Doe with the "Pocket Crossbow" - Close Range Public Land Deer Hunting

After several close encounters, I finally took a deer with the Ballista Bat Reverse, a very small yet powerful pistol crossbow. It might not be my go-to weapon for deer hunting, but it was really cool to see it in action and take down a doe at close range.
I would not recommend this bow for large deer or long range shots, however for close-range doe management, it works great.
Ballista Bat Reverse - ballista.co/crossbow-shop/pis...
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STUFF I USE:
∙ Tethrd Phantom Kit w/ Platform - tethrdnation.com/product/phan...
∙ Tethrd Skeletor Sticks - tethrdnation.com/product/skel...
∙ Bow: Bear Paradox @ 62 lbs
∙ Arrows: Easton Axis 300 - amzn.to/3HEIEVM
∙ Lighted Nocks: amzn.to/3VYAVX0
∙ Broadheads: Swhacker 263 - amzn.to/3uT6427
∙ Broadheads: Swhacker 202 - amzn.to/3V37XUz
VIDEO EQUIPMENT:
∙ Camera: Sony FDR AX53 - amzn.to/3lzyrl1
∙ Microphone: Rode Videomic Pro+ - amzn.to/3LKkhIm
∙ Tripod: Manfrotto 190Go - amzn.to/3HHLY2y
∙ Fourth Arrow Carbon Arm 2
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0:00 Day 1
4:50 Day 2
7:38 Day 3
14:45 Day 4
18:31 Day 5

[@connorwhitaker1852]

I just love how you didn’t edit out the screw up with the safety. I feel like most hunting channels edit out the mistakes. I make them all the time, so it’s nice to know seasoned vets like you still make them. Great content and great job! Keep ‘em coming!!!!

[@tennesseedeerhunting]

With videos like this why would anyone want to watch cable hunting shows? Love the videos! Thank you for what you do Catman.

[@jamesswick7534]

Come on cat man! You keep forgetting your tag line. "This tree is the tree for me". If you ever make shirts, this should be on one of them

[@JimRyser]

That and “If she blows she goes!”

[@jamesswick7534]

@@JimRyser absolutely! Great music btw

[@JimRyser]

@@jamesswick7534thanks James!

[@jimturcotte5519]

@@JimRyserI’d buy that shirt… no doubt. lol. And yes, you do great work Jim.

[@JimRyser]

@@jimturcotte5519thanks! I keep telling Cat I’d buy BOTH shirts!

[@FunDownSouth]

This man out here testing weapons on deer and mean while I’m out here struggling just to find deer sign 😅

[@gregoryhunts3006]

This is the time of year where I like to start my day off in the tree stand. I love to fish, but nowhere near as much as I love to hunt. Thanks for all the great videos, have enjoyed your channel since day 1.

[@bentoplikar1023]

That's awesome 👍🏻 great video! Thanks for taking the time to make it and share it!

[@passingthetorch126]

Love your video style. No cinematic bs. All real.

[@karlstruck5297]

You always make the best videos. The only outdoors man I subscribe to. I have been hunting 45 years but have learned a lot from you. Pocket bow was pretty wild.

[@rebelnation9479]

That is one bad dude!! I'm gonna have to get me one now catman!! Awesome video brother!! Thank you for sharing!!!

[@olewoodoutdoors]

I’ve got the same pistol crossbow and plan to try it out this year in SW Alabama. Short range, and our deer tend to run relatively small. Good video.

[@ThumbsMcThumb]

I’ve got one of those Reverse Bats too! Using the low poundage swhackers. Probably gonna pop some squirrels with judo points soon.

[@B_r_u_c_e]

Excellent video. Thank you.

[@hookedonbassncats]

Way to have great patience, glad you got that perfect shot at the end

[@ronwilson3414]

Awesome video Catman!!! Keep them coming

[@bearman3163]

Congrats, love your videos. Real as it is

[@charleywalker2982]

Thanks for sharing your videos and keep them coming please.

[@desmondacosta7835]

Heck of a shot and hunter. Way to go sir.

[@jobinmcdastard3426]

Great hunt! You did the right thing not taking the quartering to shot. Good ethical hunter.

[@662OutdoorAdventures]

Great Stuff!!! That browse line is serious! I haven't seen one like that in North Mississippi in years.

[@benscott1204]

Thanks for the cross bow video!!!

[@ekxiong]

I was thinking on that exact pistol crossbow. Thanks for the honest feedback.

[@demeterad9643]

I think it's probably safe to say everyone who has hunted with a gun or crossbow has forgotten the safety once or twice. That's one thing the good old bow has on other weapons, no safety to worry about.

[@paulwylie989]

Sweet! Lots of perserverance there!

[@jerrodharper6508]

Good job. That thing is neat. Congrats

[@jimmyfann2174]

Great video Catman!

[@fishlovme]

Neat little weapon there! I haven't checked the regulations in my state yet to see if something like that would be legal or not, but I've honestly never seen anyone hunt with one before.

[@wallygatorfilmsoutdoors1506]

Excellent work dude!

[@johnjpa808]

Awesome! Used a fixed broadhead and see what happens like Magnus

[@jesustorrez4520]

Man you made .e get up and move bro I went to an island to hunt and so many deer thanks for the input bro. Keep making vids love them. Thanks bro

[@corradofarro3801]

I have the same crossbow. I believe the problem you had was because you used an expandable Broadhead and it takes a lot of energy to open. Are use a Ramcat and it blows through every time. I don’t shoot over 20 yards with it.

[@kmcdonald3766]

Where have you been been missing your videos been looking for them every day. Today was a good day. Congrats that’s a cool bow. Does that count as a regular crossbow? Really glad to see you come up with a video been missing your videos this year.

[@BrianBlake-oz4ru]

Congratulations love the video something definitely very different love the videos

[@mikeparrish8897]

Another great video! Best hunting channel on KZbin!

[@paulfannin8559]

Just saw you headed up 65 with boat. Looks like old dodge truck had hands full but looking good keep it between the lines and good luck

[@mikehigginbotham7547]

My brother has a camp in Tensas parish north Louisiana and it's some of the best public land hunting you should come and give it a try definitely have a chance a big buck for sure

[@ri-jm5tn]

Turned on my adrenaline pump, good stuff! I’ve killed a few on the ground, my closest was a 4pt at about 8yds with a recurve.

[@donprater2754]

Congrats!

[@Pigpen1202]

Awesome video

[@charlieh7869]

That was pretty cool I thought you were gonna give up on it after the first couple hunts

[@Kurtdog63]

Shooting shorter arrows out of a crossbow, I found that it can be hard to get them out of a target because they bury up and there is nothing to grab onto. Pistol crossbow handy to carry around. Might could attach some type of stock to making aiming more steady. Congrats on the doe.

[@chrischapman1613]

Best hunt on the interwebs

[@gtchalie5038]

Hunting off the ground is difficult. I know you do it all the time, and have success. Deer are so smart, most of the time!

[@w.c.6678]

"250 times..." Great! Good video, the crossbow company should send you some schwag. (Ballista) God Bless you and yours.

[@JimRyser]

That was aweeeeeesome

[@pedrovazquez816]

Amazing

[@yarddad6479]

Gonna need a bigger pocket Catman 😂 Great video as always

[@bobbygreen2291]

Congratulations

[@PBAdventures146]

That's pretty sweet!! 😂 looked like a cool experience!

[@David-pv6dk]

Love this video! You should try hunting with the Umarex Airsaber, this will be my first year hunting with it. That sucker is super accurate and goes up to 3600 PSI of air pressure and slings arrows around 450 fps

[@CatmanOutdoors]

They’re not legal for bow season here in TN.

[@jonathanyates5198]

Nitro505 is faster

[@michaelmello9510]

Nice 👍

[@darickanderson9092]

Love a good ole catman killing video

[@chrisgolden8199]

Been out of pocket for awhile but that Yamaha is a big upgrade than the old Merc.

[@jchuston]

Yesssss!!!!!!

[@Ohzark]

I’m a minute into the video and it’s already a great video!!

[@bendetwiler7719]

good vidio young man.KEEP ON.HUNTING

[@b-d3vil16]

Going on a solo camp tonight backpacking gear 40-55 degrees no heat just me my tent, camo, and bow. I’ll get 3 good hunts in…something is going to catch a broad head.

[@Aburgess1234]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@southernexposureoutdoors6308]

All kinds of ducks!!

[@garyhalverson5607]

Why was the standing corn not a hot spot?? just curious...

[@bernruse9654]

I just watched tethrd Nation love the challenge ya gave them.shoot a deer with Crocs on

[@AngryPickleGaming]

This has probably been answered before. But what type of camera do you use to film? Been looking for decent to film my hunts with.

[@lonniedickerson9257]

Do the bolts come with other broadhead options?

[@williamkolis3030]

Do you have your deer tested for EHD?

[@wildturkey8752]

I would say you are right about epizootic hemorrhagic disease. Tough on deer and bad way to die.

[@jetchalice8743]

Nice hunt unfortunately my crossbow string snaps on the first hunt I took it on

[@bwhittaker3658]

Awesome video!!

[@enocrodriguez3519]

❤ Nice

[@JMOutdoors]

What a fixed blade?

[@darrellthompson5503]

Hey @catman i just found 3000acres of public land in tn they have corn fields and ponds and hard wood on it, any pointers on were to scout and hunt. There is 3 ponds on the edge of the corn fields. There is also a funnel of woods leadinding to the pond going into the corn field. Any pointers.

[@charlieh7869]

Where about is it on ON X I can help you out send me some corrdunates

[@darrellthompson5503]

@@charlieh7869 how do i add pictures

[@jonathanyates5198]

You would need his email

[@magnumboyz1214]

👍👍

[@codywilber6885]

U should consider a ghillie hat or net hood to hide ur shoulders on the ground. Ud be amazed how long they will try to figure u out. No need for a whole suit or top,

[@neotoxo54]

Damned Safety! 🤬🤣

[@1972davidt]

That’s a cool little crossbow! Congrats on the nice doe!

[@charleywalker2982]

👍

[@jamesvatter5729]

Does EHD cause bleeding from the mouth? Everything I've ever seen, they just become sort of Zombie-like and weakly stand around.

[@CatmanOutdoors]

It can cause drooling, swollen mouth or head, and hemorrhaging in the mouth which would explain the bleeding.

[@Amiyelvovna]

You worked hard for that one. You’ll likely get more penetration/pass through with a fixed blade. My experience with Shwackers are good per lethality but it’s common to not have as forceful of a pass through. Face covering would probably help you not getting picked out. In all, that little weapon is pretty cool.

[@markb.1259]

12:28- Oh yes, something happened... the crossbow jerked pretty heavily when you tried to yank the trigger... 🙂

[@bwfreel]

Did I understand right , farm plots “on public land”?

[@georgewashington1621]

Hi, foreigner here, this got me confused - if the land is public (i.e. belongs to the state or federal govt. i presume?) then who and why would plant and harvest crops on it? Does government do planting and harvesting crops?

[@CatmanOutdoors]

The crop fields are usually leased to farmers by the agency. Sometimes the agency also plants food plots.

[@ericself2146]

You have got to get with Josh from The Water Swatters. All he does is hunt with these pistol crossbows. Think he shot 5 or 6 last year. I would love to see yall do a video together!

[@cjr4497]

Why does everyone think the deer are "small" in the south? In my state along the main rivers and their drainages, bucks average over 200# at 3.5 years of age. 225-250# is common. Most of the does are 130-165#. We have records of 250# does and bucks over 300 pounds. In the hills and piney woods, the deer are smaller on average. Does 110-130# and bucks 150-180#. I think this same pattern would play out in most southern states. The smallest deer on average I have ever seen were in Texas, especially in the hill country. I have hunted NW Oklahoma the past couple years. The deer out there in the canyons were about the size of our piney woods deer. The deer along the river bottom were the same as in my state.

[@jonathanyates5198]

Because compared to northern deer they are small. It's nothing to kill a 300 pound buck up north

[@yourmomma2995]

man, that is iffy at best, didn't get a pass thru even at that close range on a smallish doe. i hate to feel under gunned in any situation.

[@jonathanyates5198]

Because a mechanical was used. Fixes broadheads will blow through deer as long as no shoulder hit

[@dustinlane9754]

You ever hunt east tn ? Knoxville area?

[@f1shinlife402]

I respect your opinion but it can definitely take a big buck. That arrow didn’t have a problem passing through. Of course that was a young doe but you’ve also gotta be close. If you can do that. You can kill a buck. I’ve seen it happen

[@efaciler2462]

Do an online class! I'd pay

[@grisseldog]

Enjoyed the hunts 👍 Headnet mite help..

[@connorbigelow9167]

Pretty sure that doe didn't have ehd but had bullwinkle syndrome

[@vfonte218]

Enjoyed the video, but i have a question. You were on the ground and most of the time you weren't wearing camo and the deer saw you every time, even those yearlings. You realize your face is li,e a white beacon in the woods. I also would recommend a fixed cut on contact head instead of an expandable.

[@habitatmindset3205]

FTS

[@patsfanb6]

You put the meat stick too her son...

[@sportbikeguy9875]

crossbows these days are getting out of hand. archery season is longer, because its intended to be harder, y'all hunting with these crossbows that can drop deer at 100 yards with zero skill required, crossbows should be for kids and old folks who cant draw real bows. that being said, holy shit that little thing sounds like it packs a good whallop,

[@ieatcaribou7852]

Funny, I’ve been searching KZbin and can’t find any people hunting with a crossbow at 100 yards. If it was so “easy” it’d be all over KZbin. Must not be as easy as the anti’s think it is.

[@Bones6987]

Make your videos shorter Nobody wants a 23 minute video just to see the last 2 minutes Great shot Good eating

[@dgriffith19]

Way to use a crossbow like a sissy

[@YellowHammer26]

👍👍