy matches your bow’s arrow length (20 inches for the Jackal) and nock.

Never let the string down by hand or by holding the string and pulling the trigger. It can slip, hurt you, and damage the bow. And never shoot the bow without an arrow. A dry fire can crack the limbs or wheels.

When a crank makes sense

A crank cuts the effort to a few pounds, some models also let you de-cock without shooting, and it helps hunters with bad shoulders or backs, smaller hunters and young shooters. If a rope cocker isn’t enough for you, the honest fix is a different crossbow that takes a crank, not a homemade adapter for the Jackal. A Jackal is old enough now that it may be due for new strings and cables anyway.

Many current Barnetts work with Barnett’s crank, and some, like the XP370 and Recruit XP, are sold in versions with a crank built into the stock. Our Barnett Jackal owner guide compares four current replacements, and our Barnett crossbow reviews cover the full range.

3. Barnett Standard Crank Cocking Device: only if you upgrade your bow

To be clear: this crank does not fit the Jackal. We include it because it’s the crank Barnett sells for its current bows, and it’s what you’d use if you upgrade. Barnett says it reduces cocking resistance by as much as 93%, so you turn the handle with about 13 lb of force. Its compatibility list includes the Whitetail Hunter STR, Ghost 410, Ghost 360 and 375, Wildcat C6 and Recruit models. Always check the current list for your exact model before you buy.

It was $149.99 on Amazon, with 4.1 stars from 621 ratings, and it was sold out on Barnett’s own store when we checked.

Check price on Amazon

The bottom line

There’s no crank cocking device for the Barnett Jackal, so don’t waste money on one that “should” fit. Buy a Barnett Premium rope cocker, use it with the hooks facing up and an even pull, and unload by shooting into a target or with a de-cocking bolt. If cocking is still a struggle, put the money toward a crossbow that takes a crank.

For more, see our crossbow bolts guide, our owner guides for the Barnett Ghost 410 and the Excalibur Matrix 355, and our best crossbows guide.

The post Barnett Jackal Crank Cocking Device: What Fits and What to Use Instead appeared first on Best Crossbow Hunter.

The short answer: very. A modern hunting crossbow can kill a deer cleanly, and it can kill or badly injure a person, so it has to be handled with the same care as a firearm. But a crossbow is not a rifle. It kills by cutting rather than by impact, it works best at close range, and it only kills cleanly when the arrow goes in the right place. This guide explains how much power a crossbow really has, how it kills, how far it’s effective, and how to stay safe with one.

This guide has no products or affiliate links. It was last updated on October 4, 2026.

Why crossbows have a deadly reputation

Crossbows changed medieval warfare because they took far less training than a longbow. A soldier with a few weeks of practice could shoot a heavy bolt hard enough to wound an armored knight. The Church was uneasy about the weapon: the Second Lateran Council of 1139 is often cited as condemning the use of crossbows and bows against Christians. Medieval crossbows were slow to reload, though, and modern hunting crossbows are far more powerful and accurate.

How a crossbow kills

A rifle bullet kills largely through shock and the damage of a high-speed impact. An arrow doesn’t. A broadhead kills by cutting through vital organs and blood vessels, so the animal loses blood quickly and dies, ideally within seconds. That has three consequences:

• Shot placement matters most. An arrow through the heart and lungs kills quickly. An arrow in the stomach or a leg can leave a wounded animal that’s never found.
• The broadhead must be sharp. A dull or damaged broadhead cuts less and penetrates less. Use broadheads made for crossbows and replace damaged blades.
• Penetration matters more than raw energy. An arrow that passes right through leaves two holes and a better blood trail. Arrow weight, broadhead design and a well-tuned bow all help.

How much power does a crossbow have?

Arrow energy is usually given as kinetic energy in foot-pounds (ft-lb). To work it out, multiply the arrow’s weight in grains by its speed in feet per second squared, then divide by 450,240. Some typical figures:

• Hunting crossbow at 400 fps with a 400-grain arrow: about 142 ft-lb.
• Hunting crossbow at 350 fps with a 400-grain arrow: about 109 ft-lb.
• Hunting compound bow shooting a 400-grain arrow at 300 fps: about 80 ft-lb.

A widely cited guideline, published by arrow maker Easton among others, suggests about 25 to 41 ft-lb for deer-sized game, 42 to 65 ft-lb for elk, black bear and wild boar, and more than 65 ft-lb for the toughest game. Most modern hunting crossbows are well above the top of that range at the bow, which leaves plenty in reserve for deer at normal hunting distances.

Is a crossbow as powerful as a rifle?

No. You’ll sometimes read that a fast crossbow is “close to a .223 rifle”. It isn’t. A common .223 Remington load leaves the barrel at more than 3,000 fps with roughly 1,200 ft-lb of energy, about eight times a fast crossbow, and it stays effective much farther. The reason a crossbow still kills cleanly is that a sharp broadhead doesn’t need that energy. It needs enough to cut through the vitals and, ideally, out the other side.

Is a crossbow deadlier than a compound bow?

At the bow, most hunting crossbows carry more energy than most compound bows, and they’re easier to shoot accurately because you don’t have to hold the string back. But both kill the same way, with a sharp broadhead, and an arrow from a properly set-up compound is plenty for deer. A crossbow’s effective range is a little longer, mainly because it’s steadier to aim with a scope. The bigger difference is how easy a crossbow is to use, which is one reason states don’t all treat crossbows the same as vertical bows.

How far is a crossbow deadly?

An arrow slows and drops much faster than a bullet. A fast crossbow arrow takes about a third of a second to cover 40 yards, and in that time a nervous deer can flinch or drop at the sound. Small errors in judging distance also grow with range. That’s why most experienced crossbow hunters keep shots on game to about 40 yards or less, and many prefer 30.

The arrow is still dangerous far beyond that. A crossbow arrow that misses, or passes through an animal, can fly a long way and still injure someone. Always know what’s behind your target. Your realistic hunting range is the distance at which you can put every arrow in the vital area from a hunting position. Our guide to the most accurate hunting crossbow explains how to stretch that range safely, and our crossbow scope guide explains how to sight in for each distance.

How to make a clean kill

• Wait for a broadside or quartering-away shot and aim for the heart and lungs, just behind the front leg. Avoid shots at the head, neck or rear, and at deer facing straight at you.
• Shoot only inside your proven range, at a calm animal, with a clear path for the arrow.
• Use the arrows and broadheads your crossbow maker recommends, and check that your broadheads hit where your field points do. Our crossbow bolts guide covers arrow weights and nocks.
• Watch where the animal goes and note where you last saw it.
• Wait before you track. Give a well-hit deer time to lie down, and wait longer if you think the hit was far back. Pushing a wounded deer too soon often means losing it.
• Follow the blood trail carefully and keep looking. Some states allow leashed tracking dogs to help find wounded deer; check your rules.

How dangerous is a crossbow to you?

Most crossbow injuries happen to the person holding it. The common ones are easy to prevent:

• Keep your fingers and thumb below the rail. The string moves with huge force and can cut or break any finger in its path. Many crossbows have finger guards or flanges. Use them.
• Never dry-fire. Shooting without an arrow can wreck the bow and send parts flying. Use the arrows the maker specifies, with the right nock.
• Treat it as loaded. Never point a crossbow at anything you don’t intend to shoot, and keep the safety on until you’re ready.
• Don’t climb with a cocked crossbow. Use a haul line to raise and lower it uncocked, and wear a full-body safety harness in a tree stand.
• Unload safely. Shoot the arrow into a target or the ground, or use a de-cocking system if your bow has one. Never let the string down by hand.
• Cover your broadheads in a quiver, and inspect the string, cables and limbs before each season.
• Store it uncocked and out of reach of children.

Crossbows and the law

Because they’re so effective, crossbows are regulated hunting equipment. States set rules on when crossbows can be used, minimum draw weights and broadhead sizes, and whether you need hunter or bowhunter education. These rules vary a lot and change often. Our guide to crossbow hunting qualifications and safety training explains where to find the official rules for your state.

The bottom line

A crossbow is deadly enough to kill big game cleanly at close range where crossbows are legal, and deadly enough to hurt you or someone else if you’re careless. Its power isn’t the issue. What makes a crossbow kill cleanly is a sharp broadhead, a well-placed shot inside your proven range, and patience afterward. What keeps it safe is treating it like a loaded gun.

For help choosing a crossbow, see our best crossbows guide or our guide to crossbow types and brands.

The post How Deadly Is a Crossbow? Power, Range and Safety Explained appeared first on Best Crossbow Hunter.

Every crossbow maker says its bow is accurate, and most modern crossbows can shoot tight groups from a rest. What decides whether your arrow hits a deer’s vitals is the whole setup: how the bow is cocked, the trigger, the arrows, the scope and, most of all, the person shooting it. This guide explains what really makes a hunting crossbow accurate, how to get the most from yours, and four current crossbows with features that help.

We haven’t shot these crossbows for this article, and we can’t honestly crown one “the most accurate”. Specs come from the makers’ websites. Prices, stock and ratings were checked on Amazon on October 4, 2026, and they change often.

What makes a crossbow accurate

Consistent cocking

If the string sits even slightly off-center in the latch, the arrow flies left or right. Pulling a heavy string back by hand makes that easy to do. A rope cocker pulls both sides evenly, and a built-in crank such as TenPoint’s ACUdraw or ACUslide centers the string every time. For accuracy, cocking matters more than most buyers realize.

A clean trigger

A heavy, gritty trigger makes you pull the bow off target as it fires. Good modern triggers break cleanly at around 3 to 4 lb. TenPoint lists 3.5 lb for its current triggers, and Barnett uses TriggerTech triggers on models like the Whitetail Hunter STR. Dry-fire protection doesn’t affect accuracy, but it protects the bow.

Arrows that match

Arrows that differ in straightness, weight or nock fit won’t group together, however good the bow. Use the length, weight and nock your crossbow maker specifies, keep your practice and hunting arrows the same weight, and check that your broadheads hit with your field points before the season. Our crossbow bolts guide covers this in detail.

A scope matched to your bow’s speed

A crossbow scope’s aiming points only line up if they’re set for your arrow speed. A scope made for a slower bow will put your long shots high. Our crossbow scope guide explains speed ranges and how to sight in.

Speed helps, up to a point

A faster arrow drops less, so a mistake in judging distance costs you fewer inches. That’s the real accuracy benefit of speed. But speed also makes a bow louder and harder on strings and arrows, and it can’t fix a bad trigger or poor form. A well-tuned 350 fps bow will out-shoot a badly cocked 450 fps bow.

Condition and tuning

Wax the string and rail as your manual says, replace worn strings and serving, and on a compound crossbow, have the cams checked if groups suddenly open up. A loose scope ring or a worn string can move your groups as much as anything else.

The shooter

Most misses come from the person, not the bow. Shoot from a rest or shooting sticks whenever you can, squeeze the trigger slowly, keep your head down until the arrow hits, and practice at the distances and from the positions (sitting, in a stand) you’ll hunt from.

How far should you shoot?

A crossbow can hit a target at 80 or 100 yards on a calm day at the range. That’s not the same as a clean shot on a deer, which can move in the time the arrow takes to get there. Your effective range is the distance at which you can put every arrow inside a deer’s vital area, roughly the size of a paper plate, from a hunting position. For most hunters that’s about 40 yards or less. Practice farther out to build confidence, but limit your shots on game to your proven range, and know your state’s rules on legal equipment and shooting.

Accuracy checklist

• Cock the same way every time, with a rope cocker or crank, and check that the string sits evenly.
• Use matched arrows of the length, weight and nock your manual specifies. Number them and retire any that group badly.
• Sight in with your hunting weight and confirm every aiming point you might use.
• Shoot from a rest whenever you can, and practice from your stand or blind.
• Check the bow before each season: string, serving, scope rings, rail and trigger.
• Use a rangefinder or mark distances around your stand so you choose the right aiming point.

Four crossbows with features that help accuracy

These four were in stock new on Amazon. They’re not the only accurate crossbows, but each has the features above: easy, centered cocking or a good trigger, a scope with aiming points for longer shots, and solid owner ratings.

• Best overall: TenPoint Turbo X. 415 fps with ACUslide cocking, about $1,300.
• Best value ACUslide: TenPoint Venom X. The same easy cocking for about $1,000.
• Most owner reviews among the TenPoint bows: Wicked Ridge Fury 410 De-Cock. A compact reverse-draw bow, about $1,100.
• Best on a budget: Barnett Whitetail Hunter STR. TriggerTech trigger and 2,300+ ratings, about $430.

1. TenPoint Turbo X: best overall

The Turbo X has everything on our accuracy list. TenPoint’s ACUslide crank cocks the bow silently with about 5 lb of force and centers the string every time, and it lets you de-cock safely too. It has TenPoint’s S2 trigger and a RangeMaster 100 scope with aiming points to 100 yards. TenPoint rates it at 415 fps and 157 ft-lb with its 410-grain Pro Elite 400 arrows. It weighs 6.8 lb and is 33.25 inches long. TenPoint also says Outdoor Life’s 2025 test rated it the most accurate crossbow tested.

It was $1,299.99 on Amazon, under TenPoint’s $1,349.99 starting price, with 4.6 stars from 65 ratings. It was sold and shipped by a third-party seller.

Check price on Amazon

2. TenPoint Venom X: best value ACUslide

The Venom X gives you the same ACUslide cocking and de-cocking for about $300 less. TenPoint rates it at 390 fps and 138 ft-lb, a little slower than the Turbo X, which makes no real difference inside 40 yards. It has the two-stage S2 trigger and a Pro-View 400 scope with aiming points to 70 yards. It weighs 6.9 lb and is 32.5 inches long.

It was $999.99 on Amazon, under TenPoint’s $1,049.99 starting price, with 4.3 stars from 41 ratings. It was sold and shipped by a third-party seller.

Check price on Amazon

3. Wicked Ridge Fury 410 De-Cock: most owner reviews among the TenPoint bows

The Fury 410 is a reverse-draw crossbow, which puts the limbs behind the grip and gives a 15.5-inch power stroke in a bow only 29 inches long. Its ACUdraw De-Cock crank cocks the bow with about 5 lb of force and centers the string, and a button lets you de-cock it. It has TenPoint’s D1 trigger and a RangeMaster Pro scope with aiming points to 60 yards. TenPoint rates it at 400 fps and 142 ft-lb with the 410-grain arrows it comes with. At 7.5 lb, it’s the heaviest pick, which some shooters find steadier offhand.

It was $1,099.99 on Amazon with 4.2 stars from 132 ratings, sold and shipped by a third-party seller, with 10 left.

Check price on Amazon

4. Barnett Whitetail Hunter STR: best on a budget

You don’t need to spend $1,000 for an accurate crossbow. The STR has a TriggerTech trigger, anti-dry-fire protection and a 4×32 multi-reticle scope. Barnett rates it at 375 fps with a 380-grain arrow, from a 187 lb draw. It weighs 6.6 lb and is 32.88 inches long. It comes with a rope cocker rather than a crank. Use it every time and check the string is centered, and the STR can shoot as well as you can. If you want a crank later, Barnett sells crank cocking devices separately; check that the one you buy fits your model.

It was $429.99 on Amazon, under Barnett’s $499.99 list price, with 4.5 stars from more than 2,300 ratings, far more feedback than any other bow here. It was sold by a third-party seller and shipped by Amazon.

Check price on Amazon

The bottom line

The most accurate hunting crossbow is one that’s cocked the same way every time, fires with a clean trigger, shoots matched arrows through a scope set for its speed, and is shot from a rest at a distance you’ve practiced. The TenPoint Turbo X has all of that built in. The Venom X does almost the same for less, and the Barnett Whitetail Hunter STR shows you don’t need to spend a fortune.

For more choices, see our best crossbows guide, our TenPoint crossbow reviews, our Barnett crossbow reviews and our guide to how deadly a crossbow is.

The post The Most Accurate Hunting Crossbow: What Really Matters and 4 to Consider appeared first on Best Crossbow Hunter.

Bowfishing means shooting fish with a bow and a heavy arrow tied to a line, then reeling the fish in. You can do it with a crossbow too: add a reel, a line and fish arrows (often called bolts), and you have a bowfishing rig that doesn’t need to be held at full draw. This guide covers whether it’s legal where you live, the gear you need, how to shoot safely, and how to hit fish under the water.

We haven’t tested the gear below for this article. Specs come from the makers, and prices, stock and ratings were checked on Amazon on October 4, 2026.

First, check that it’s legal where you fish

Bowfishing rules are set by each state, and crossbows are often treated differently from regular bows. Some states allow crossbows for bowfishing, some limit when or where, and some don’t allow them at all. Rules also cover which fish you can shoot (usually nongame or “rough” fish, rarely game fish like bass or trout), which waters are open, whether you need a fishing license or a special permit, shooting at night with lights, and what you must do with the fish afterward. Look up the current fishing regulations from your state’s fish and wildlife agency before you buy anything. Our page on crossbow hunting qualifications and safety training explains where to find official rules.

Crossbow or regular bow?

A crossbow has real advantages for bowfishing. You don’t have to hold the bow drawn while you wait for a fish to turn, and people who can’t draw a bow comfortably can still take part. It’s also steady and easy to aim.

The downsides are just as real. Every follow-up shot means cocking the crossbow again, while a bowfisher with a regular bow can shoot again in seconds. A full-size hunting crossbow is heavy to swing at moving fish, and its power is far more than you need at close range. That’s why many crossbow bowfishers prefer a compact, lower-powered crossbow for the water.

The gear you need

• A reel. Bottle reels (also called retriever reels) hold line in a closed container and let it pay out freely as the arrow flies. You reel in with a crank. Spincast-style reels look like fishing reels and are cheaper. Hand-wrap drum reels are the simplest but slowest.
• A reel mount. Crossbow kits usually attach through the quiver mounting holes or to an accessory rail. Check that the mount fits your model before buying.
• Line. Bowfishing line is heavy braided line, often rated well over 100 lb, so it won’t snap when a big fish runs or the arrow sticks in a log.
• Fish arrows. They’re heavy, usually solid fiberglass, without normal fletching, and have barbed points that hold the fish. Regular hunting bolts are not suitable. See our crossbow bolts guide for hunting arrows.
• A safety slide or ring. This connects the line to the arrow so the line stays in front of the bow when you shoot. It’s the most important safety part of the rig.
• Polarized sunglasses. They cut the glare on the water so you can see fish, and they protect your eyes.
• Optional: gloves for handling fish and line, and lights if night bowfishing is legal where you are. Most bowfishing shots are close, so a magnified scope isn’t needed. Many bowfishers aim with a red dot or the open sights. Our crossbow scope guide covers scopes for hunting.

Safety rules

• Never shoot with the line wrapped around anything: the bow, the limbs, your arm or the boat. A snagged line can snap the arrow back toward you.
• Keep the line in front of the limbs and string, and check it’s clear of the cams before every shot.
• Make sure the line is tied to the safety slide or ring, following the kit instructions, not to the arrow shaft itself.
• Keep the crossbow uncocked while moving and cock it only when you’re ready to shoot. Point it at the water, away from people.
• Watch for ricochets. Arrows can skip off rocks or shallow bottoms.
• Be sure of your target. Shoot only fish you can identify as legal.
• Wear a life jacket when bowfishing from a boat.

How to hit fish

Aim low

Water bends light, so a fish is deeper than it looks. Aim lower than where you see it. The farther away the fish is, and the deeper, the lower you need to aim. Some bowfishers start with the “10-4” rule, aiming about 4 inches low for a fish 10 feet away and 1 foot deep, then adjust from experience. Practice on a target under the water to learn your setup.

Get close

Most bowfishing shots are close, often 10 to 20 feet. Line drag and water slow the arrow quickly, and close shots let you judge refraction much better. Move slowly and quietly, keep your shadow off the fish, and wait for it to stop or turn broadside.

Bring it in

After a hit, keep tension on the line and reel or pull the fish in steadily. Don’t grab the line with bare hands while a big fish is running. Remove the arrow by unscrewing or flipping the barbs, as your point is designed to do.

What to shoot and what to do with it

Common bowfishing targets include carp, gar, buffalo and suckers, depending on state rules. Common carp is an invasive species in much of the U.S., and many anglers see removing it as a benefit to native fish. Treat every fish with respect. Eat what you can (many of these fish are good eating when prepared well), use the rest as garden fertilizer, or dispose of it the way your state requires. Don’t leave fish on the bank or throw them back dead where that’s not allowed.

Two crossbow bowfishing setups

Both of these were in stock new on Amazon. The first turns your crossbow into a bowfishing rig. The second is a compact crossbow you can set up for bowfishing.

• Kit for your crossbow: AMS Bowfishing Crossbow Carp Kit. A bottle reel, mount and three bolts, about $360.
• Compact crossbow for the water: Ballista BAT. A light pistol crossbow, about $300, with a bowfishing kit sold separately.

1. AMS Bowfishing Crossbow Carp Kit: best kit for your crossbow

AMS is one of the best-known bowfishing brands, and this kit has everything you need to fit to a crossbow. You get AMS’s Retriever Pro bottle reel loaded with 25 yards of 200 lb braided Dacron line, the Sleek-X mount, and three 24-inch solid fiberglass Chaos FX bolts. Instead of a separate safety slide, the bolts use AMS’s Ring System, where the line ties to a ring on the shaft.

Fit is the thing to check. AMS says the mount fits crossbows with standard quiver mounting holes 1 5/16 inches apart (center to center). For a crossbow with a Picatinny rail, you need AMS’s M109-PCT adapter, sold separately. This listing is the right-hand version.

It was $359.99 on Amazon with 4.8 stars from 34 ratings. That’s a high score but not many ratings. It was sold by a third-party seller and shipped by Amazon, with only 3 left. If you already have a mount, the AMS Retriever Pro reel was $129.99 on its own.

Check price on Amazon

2. Ballista BAT: best compact crossbow for the water

A full-size hunting crossbow is a lot to swing at a moving carp. The BAT is a compound pistol crossbow that weighs about 2.5 lb and is about 16 inches long. Ballista rates it at 130 lb draw weight and up to 300 fps, plenty for fish at close range. It cocks with a pull rod, so follow-up shots are quicker than with a heavy hunting bow, and it’s also a fun target bow.

To fish with it, you need a kit. Ballista’s crossbow bowfishing kit includes a spincast reel, an aluminum reel mount with sleeve, a quick-release ring mount for 20 mm rails and three 16-inch fiberglass arrows. It was $96.80 with 4.3 stars from only 7 ratings, from a third-party seller. The listing says it fits the BAT and crossbows with a compatible 20 mm rail. Check your state’s rules on pistol crossbows as well as crossbow bowfishing.

The BAT was $299.95 on Amazon with 4.1 stars from 273 ratings. It was sold by a third-party seller and shipped by Amazon.

Check price on Amazon

The bottom line

Bowfishing with a crossbow is a fun way to spend a summer day on the water and a good way to remove invasive carp. Check your state’s rules first, set up a proper reel, line and fish arrows, keep the line in front of the bow, and aim low. The AMS Crossbow Carp Kit is the proven way to convert the crossbow you already own. If you’d like a light, dedicated bow for the water, the Ballista BAT with its bowfishing kit is an affordable option.

Looking for a hunting crossbow? See our best crossbows guide and our Barnett crossbow reviews.

The post Bowfishing with a Crossbow: Rules, Gear, Safety and How to Hit Fish appeared first on Best Crossbow Hunter.

There’s no single national license or qualification for crossbow hunting in the U.S. Each state’s fish and wildlife agency sets its own rules on who may hunt with a crossbow, when, with what equipment, and what training you need first. In Canada, the provinces do the same. This guide explains the kinds of requirements you’re likely to meet, where to find the official answers for your state, and the safety training that matters most.

We don’t list state-by-state rules here, because they differ and change often, and an out-of-date summary could get you fined. Always check the current regulations from your state agency before you buy a license or go hunting. This guide was last updated on October 4, 2026, and has no products or affiliate links.

The kinds of requirements you may face

Hunter education

Hunter education is the basic safety course for new hunters. According to a 2024 resolution of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, completing hunter education is used by all jurisdictions as a qualification for licensing and/or hunting. Who must take it depends on the state. Rules are often based on your age or the year you were born, and there may be exemptions or deferrals.

Bowhunter education

Some states also require a separate bowhunter education course to hunt during archery seasons or in certain areas. Whether that applies to crossbow hunters depends on the state and the season, so check the wording of your state’s rules carefully.

Crossbow-specific rules

Crossbows are often treated differently from vertical bows. Depending on the state, the rules can cover:

• which seasons and dates crossbows may be used in, such as archery, firearms or special crossbow seasons;
• who may use a crossbow during archery season, for example by age or with a disability permit;
• equipment rules, such as minimum draw weight, minimum arrow length, broadhead type and width, and whether scopes or certain cocking devices are allowed;
• how a crossbow may be carried, for example uncocked in a vehicle or in certain areas.

Licenses, permits and tags

You’ll usually need a hunting license plus any permits, stamps or tags for the species and season you’re hunting. Some states sell a separate archery permit that may or may not cover crossbows.

Mentored and apprentice hunting

Many states let new hunters try hunting under the direct supervision of a licensed adult before completing hunter education, often through an apprentice or mentored license. Rules on ages, limits and equipment vary.

Special areas

Military bases, some parks and other restricted areas may require extra permits, courses or a range qualification. Check with the land manager.

How to find your state’s official rules

1. Go to your state wildlife agency’s website. Most publish a hunting regulations guide each year, with sections on hunter education, archery and crossbows.
2. Find your state’s hunter education office. The International Hunter Education Association (IHEA-USA) keeps a list of hunter education administrators for every state, with the agency name and a contact.
3. Read the current year’s rules, not a forum post or an old article. Check the date on anything you rely on.
4. Ask the agency if anything is unclear, especially about crossbows in archery season, disability permits or equipment limits. Keep a copy of the answer.

How to take a course

Most states offer hunter education in several formats: a traditional classroom course run by volunteer instructors, an online course, or an online course followed by an in-person field day. Your state agency’s site lists which options it accepts and how to sign up.

• Hunter education online: Hunter-ed.com offers state-approved hunter safety courses. It says they were developed with IHEA-USA and more than 45 state agencies, and its FAQ says the course typically takes about 4 to 6 hours, not counting quizzes and exams.
• Bowhunter education online: Bowhunter-ed.com offers state-approved bowhunter safety courses approved by the National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF) and IHEA.
• Bowhunter education materials: the National Bowhunter Education Foundation promotes responsible bowhunting through education. Bowhunter-ed.com says its course was developed with NBEF, IHEA-USA and state agencies.

Make sure the course you choose is approved by your state, and finish any field day it requires. An online course alone may not be enough.

Hunting in another state

States have long recognized each other’s hunter education certificates. The same 2024 resolution notes that jurisdictions have a system of reciprocity and encourages continued acceptance of certificates from courses that meet IHEA-USA standards. Still, check the rules of the state you’re visiting, especially for bowhunter education, and carry proof of your certification. If you’ve lost your card, contact the state that issued it.

What good crossbow safety training covers

Whatever your state requires, these are the crossbow skills every course and every mentor should cover:

• Safe carrying. Never walk with a cocked, loaded crossbow. Cock it only when you’re in position to hunt, and keep the safety on until you’re ready to shoot.
• Cocking and unloading. Use a rope cocker or crank as the maker intends, and unload by shooting into a target or the ground, or with a de-cocking system. Never let the string down by hand.
• Finger placement. Keep fingers and thumbs below the rail, out of the string’s path.
• Tree stand safety. Wear a full-body harness, stay connected from the ground up, and raise and lower the crossbow uncocked on a haul line.
• Shot selection. Know your effective range, be sure of your target and what’s behind it, and take only broadside or quartering-away shots at the vitals. Our guide to how deadly a crossbow is explains why.
• Game recovery and ethics. Wait before tracking, follow the blood trail and make every effort to recover the animal.

Inspect your gear before each season and each hunt

• Arrows: cracks, splinters, bent shafts or damaged nocks. Flex carbon arrows gently and discard any that crack.
• String and cables: fraying, broken strands or worn serving. Wax as the manual says.
• Limbs, cams and stock: cracks, chips or loose bolts.
• Trigger and safety: they should work smoothly every time.
• Broadheads: sharp, undamaged and covered in the quiver.

Tips for new and young hunters

Take hunter education even if your state doesn’t require it for you. It’s a good grounding in safety, ethics and the law. Practice with your crossbow until you can hit the vital area every time at your planned range, and hunt with an experienced mentor for your first season. For a smaller shooter, a lighter bow can make learning easier. See our youth crossbow guide, and our guide to crossbow types and brands for an overview of the options. If you plan to try bowfishing with a crossbow, remember that fishing rules are separate from hunting rules.

Common questions

Do I need hunter education just to buy a crossbow?

Hunting requirements apply when you hunt, not usually when you buy. Some states and cities do have rules on owning, carrying or shooting a crossbow, though, so check local law as well as hunting rules.

Is there a crossbow-only course?

Crossbow safety is usually taught within hunter or bowhunter education rather than as a separate course. If your state lists a crossbow course or permit, its agency site will say what’s required and which courses count.

What if I hunt in a group with youth hunters?

Check the supervision rules for youth and apprentice hunters, including how close the adult must stay and whether the adult needs a license.

The bottom line

Crossbow hunting requirements are set state by state and change often. Start with your state wildlife agency’s current regulations, take hunter education (and bowhunter education if your state requires it), and learn the crossbow-specific safety habits above. They’re what keep you, and everyone around you, safe in the field.

Ready to choose a crossbow? See our best crossbows guide.

The post Crossbow Hunting Qualifications and Safety Training: What You Need and Where to Find It appeared first on Best Crossbow Hunter.