Hickory Creek Mini In-Line Vertical Crossbow

[EricS]

I admit of all the crossbows out there this one intrigues me the most. What kind of let off is on the cams. I don’t like the idea of 150 lbs sitting on a string loop. Other than that it looks awesome.

 

[Nutterbuster]

I admit of all the crossbows out there this one intrigues me the most. What kind of let off is on the cams. I don’t like the idea of 150 lbs sitting on a string loop. Other than that it looks awesome.

Not much. Let off sucks speed and isn't really necessary on a crossbow. The d-loop as it came from jerry is served in there though. Quite sturdy. Never heard of a failure.

But I definitely plan on being more critical of that particular d loop than my usual ones! That'd make me poo my pants of it went off in the tree!

 

[dlist777]

I would like to add that Jerry Goff the owner is probably the most helpful guy I have ever dealt with on a hunting product. I have never shot a compound (only xbows) and some of the things on this bow confused me (eg. I've never "tuned" an arrow by moving my rest). I called him on several occasions, emailed him pics, and he spent so much time with me. It was really crazy.

The bow itself is so simple, everything can be easily adjusted (poundage, arrow rest, safety, trigger).

BTW, he used to be a pro boxer and once fought Mike Tyson as an amateur (google it, there is a video on YouTube of them fighting).

 

[EricS]

Also @Nutterbuster at this point shoot whatever will put points on the board for team 8. You are the only pro hunter we have on the team.

 

[GCTerpfan]

Also @Nutterbuster at this point shoot whatever will put points on the board for team 8. You are the only pro hunter we have on the team.

And he's a "pro hunter" without any points I might add. I better not see any new YouTube videos until he atleast puts up a five spot.

 

[Nutterbuster]

BTW, he used to be a pro boxer and once fought Mike Tyson as an amateur (google it, there is a video on YouTube of them fighting).

Lol, yep. Jerry is a cool guy, and that ALWAYS comes up in conversations with/about him. Cool bit of trivia.

 

[Nutterbuster]

@EricS, @GCTerpfan, "pro" in my case don't mean much. I got gifted a saddle in exchange for...actually, still trying to figure that one out. Maybe they got the wrong guy?

I've seen a pile of does, but can't shoot st them until Friday down here. It'll happen though. I put a 9 and a slick head on the board last year!

 

[robertreed711]

Seems pretty cool but it looks like the safety could stand to be a little more refined.

Are you able to reload from the saddle?

 

[GCTerpfan]

@EricS, @GCTerpfan, "pro" in my case don't mean much. I got gifted a saddle in exchange for...actually, still trying to figure that one out. Maybe they got the wrong guy?

I've seen a pile of does, but can't shoot st them until Friday down here. It'll happen though. I put a 9 and a slick head on the board last year!

Haha, just giving you a hard time. I used to be given thousands of dollars of bass fishing tackle to stick the name of a bait shop on the side of our boat. Never considered myself a "pro" either.

 

[Nutterbuster]

Seems pretty cool but it looks like the safety could stand to be a little more refined.

Are you able to reload from the saddle?

The safety is pretty dang efficient, easy to understand, and easy to verify that it's working properly. I like being able to SEE the safety.

Yes, you can reload from the saddle. From a ROS. I put a second arrow in my bow after popping my coyote.

Also, another quick thought. I plan on trying to put some string puffs on it, which will require pressing the bow. This crossbow is stupid easy to press, since you can turn a knob and remove the bow from the stock.

 

[EricS]

It’s funny here on does. I can shoot them every day from September through mid Jan with a bow but they have some blackout dates with a rifle.

 

[EricS]

The safety is pretty dang efficient, easy to understand, and easy to verify that it's working properly. I like being able to SEE the safety.

Yes, you can reload from the saddle. From a ROS. I put a second arrow in my bow after popping my coyote.

Also, another quick thought. I plan on trying to put some string puffs on it, which will require pressing the bow. This crossbow is stupid easy to press, since you can turn a knob and remove the bow from the stock.

I watched a video of the owner restringing one without the use of a press. Apparently it’s not that hard to pop the string off if you’re not pulling inline.

 

[Nutterbuster]

It’s funny here on does. I can shoot them every day from September through mid Jan with a bow but they have some blackout dates with a rifle.

We begged and pleaded for and extra 10 days of season in february so we could actually hunt the rut. DCNR swore for years we were idiots and that the season covered the rut. Then they "gave in" to us because they "serve hunters." But they told us no does for the first 10 days of the season. Why? I gave up asking why DCNR does anything anymore.

Oh, and I've killed or had an encounter with a rutting buck every February since they changed the rules. They also redid a study on conception dates, and we STILL don't get to hunt the whole rut down here.

 

[dlist777]

I replaced the strings without a press. Just dial the weight all the way down. I'm not sure what the puffs are you are talking about. But you dont need a press to replace the strings.

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[Nutterbuster]

I replaced the strings without a press. Just dial the weight all the way down. I'm not sure what the puffs are you are talking about. But you dont need a press to replace the strings.

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Cat whiskers. Beaver balls. String silencers.

I'll have to watch some of Jerry's videos. I'd you replace just the string, or string and cables? I have a press, but it'd be cool to know you could do string swaps at camp

 

[dlist777]

Cat whiskers. Beaver balls. String silencers.

I'll have to watch some of Jerry's videos. I'd you replace just the string, or string and cables? I have a press, but it'd be cool to know you could do string swaps at camp

I just did strings. But, I think you would be able to do cables too.

 

[Tapeworm]

You know how a saddle changed the way you hunt, gave you a huge advantage over normy muggle hunters, let you shoot more deer, and just generally made you feel so dang SEXY?

Wanna feel that rush all over again?

Buy...the...mini!

After a week of owning with one, I can say I haven't been more blown away with a product since I sat in the kestrel for the first hunt. Where do I even start?

So it's light. Like 6lbs light. Lighter than a lot of compound bows, and definitely lighter than most crossbows. It's also stupid-easy to carry and maneuver. You know how when you carry a bow or rifle it just stays by your side, out of the way and easily maneuverable through tall brush and thickets? Know how a crossbow feels like Jesus lugging his cross through a monkey bar factory that got wrecked by a tornado? The mini feels like that first thing. Carry it one handed, two handed, left hand right hand, whatever feels good. Wanna put it in a backpack! Turn one knob and it comes apart in two tiny little pieces. Put your saddle and the mini in a jansport pack, smear granola crumbs in your beard, throw your hair in a man bun, and drive your minivan with Eno and Yeti stickers to the parking area. Folks will think you're some yuppie tree hugger out to cry over the beauty of a river or some nonsense. They'll never suspect they're witnessing a master predator invade their turf.

Shot options? In a turkey seat. On the ground. On your belly. Strong side, weak side, drop shot, over the bridge, crane style on top of an alligator's back. Whatever. See critter? Shoot critter.

It's quieter than a regular crossbow, but has the speed. 30 yard zero on mine and I'm shooting maybe 3" high and low at 20 and 40. Put the crosshairs on the animal. Pull the trigger. No rangefinder, no anchor point, no form, no technique, no skill, no art form. Just stone cold, lethal efficiency on tap and ready to rock your little world.

You can use whatever arrows you prefer with it, instead of being Shanghaied into using the manufacturer's bolts with their BS proprietary nocking system. Wanna shoot a 500 grain telephone pole tipped with a bmcold steel bushman knife on the end of it? Of course ya do, ya crazy animal!

Seriously, I've shot at two critters with mine already. Sent a coyote straight to that big turkey nest in the sky. Little rascal came out at a trot straight behind me. Straighten left leg, pivot at waist, shoulder, settle pin, unleash 150lbs of "screw you, Wile E. Coyote" through the thicket. "Super Genius" my ascot tie.

The doe I shot at was a swing and a miss. That's because I'm a knock-kneed ninny-wagon who shakes like Mohammed Ali when he's on the ground 20 yards away from his first potential victim of the year. Control your bloodlust, and let the voices of your ancestors guide you. The mini will do the rest if you only let it.

Seriously folks, Jerry Goff, the inventor of this little lung-popper, is a smart cookie. The mini is one heck of a critter killer, and I'm yet to see a downside. If you're not desperate to prove your masculinity by channeling your inner Ishi (who, btw, would have absolutely rocked this thing) or to relive the glory days of medieval English "air supremacy" buy one.

Do them deer dirty.

Hell yeah

I’m glad it went to a good home


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[Longbowwally]

Very cool Nutter....The Hickory Creek has always intrigued me....

 

[fawnzy]

You should probably send that up to me in Canada for a season. I’ll make sure it operates properly in the cold.


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[kyler1945]

The safety is pretty dang efficient, easy to understand, and easy to verify that it's working properly. I like being able to SEE the safety.

Yes, you can reload from the saddle. From a ROS. I put a second arrow in my bow after popping my coyote.

Also, another quick thought. I plan on trying to put some string puffs on it, which will require pressing the bow. This crossbow is stupid easy to press, since you can turn a knob and remove the bow from the stock.

You don't need a press to change strings or string accessories. Yeh, it's that awesome.