TrekMan

Cross Bow Hunting - A Centuries Old Activity



Posted: Thursday, January 21, 2010

by TrekMan
http://www.practicalsports.com

Cross Bow Hunting is a sport that involves the use of the cross bow. This weapon is comprised of the bow and bolts. The bow is located on a stock and bolts are the projectiles that are shot from the unit. This implement has a rich history in the United States, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean.

Cross bow hunting and the weapon used for it date all the way back to the 5 th century BC. The Greek historian Diodorus Siculus wrote about the use of a similar firing weapon. Some argue that it can be dated even further in the past to the 3 rd century BC. References continue to be made through the time of the Roman Empire. The medieval period is when the look of the piece came closer to what is used today. The armies of the time used the weapon along with others such as javelins in battle. The crossbowmen corps was an elite force in the medieval army. It continued to be used as the weapon of choice among the best soldiers throughout the medieval period.

Ancient China also has evidence of cross bow hunting. Influential books of the time make several references to the weapon and its use. Remains of actual ancient versions have been discovered throughout China. They were found to have been used by the famous Terracotta Army. The Chinese were also instrumental in the evolution of the weapon. The repeating form with a system of automatic reload was developed in China during the time of the Han Dynasty. There is evidence that the weapon actually originated in the country of China. It was used specifically for hunting, as opposed to warfare in Western and Central Africa. The technology was brought to the Americas by African slaves. In America, it was used for killing game when gunpowder was not available or was too expensive to purchase.

Today, the weapon is used primarily for the sport of cross bow hunting rather than for warfare. As the sport has developed so has the equipment and levels of mastery. Beginners can certainly become proficient at straight, short shots in a relatively short amount of time. However, practice is required to master more complicated shots and trajectories. As one becomes more involved in the sport, more difficult shots are attempted and achieved. More technical equipment is available for the master.

Author: Byron Tabor

Copyright: 2009 All Rights Reserved

About the Author:

Byron Tabor, enjoys hiking, camping and traveling the USA. Owner of PracticalSports.com. A large selection of hunting gear, including cross bows, rifle scopes and more, is available at PracticalSports.com.

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