Archery, crossbow, or Black Powder for 2nd (3rd?) weapon option?

[BigFatGuy]

I'm not in this "for a challenge" or to show my mastery of the wilderness. I would, however, like to expand my possible hunting beyond the rifle season.

I also want to avoid, as much as possible, wounding and injuring game.

I'm thinking the next weapon to add to my arsenal should be a crossbow, because I'd get the advantage of a longer "archery" season, with something more or less rifle-like... but Black Powder guns (rifles? not sure the correct term) seems to have the same advantage... with the exception that I'd have to use iron sights?

Any thoughts?

[Divernhunter]

To use a X-bow during archery season you must have a disabled archery lic/cert. You can use a x-bow during rifle season or a regular bow for deer and other animals.
In Calif there are not many muzzle loader seasons/zones. You must have iron sights basically on muzzle loaders here. This is for deer hunting with the muzzle loader. You can use a muzzle loader during rifle deer season and it can be scoped.

Really not much to gain unless you use a regular bow as far as seasons.

[BigFatGuy]

Given how hard it seems to be to get tags in CA (based on one year of applying, so far. :-) ), would black powder or cross-bow be more beneficial in neighboring states than it is here?

[Irishfisher]

California has very few muzzleloader only opportunities. Other states have more emphasis on muzzleloaders. Most states don't consider crossbows as archery equipment for the purpose of hunting during archery specific seasons.

If you want to extend your deer season, get yourself a compound bow.

[BigFatGuy]

get yourself a compound bow.

But that's, like... really hard. :-)

[XVIga_Rob]

If you want to extend your deer season, get yourself a compound bow.

^^ This and an AO tag.

[sbsyncro]