Firearms are usually a much better investment than a compound bow.
Where as rifles and pistols maintain or even appreciate in value, the resale price of most modern bows drop 50% the minute it leaves the store.
Crossbows are the exception, and the Shifler family is living proof. Steve Shifler received a Horton Legend SL from his now-deceased wife 15 years ago and had the valued present “re-tuned” at a local sporting good shop.
“After all that time, all it needed was a new string and it shoots like new,” he said enthusiastically after bagging the 6-point buck shown above.
Alex, Shifler’s nephew, killed a coyote at 35 yards with an Excalibur nearly as old, not far from where uncle Steve bagged his buck. The Excalibur accounted for a Canadian moose earlier in its use, quite a feat considering all the other hunters in camp carried Magnum rifles.
Crossbows are becoming increasingly popular among hunters of all ages, as they allow a person to avoid the huge learning curve of using a compound, recurve, or longbow to hunt effectively.
Importantly, crossbows hold their value. Buying a used one is a good way to get started and see if you enjoy the sport.
Once accomplished at the basics, you can re-sell or trade up to a newer model with the anticipation that it will last for decades and maintain much of its original value.
More importantly, a crossbow will allow you to multiply your hunting days afield in many states, by ten times in some cases.
Bowhunting is exciting, whether with a vertical or horizontal format, and you can be assured that the latter will help preserve your investment.
