Tips for buying a crossbow and stuff.

Crossbows have been getting more popular every year. The number of manufacturers in the crossbow business now has multiplied exponentially over the last handful of years. With some states loosening their regulations on who can use crossbows during hunting season, here are some tips if you plan on going that route because of age, injury or just for the fun of it.

Rule number one when it comes to purchasing a crossbow is that they are not quiet. Doesn't matter what brand or how new. Some are quieter but they are all loud. But most are so fast it doesn't matter how noisy they are. You will be surprised if you have never been around crossbows before and you go shoot some just how loud crossbows are. Even the brand-new ones right off the line are noisy.

Another key factor is weight and length. They can get heavy and long. The lightest you will find is around 6 pounds. That is with everything detached, quiver etc. You will also find some to be real long. They can be somewhat cumbersome, especially for someone who has never shot one before. 

Price is always an object. But I would suggest buying the best you can afford. To fully package out everything that you need to shoot/hunt, you can expect to pay around $800-$1500. For just the bare crossbow expect to pay around $300-$1000. This might seem like a lot to pay for but it will last you a lifetime if you take care of your equipment and follow the maintenance recommendations. You can spend a couple thousand on a crossbow but that is not necessary to kill a deer.

There are two main kinds of crossbows, recurve and compound. Recurve crossbows are more user-friendly for the first timer. Just like everything, less parts equals less breakdowns and it is no different with crossbows. I would suggest recurve for a beginner. Some have lifetime warranty on their lines of recurve crossbows. Companies that make compound crossbows offer warranties but most of them are limited. Compound crossbows include forward-draw and reverse-draw crossbows. Compound crossbows are not that complicated, they just need more attention and maintenance.

There are also options on how to cock your crossbow. Most if not all come with some type of rope cocking or pulley system to cock the bow. Some come with a hand crank built-in to the crossbow. Others come with detachable hand cranks. Built-in are really nice just because they are handy and you're never looking for your cocker.

There are also options on which type of sights you would like to use. There are open sights, dot sights and scopes. There are many different brands available that are made specifically for crossbows. Make sure to check your state regulations on what magnifications are allowed in your state while hunting. Familiarity, good field of view, durability and light gathering are also factors when considering which type of sight to put on your crossbow. There are scopes that come with lighted reticles. Again, check local regulations because some states do not allow these.

When you start looking for arrows for your crossbow you will be amazed at how many are available. It all depends on what you want to spend. But I will say this, you get what you pay for. There are some companies out there that will spine test every arrow before they send it to you. Others are just mass-produced. But they all have their place. The most important thing is to get the right weight and arrow length that is recommended by your crossbow manufacture. Some companies will void your warranty if you use the wrong arrow.

When you have picked out your arrow the next thing to look at is which broadhead you are going to use. Fixed or mechanical is your first decision. This is like a Chevy versus Ford deal. Everyone has their favorite. But every crossbow has their favorite also. It is just going to take time and patience to figure out which broadhead shoots best with the arrow you choose for your crossbow. The combinations of these three things are endless. Remember to check your state regulations for which broadheads are legal.

Every year there seems to be more and more companies coming out with their own line of crossbows. Some companies have been around for years while others are just jumping in the market. So there are tons of options out there. You can spend as little or as much as you want. The one good thing about all of these companies getting into the crossbow business is all of the new technology and innovations that have been made specifically for crossbows. And just like everything, there are good companies to deal with and there are not so good companies to deal with. You will find out which ones are the good ones very early.

There are a lot of good websites out there with a lot of good information. It can get a little overwhelming, but with some basic info you should be able to narrow down your search.

Remember, nothing is better than getting out and shooting as many brands as you can. Each is different, and each has their pros and cons. The old adage is true, shoot more… shoot more often.

Minnesota crossbow regulations:

Two years ago, a temporary change was made to allow all hunters to use a crossbow without a permit.  The temporary period ends this year, and the Minnesota DNR are hoping that legislature will make it permanently legal.  There’s currently a bill in Committee that would eliminate the “expiration date” of the trial period for crossbow that we are in, making it permanently allowed. If passed, all you will need is the appropriate hunting license, as a crossbow is considered archery and can be used with an archery license, and can be used with a firearm license too. 

North Dakota crossbow regulations:

Crossbow permittees must be either blind, paraplegic or have lost the use of one or both arms. A licensed physician, certified nurse practitioner, certified physician assistant, or licensed chiropractor is required to confirm the applicant meets the eligibility requirements and application must be accepted by the NDGF to receive crossbow permit.

South Dakota crossbow regulations:

To use a crossbow with an archery license, an individual must be permitted through the South Dakota Department of Game Fish and Parks. A Crossbow/Draw-lock Permit is available to any person who is incapable of using a conventional bow with a minimum draw weight of 30 pounds, due to the loss of use of one or both arms, caused by birth defect, injury, disease, or who uses a wheelchair for mobility. Crossbow application must be signed by physician or chiropractor.

Thanks for reading, Clint.

Life doesn’t suck but it does if you let it.

My life doesn’t suck but if someone else was in my position they might have a different outlook. I am not saying that my life is all balloons and puppies but if you choose or decide that your life is going to suck, I guarantee you it is. Life doesn’t suck.

It’s easy to blame someone else for your life but there’s only one to blame and that would be yourself. Life doesn’t suck.

If your life sucks now but it was great a couple months ago, it’s not anyone’s fault but your own. It blows my mind that people think their lives are so greatly changed by a simple vote. If your happiness depends on that vote, you have bigger problems. Life doesn’t suck.

I too have those days that I think to myself poor me. But guess what, that gets you nowhere. Thankfully I only have those days very rarely. I couldn’t imagine waking up every morning not being upbeat. Life doesn’t suck.

Every once in a while, when I am having a down in the dump’s day, I remind myself that there is always someone who is worse off. I been around enough to see stuff and things, and there are people way worse off than I. I’m lucky that way. Life doesn’t suck.

I like to keep busy. Some people tell me that I do more than they do. Like I go out more on the town, I go hunting more or I just have a busier schedule than they do, and they are able-bodied. I laugh at that. Sometimes I wonder what I would be doing if I wasn’t a quadriplegic? I think I probably would be doing the same stuff except for just more of it. I love life and I love living it. It doesn’t matter that I am physically handicapped. That just puts a limit to the stuff and things I can do. Notice how I said can and I did not say can’t. Life doesn’t suck.

A lot of people need to pull up their tighty whities, pull up their big boy panties. Life doesn’t suck.

If I feel like doing something, I can pretty much find someone to help me do that something. If I feel like going ice fishing, I can usually find someone to make that happen. If I want to go hunting, I usually have more than enough help or opportunity. If I want to go out on the town, I can find someone to go with. Life doesn’t suck.

If your life sucks because you are more worried about politics and elected officials, I believe your priorities are backwards. My advice to you is too quit watching the news and start living life. I used to watch the news religiously every day, multiple times a day. Mostly local. But when I quit doing that a handful of years ago, it really freed up my cranial region for other stuff and things. The other stuff and things are fulfilling not depressing, like the news. Life doesn’t suck.

Republican, Democrat, green jacket, gold jacket who gives a shit… Get over it. If your happiness depends on that, that is a sad life. Life doesn’t suck.

So, get out and go outside. The more you are with nature the less stress and other stuff will be on your mind. Life doesn’t suck.

Of course, it helps if you have family and friends like I do. Thankfully I have the support of a great family and great friends. My family and friends do not suck. Life doesn’t suck.

These are some of things I think of when I’m staring down an ice hole waiting for something to bite my hook. Life doesn’t suck.

Thanks for reading, Clint.

Trackchairs plus stuff and things.

Trackchairs have been around since the first rough prototype was built on November 27, 2008 by the original founder, Tim Swenson. On January 19, 2009 the first working prototype complete and operational was built, named Freedom One. This first Trackchair is proudly displayed in the showroom at the Action Manufacturing Inc. based in Marshall, Minnesota.

Adam Henning the Marketing Manager for Action Manufacturing explained, “The first 50 or so Trackchairs were sold through Action Sports, which was Tim’s powersports dealership. October 1, 2009, Tim sold Action Sports to his son Jim, and founded Action Manufacturing, Inc. to focus on building Action Trackchair.

Action Trackchairs are all-terrain tracked electric powered wheelchairs. Basically, they are wheelchairs on steroids that are made to go through places that a regular manual wheelchair or electric wheelchair could not even think of going without getting stuck. These all-terrain wheelchairs give disabled individuals freedom to go places they did not think was possible.

Now disabled individuals have the opportunity to use and try one of these chairs with help from North Dakota Game & Fish, South Dakota Game Fish & Parks and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Trackchairs provide comfort, stability, and safety for outdoor users whether they are looking to hunt, fish, or simply get out outside in areas they would normally not be able to go.

North Dakota:

The North Dakota Game & Fish Department has a Trackchair available for use at the Outdoor Wildlife Learning Center located in Bismarck and at NDGF Department sponsored field events. There is no charge for the use of the chair. When the chair is not being used by the NDGF, the Trackchair can be reserved by approved user groups for offsite use at outdoor educational or hunting programs.

A waiver of liability must be signed by the user or guardian before using the Trackchair. The Trackchair may be reserved for offsite use for up to 72 hours. The Trackchair must be picked up by a representative of the organization responsible for the outdoor program or event at which it is being used. An enclosed trailer is provided for transporting the chair. Towing the trailer requires the towing vehicle have a 2-inch ball. A short tutorial on how to run and load the wheelchair properly will be given upon pick up of the chair. To reserve the use of the Trackchair call 701-328-6615.

South Dakota:

The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department has partnered with South Dakota Youth Hunting Adventures to provide physically disabled individuals with an Action Trackchair. The chair is available free of charge and can be reserved up to two weeks by calling the Outdoor Campus West at 605-394-2391. This number can also be reached if there are any questions about the Trackchair.

Minnesota:

Trackchairs are available in 13 different Minnesota State Parks for visitors with mobility issues. The chairs are available year-round in some locations but only seasonally in others. The state does not charge for the use of the chairs but a state park vehicle permit is required for all vehicles entering the parks. People with disabilities can get a discounted vehicle permit for entering parks.

Jamie McBride is the State Park & Recreation Area Program Consultant in the Parks & Trails Division for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

“The parks with the highest visitation generally get the most use,” said McBride. He went on to say, “In our first year most of the chairs were used an average of three to four days per week in the summer, and one to two days per week in the spring and fall. Use at Fort Snelling State Park had the highest use (five to six days per week in the summer and 3 to 5 days per week in the spring and fall). Their increased use is likely due to its proximity to the population based in the metro area.”

McBride explained about the positive feedback, “Users have told us that using the chair is life-changing, that they are now able to get out into the park to see the major attractions rather than staying on the paved surfaces while their friends and families explore overlooks, waterfalls, and other significant natural and cultural resources.” 

McBride said when asked if there had been any problems or concerns with the chairs, “Our planning worked to anticipate all of the problems we have faced thus far. For example, we have a plan for when a battery runs out while a chair is in use.” He went on to say, “Almost all of the feedback we’ve gotten has been focused on how to make little tweaks to the program or equipment to make it better.”

When users sign in for the track chairs, the length of use varies in each park. McBride explained, “Some parks let you use it just for the day, and if you want multiple days, you must bring it back to the storage location for an overnight charge. Others have opportunities for overnight use for as long as the user is in the park. In those cases, we send the charging cord and cover, making sure the visitor knows how to charge it between uses. All chairs need to remain in the park at all times. If the user has a campsite or lodging unit with electricity it’s possible to use some chairs overnight.”

The Minnesota DNR received the first track chair by donation in 2016. McBride said, “Four additional chairs were rolled out in the summer of 2022, with eight more arriving in August of 2023. We’re in the process of purchasing ten more chairs which will start arriving in the parks and 2025. This expansion is funded through 2023 legislation called Get Out More that dedicated $1,000,000 to track chairs and other adaptive devices.” The Minnesota DNR has not awarded the contract to build the new tracked chairs to any company in particular.

“At this point they can only be used on DNR’s Parks and Trails managed lands. There is some future possibility that they’ll be able to be used on other DNR managed lands, especially for specialized hunting, and we’ve explored the idea of allowing use on public lands that neighbor state parks but those details are yet to be fully realized. We don’t have plans to allow visitors to transport the chair by vehicle to another location,” added McBride.

Contact the Minnesota park you plan to visit ahead of time to reserve a Trackchair. A waiver must be signed before use. For more information contact the individual Minnesota State Park you wish to visit or call 888-646-6367.

Henning said, “They roughly sell 550 to 600 Trackchairs in a given year and we are looking to grow that number in the next couple years.” Action Manufacturing eclipsed serial number 7,000 earlier this year.

“Battery life is highly dependent on many variables including terrain, weather, weight of the user, battery age, etc., but the AXIS 30 and AXIS 40 can get up to 10 miles on a charge. Or about 2-3 hours of continuous use,” explained Henning.

Henning went on to say, “We proudly offer a one-year bumper-to-bumper warranty. Three years on the welding/frame. Three years on the tracks. Two or three years on the battery charger, depending on brand. Very little maintenance is needed in regard to the tracks. But, they may need replacing several years after the warranty expires depending on the application and how often the Trackchair gets used. Replacement tracks are available for order through our dealer network.”

Action Manufacturing has a new model that is only 30 inches wide, which is a game changer for a lot of users that do not want to transfer in and out of different wheelchairs just in order to get into a house. Most doorframes in homes are at least 30 inches wide these days.

Trackchairs can be modified/fitted for each individual user. Leg rests, armrests, controllers, seat cushions, backrests among other parts can be adjusted and changed depending on the disability or size of the user.

The different models and options can be found on the website (www.actiontrackchair.com) under the models page. For more information contact: 507-532-5940.

Thanks for reading, Clint.