Hickory Creek Koolaid

[Jimmyfunk60]

Mini was delivered yesterday late. This morning shot it a couple of times at 125 lbs. and immediately cranked it down to 150 lbs. Zeroed in at 30 yards. Shoots 2 inches high at 20 yards and 1 inch at 10 yards.

Little slice of goodness. Excalibur Micro Suppresser or R26 may be leaving the stable.

I’m going to buy a new crossbow before our season opens. I enjoy my Mathews but really want something I can be more accurate with and cut down on movement. I didn’t get a shot on a stud last year do to not being ready and by the time I got my bow drawn and the deer stopped he was just outside my comfortable range and just at an odd enough angle I didn’t take the shot.

I’ve come down to three bows #1 the mini, #2 the ravin r26, #3 the tenpoint viper s400


Mini seems to hit all the important stuff but I’m Leary of the offset scope and what I’ve read about using Kentucky windage to hit where u want. I also think shooting it on the non dominant side will be awkward

The ravin seems awesome other than needing new strings really quick and the possibility of it blowing up fairly soon.


Tenpoint seems all around good but not quite as compact or light..

I have an Excalibur micro 335 right now for my wife,kids, and dad and it will hit bullseyes at 60 every time.. can you expect that out of the mini ?


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[Rico]

I’m going to buy a new crossbow before our season opens. I enjoy my Mathews but really want something I can be more accurate with and cut down on movement. I didn’t get a shot on a stud last year do to not being ready and by the time I got my bow drawn and the deer stopped he was just outside my comfortable range and just at an odd enough angle I didn’t take the shot.

I’ve come down to three bows #1 the mini, #2 the ravin r26, #3 the tenpoint viper s400


Mini seems to hit all the important stuff but I’m Leary of the offset scope and what I’ve read about using Kentucky windage to hit where u want. I also think shooting it on the non dominant side will be awkward

The ravin seems awesome other than needing new strings really quick and the possibility of it blowing up fairly soon.


Tenpoint seems all around good but not quite as compact or light..

I have an Excalibur micro 335 right now for my wife,kids, and dad and it will hit bullseyes at 60 every time.. can you expect that out of the mini ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I was hesitant to buy the Mini, but everything else I looked at was too heavy or too expensive. I spoke with Jerry and got his assurance that I could send the Mini back for a full refund if we didn’t like it. He gave us a week to try it. Out of the box it felt awkward and I was sure we’d send it back. On day three we had adapted. It’s been about eight weeks since our purchase and many people have shot it. Everyone likes it and shoots well with it. We shoot out to 50 yards.
I’d say talk to Jerry, let him know you’ll want a trial period and get one coming.

 

[larasea]

I’m going to buy a new crossbow before our season opens. I enjoy my Mathews but really want something I can be more accurate with and cut down on movement. I didn’t get a shot on a stud last year do to not being ready and by the time I got my bow drawn and the deer stopped he was just outside my comfortable range and just at an odd enough angle I didn’t take the shot.

I’ve come down to three bows #1 the mini, #2 the ravin r26, #3 the tenpoint viper s400


Mini seems to hit all the important stuff but I’m Leary of the offset scope and what I’ve read about using Kentucky windage to hit where u want. I also think shooting it on the non dominant side will be awkward

The ravin seems awesome other than needing new strings really quick and the possibility of it blowing up fairly soon.


Tenpoint seems all around good but not quite as compact or light..

I have an Excalibur micro 335 right now for my wife,kids, and dad and it will hit bullseyes at 60 every time.. can you expect that out of the mini ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I moved to a crossbow in 2016 due to my age, movement issues, having to stand up while shooting my Mathews, and coordination 20 to 30 feet up in a tree with a Summit Viper. My first crossbow was the Micro Suppressor and its amazing but has limitations out of a climber. I have killed many deer with it and the best part is, I don't have to stand up and draw to harvest a deer. In 2019 I purchased the R26 and killed 3 this past deer season and past on many. The R26 is a great bow for the tree stand due to the narrow limbs and how small it is. On a side note, I purchased a R10 and it was just too big in the tree. I sold it to a friend who missed a buck of a life time because he could not draw his bow due to cold and stiff muscles.

This will be my first season hunting with a saddle. I have been shooting my compound trying to get ready for the killing season. So, I have been intrigued by the Mini and truly think the vertical limbs will be a even bigger advantage over the R26. Although, the Mini is not as powerful as the R26. Time will tell. Moving thru the woods will be a big plus. Toting the Suppressor or R26 is not that much fun. With a pack on I'm forced to carry and the Mini will shine.

As far as shooting out to 60 yards, don't know. I have killed many many deer and have never taken a shot at that distance. I think my farthest shot/kill has been 37 yards. I hunt thick areas and 60 yards is not happening.

The scope and Kentucky windage issue is something of the past bows. The offset according to Jerry, owner of Hickory Creek, was 1.75 inches on the original vertical bow. The Mini offset is .75 and is not an issue. This was a concern of mine also. But after sighting in and shooting, no issue. The scope, 4 X 32 looks right past/thru the limbs and is not visible in the scope. I sighted mine in as any other weapon and hold on my intended target.

My goal at the end of the day is to harvest deer and the crossbow allows me to do that more efficiently than a compound bow all day long.

 

[Jtaylor]

I’m going to buy a new crossbow before our season opens. I enjoy my Mathews but really want something I can be more accurate with and cut down on movement. I didn’t get a shot on a stud last year do to not being ready and by the time I got my bow drawn and the deer stopped he was just outside my comfortable range and just at an odd enough angle I didn’t take the shot.

I’ve come down to three bows #1 the mini, #2 the ravin r26, #3 the tenpoint viper s400


Mini seems to hit all the important stuff but I’m Leary of the offset scope and what I’ve read about using Kentucky windage to hit where u want. I also think shooting it on the non dominant side will be awkward

The ravin seems awesome other than needing new strings really quick and the possibility of it blowing up fairly soon.


Tenpoint seems all around good but not quite as compact or light..

I have an Excalibur micro 335 right now for my wife,kids, and dad and it will hit bullseyes at 60 every time.. can you expect that out of the mini ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Kentucky windage isn't an issue. I zeroed my mini at 20 yds. and the scope has a yardage reticle. Each reticle is good for 10 yds. (in my case) and I stopped at 50 yds hitting a bullseye (there are more reticle markers after that). I was just using a vertical post for support for a rest trying to mimic a tree. I haven't shot many crossbows so I can't say for sure how this one stacks up but it's definitely accurate, I like shooting arrows rather than bolts and it seems like it'll work great out of the saddle.

 

[kyler1945]

Mini seems to hit all the important stuff but I’m Leary of the offset scope and what I’ve read about using Kentucky windage to hit where u want. I also think shooting it on the non dominant side will be awkward

Mini is actually easier to shoot on weak side to me.

it’s no different than any other compound bow in regards to how to aim.

if you wanted to shoot deer at 50-60 yards, go for it. Yes your Faster crossbows might have a better trajectory, but it won’t matter because you can’t control the biggest factor in not hitting where you’re aiming - the animal moving. Spending 2500 to get fastest bow won’t fix this. Shooting them 30 yards and in will...

 

[boyne bowhunter]

I finally got to shoot my daughter's today. Even though I was shooting it left handed it put arrows right where I was aiming . . .kind of impressive considering I'm extremely right handed.

 

[bj139]

I finally got to shoot my daughter's today. Even though I was shooting it left handed it put arrows right where I was aiming . . .kind of impressive considering I'm extremely right handed.

I'm used to all 4 of my crossbows hitting within 2 inches of the scope crosshair out to 30 yards. Quite unlike my experience with a compound bow or recurve.

 

[larasea]

I'm used to all 4 of my crossbows hitting within 2 inches of the scope crosshair out to 30 yards. Quite unlike my experience with a compound bow or recurve.

What crossbows are you shooting? I'm somewhat of a "Crossbow Junkie" myself. I'm up to 3.

 

[bj139]

What crossbows are you shooting? I'm somewhat of a "Crossbow Junkie" myself. I'm up to 3.

I started with a Barnett Recruit Tactical (309fps) then got hooked and bought a Scorpyd Deathstalker (340fps) then a Hickory Creek Mini (291fps) and then a Scorpyd Velocity 165 (414fps). I use the HC for deer. It is just so small and light and the vertical limbs are less likely to smack the tree.

 

[DB4x4]

Those of you using the Hickory Creek Mini Vertical:

Did you order it directly from the Draw-Loc website? How long was the lead/shipping time?

 

[larasea]

I called and ordered from Jerry, the owner, on a Monday and it was delivered on Thursday. Mississippi to Tennessee.

 

[gcr0003]

I am lazy and didn't want to read 6 pages. What website do you buy these from and how much are they?

My dad tried bow hunting about 28 years ago and didn't ever have any luck. He mentioned he connected with a few does but couldn't ever find them. I started out with his old PSE bow that sat in storage for 25 years. Additionally, he fell off the tail end of an aircraft due to a faulty stand when I was 4 and broke both his wrists and bunch of other stuff. He is perfectly healthy now but his wrists still give him trouble sometimes. I say all this because he has no desire to learn to bow hunt and I think it would mess with his wrists. That said, he has mentioned on a few occasions that he would hunt with me if he had a cross bow. I grew up hog hunting but Dad never did any deer hunting so neither did I. I just picked up deer hunting about 3-4 years ago and I would love to get him his first deer.

 

[Vtbow]

Draw-Loc – Cocked, locked, and ready to rock!

www.drawloc.com

Call and talk to Jerry to order.

 

[Zoa]

It's ready to go out of the box. You'll need broadheads for hunting. It comes with 100 gr. field points for practice so getting 100 gr. broadheads would be the easiest. Get a broadhead/field point target and practice. The scope was good to go on mine up to about 15 yds. but I dialed it in so it was good to 50 yds. (it's just like sighting in a rifle scope). You can buy more arrows at Deer Crossing Archery ready to go if you want. Good luck and glad you're giving archery season a shot. I muzzleloader hunt but never with a flintlock, pretty cool!

Thanks so much for the help! Irresponsible purchases have been made.

If you ever pretended to be Daniel Boone as a kid, flintlock hunting is magical. Instead of all these modern techy doodads, you're slinging a big, long, gorgeous rifle handmade from flamed maple, steel, and brass, and when the moment of truth comes, it comes with a blast of fire and smoke.

 

[Jtaylor]

Thanks so much for the help! Irresponsible purchases have been made.

If you ever pretended to be Daniel Boone as a kid, flintlock hunting is magical. Instead of all these modern techy doodads, you're slinging a big, long, gorgeous rifle handmade from flamed maple, steel, and brass, and when the moment of truth comes, it comes with a blast of fire and smoke.

You're welcome! I think irresponsible purchases are in the eye of the beholder. Hickory Creek Mini for you this year and a handmade osage orange longbow next year?

 

[woodwes]

I have a Ravin R26 but this HC mini has me intrigued. Saucier, Mississippi is only 2 hours from my house and one hour from my hunting camp in SW AL. May have to arrange a visit.

 

[TNSTAAFL]

Working on sighting in my mini scope. Crosshairs looking good at 20. 30 reticle is ok, and 40 is surprisingly better. Not worried about distances beyond that.

Wondering if there is logic to using a single pin approach, by setting the crosshairs to 27 yards and just using that for all ranges I would shoot (35 and under). Anyone try this approach?

 

[Vtbow]

Working on sighting in my mini scope. Crosshairs looking good at 20. 30 reticle is ok, and 40 is surprisingly better. Not worried about distances beyond that.

Wondering if there is logic to using a single pin approach, by setting the crosshairs to 27 yards and just using that for all ranges I would shoot (35 and under). Anyone try this approach?

Yes. Sight it in at 25(or whatever seems to work for you) Everything 15 to 40yrds will be in the paper plate kill zone. My original hc is within 2" high or low from 15 to 40.

 

[larasea]

Working on sighting in my mini scope. Crosshairs looking good at 20. 30 reticle is ok, and 40 is surprisingly better. Not worried about distances beyond that.

Wondering if there is logic to using a single pin approach, by setting the crosshairs to 27 yards and just using that for all ranges I would shoot (35 and under). Anyone try this approach?

Yes. Sight it in at 25(or whatever seems to work for you) Everything 15 to 40yrds will be in the paper plate kill zone. My original hc is within 2" high or low from 15 to 40.

My HC is also zeroed at 30 yards and my bow shoots within the same 2 inches from 10 to 40 yards. My bow is set at 150 lbs.

 

[Nutterbuster]

Working on sighting in my mini scope. Crosshairs looking good at 20. 30 reticle is ok, and 40 is surprisingly better. Not worried about distances beyond that.

Wondering if there is logic to using a single pin approach, by setting the crosshairs to 27 yards and just using that for all ranges I would shoot (35 and under). Anyone try this approach?

Basically what I do. Only I sight in for my max yardage, and just hold under for closer shots. Margin for error with the holdover is greater the closer they are.