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If you're looking for the best crossbow for deer hunting, look no further. The Barnett Whitetail Hunter crossbow was designed specifically for deer hunting in mind, and you will love the features it offers. This crossbow offers a lot of value for the price (see current prices on Amazon). This Barnett Whitetail Hunter review will cover how well it shoots, included accessories, and all of its features that make this a great deer hunting crossbow.
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Barnett Whitetail Hunter Specs
- 340 FPS
- 103 lbs of kinetic energy
- 160 lbs draw weight
- 16.125" power stroke
- Weighs 6.2 lbs
- 34.25" long
- 18.25" wide
The Barnett Whitetail Hunter shoots arrows at 340 FPS (feet per second), which is a great speed for accurate shots up to 60 yards for skilled shooters. According to Barnett, most whitetail deer in North America are shot around 20 yards or less.
What makes the Whitetail Hunter a great crossbow for deer hunting is the 103 pounds of kinetic energy. This is plenty of power for humane kill shots at any range.
Mobility is not an issue with this crossbow because of how light it is. At 6.2 pounds, you will be able to go on long hunting trips no problem. Also, the shorter length and tighter width will allow you to sit in tight deer blinds.
Features
The Barnett Whitetail Hunter was released in 2016 and is a completely new line of crossbows. It has similar specs to the Barnett Quad Edge S but offers a few unique features, and has a different feel. As with most Barnett crossbows, it has a 7/8" picatinny rail, patented bristle retainer, and foregrip with finger reminders.
The limbs are made of a custom composite laminate making them really durable for cold weather hunting. One unique feature included with the Whitetail Hunter is the adjustable butt pad, so you can find the most comfortable position. Equipped with Barnett's premium 4x32 scope, you'll be able to take accurate shots up to 60 yards.
Another nice feature is this crossbow comes with a rope cocking device, making it a more inclusive package than others from Barnett. The quiver has a "quick detach" ability, meaning you can easily release the quiver when needed, and quickly reattach. Next I'll cover the Barnett Whitetail Hunter specs.
Included Accessories
When you unbox your crossbow, you'll be happy with what's included. You receive a premium 4x32 scope, a rope cocking device, three arrow quiver, and three 20" Headhunter arrows, three field points, and a foot stirrup. If you don't like the rope cocking device, Barnett also provides the necessary screws so you can install a crank cocking device. A glow in the dark de-cocking bolt is also included so you don't have to worry about damaging or losing one of your nice bolts.
Shooting The Whitetail Hunter Crossbow
The Barnett Whitetail Hunter crossbow shoots very well compared against other mid-range crossbows. Since this is a new model, the trigger pull is smooth, and the bolts fire accurately. If you're hunting within normal conditions, you will be happy with how this shoots for the price you pay. The adjustable butt pad, mixed in with the composite stock and roomy foregrip, you will have no problems finding a comfortable shooting position. The finger safety reminders will give you extra piece of mind so you don't worry about your fingers being in the wrong spot!
Pros
- Specialized for deer hunting
- Extremely accurate
- Very lightweight
- Shorter width and length for easy maneuvering
- Comes as a full package, ready to shoot
Cons
- Scope might take some time to sight it correctly
- Anti-dry fire and safety mechanism can malfunction
Barnett Whitetail Hunter Review Video
Best Arrows For Barnett Whitetail Hunter Crossbow
The actual FPS of any crossbow depends on how grains the bolt is. The included bolts with the Whitetail Hunter crossbow is 400 grains, and this is where the 340 FPS comes from. According to Barnett, if you use a bolt weighing 380 grains, you could get 346 FPS. Also, if you want to use a heavier setup of 425 grains, your FPS would drop to 333. You'd have about the same kinetic energy in all of these scenarios.
If you're not satisfied with the included 20" Headhunter arrows, then check out the Carbon Express Piledriver crossbow bolts.
These are pretty much the best arrows for deer hunting, but don't just take my word for it and check out the reviews! They come in 20" or 22" lengths. They are designed for ultimate penetration and accurate flight.
Carbon Express also makes arrows for deer hunting, called the Carbon Express Whitetail crossbow bolt. It's a 20" bolt without a point. It weighs 330 grains, while a 22" bolt weighs 360 grains. You will want to test shoot your crossbow when changing your arrow setup so your scope is still sighted correctly.
Best Broadhead For Hunting Deer
Once you've picked out your favorite crossbow bolt, next is to find the best broadhead for hunting deer. The best rated broadhead on Amazon is the G5 Montec Broadhead. It weighs 100 grains and has 3 cutting edges, with about an inch cutting diameter. It is fixed diameter and is made out of steel. This makes it a legal broadhead to use just about everywhere crossbows are legal. Click here to check the legality of crossbows in your area.
Best Case For Barnett Whitetail Hunter
The last item you'll need to complete your crossbow package is a case. Barnett has you covered! They made a case specifically to fit the Whitetail Hunter crossbow, and as expected, it's called the Barnett Whitetail Hunter Eva Case. Nobody will question what you're hunting for when you look at the awesome camo on the Whitetail Hunter crossbow case.
It includes a waterproof zipper and a carrying handle. You don't even need to remove the quiver, just stash and zip! Plenty of room to also toss your rope cocker, extra bolts, rail lube, string wax, keys, etc. Read reviews of this case on Amazon. This case will also fit Barnett's recruit compound crossbows, their Raptor series, and black spur crossbows.
Barnett Whitetail Hunter Review Conclusion
If you're looking for the best crossbow for deer hunting, the Barnett Whitetail Hunter is for you. In this review of the Whitetail Hunter, I covered all of its features, specs, how it shoots, and what some of the best accessories are to buy along with it. For the price, I might have to say this is the best crossbow for the money, and not only for hunting deer. Its adjustable butt shoulder stock is a great feature, along with how lightweight this crossbow is.
It shoots accurately and consistently. It basically has no flaws, and is a very reasonably priced crossbow, especially for the performance it delivers. I highly recommend the Barnett Whitetail Hunter crossbow to anyone looking to buy their next crossbow.
Reminder! There's an updated version that is slightly better, so click the link below to see the current price of the Barnett Whitetail Hunter II!
Whitetail Hunter Crossbow Manual
To access an electronic version of the Barnett Whitetail Hunter crossbow manual, click on the link below. Also included are tips on how to assemble your Whitetail Hunter.
Have any questions or comments about this Barnett Whitetail Hunter review? Use the comment section below to keep in touch!
