The Ravin R 16- Ideal for Saddle and Tree Stand Hunting

The Ravin R 16 may be the best crossbow ever built for tree stand hunting.  Whether you hunt from a saddle, ladder, or hang-on stand, most crossbows risk striking the tree trunk when the limbs expand.  Ravin’s R 16 has limbs that rise instead of expanding horizontally so you can’t hit the edge of a blind window or other close object.

Short Arrows and Unique Features-

The Ravin R 16’s unique design makes it compact and lighter than most crossbows. It is built to shoot 16-inch arrows like the TenPoint Flatline and several Excalibur crossbow models. The arrow weight is 350 grains, yielding a speed of 330 fps, which prompts the question, “Does a deer or turkey hunter need a bow with faster arrow speed and heavier mass?”

Been There, Done That

The answer to the speed question is emphatically, NO.  Ten years ago, I began my crossbow career with this same question.  Could a crossbow take down game like deer and elk?  To find out, I booked a hunt in South Africa where I shot the kudu, shown above, wildebeest, warthog, impala, and an nyala, an antelope the size of a large mule deer.  I took each animal with a single 16-inch arrow from an Excalibur bow shooting 305 fps.  I used Excalibur 150-grain fixed broadheads, giving me an arrow weight of 400 grains.  If I were to hunt with the Ravin R 16, I’d experiment with broadheads of 150 grains or more.  Shooting heavier arrows in a crossbow decreases vibration and reduces noise.

Upward Expansion

Regardless of the type of tree stand you hunt from, a hunter must always be aware of the relationship between his crossbow limbs and any vertical obstruction.  Deer seldom follow a script and when a big buck suddenly appears behind you, it becomes incredibly easy to spin around and touch the tree trunk with an expanding limb.  Once that happens, a missed shot is nearly guaranteed.  For more information about the Ravin R 16 click HERE