Important Info to Know About Crossbow Hunting in Florida

My kids groan when I tell them I’m not much of an archery enthusiast because there are too many drawbacks. My bowhunting friends groan, too, when I claim I’m archery hunting when using a crossbow.

“It’s not real archery!” I hear them wail.

Fine. I concede the point, for the sake of preserving energy. There is, though, an alternate skill set when crossbow hunting versus using compound or traditional bowhunting rigs.

With that in mind, let's run down things you should know before getting into crossbow hunting.

Selecting your Crossbow

The crossbows used in the Florida woods today range from elite rigs that fire bolts like laser beams, to pawn shop retreads that punt bolts towards their target. Such has been the advancement of this technology over the last 20 years. Cost is typically the determining issue here, but certainly consider buying the crossbow and accessories in a brand-new package deal.

Setting them up becomes far more challenging when mixing and matching pieces. Crossbows today can launch their payloads at a sizzling 500+ feet-per-second (fps). But even those in the 400-fps realm are still cooking. When I upgraded my first crossbow to a faster model, I quickly discovered my old accessories were wholly unacceptable. The bolts shattered on the target if they even hit the target. My previous Nikon scope simply wasn’t graduated to accommodate the speed, and it was the very devil to walk bolts onto the bull at 30 yards.

So, bear this in mind before attempting to assemble a crossbow on the cheap. I understand dumping $2-3K into a crossbow rig is not in the cards for many, but most manufacturers offer quality packages at cost-conscious prices.

Bolts & Broadheads

On the advice of the attorneys and pursuant to the section above, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions on minimum bolt weights. For hunting purposes, I prefer heavier bolts between 500 and 600 grains with the broadhead. They might not shoot as far as fast, but within 40 yards they provide penetration that lighter bolts sacrifice.

As for broadheads, I won’t wade too deep into the mechanical vs. fixed blade debate. Both have pros and cons. Mechanical blades are easier to sight in, flying more like field points, which matters when practicing as all these components are pricey. They also cut very large holes. Penetration is not always optimal, however, and their durability when striking the target is rightfully questioned.

Fixed blades sometimes require extra time to tune at the range. With more surface area, they are prone to plane at longer distances. To compensate for this, crossbow fixed blades usually have smaller cutting diameters, but maintain consistent cutting surfaces and reliable penetration. Regardless, if you question the game-worthiness of your bolt/broadhead arrangement, fire them into a target. If they don’t survive a poke through the foam, I’d not reliably bet on them against bucks or boars.

Familiarization and Practice

Crossbows are cocked with everything from manual ropes to battery-operated devices. I have blindly bent retention springs using rope cocking devices in the dark. I've shot through a ground blind when looking through a high-seated scope and popped a string when I didn't place the limbs far enough out of a stand, and they hit the sides of the porthole while shooting at a hog. Then there's the whole thing about keeping your fingers below the rail when shooting, a painful lesson a buddy learned several years back. Many older models are wide and unwieldy, capturing every vine and branch in the woods. And they’re just unusual—for lack of a better word—to shoot in the field.

The point is, familiarity breeds competence. Don’t fall into a trap of believing that crossbows are simply a cheat code during archery season. They’re an investment of time as would be required of any hunting bow or firearm.

Crossbow Seasons

On Florida’s private lands, crossbows can be used during archery season with an Archery Season Permit. During archery season, a Crossbow Permit is not required. The Crossbow Permit is only needed when hunting during the scheduled crossbow seasons. Likewise, a Crossbow Permit is unnecessary during General Gun seasons.

People can get confused with all the licensing, but always remember that the special permits for archery, crossbows, and muzzleloaders are tied to the seasons, not necessarily to the weapon. Of course, the easy answer is to buy a Gold Sportsman or Lifetime Sportsman's license, and you'll be covered for every weapon season.

More info on crossbow hunting in Florida.

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• This article was featured in the October 2024 issue of Florida Sportsman magazine. Click to subscribe.

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