shh...the Hawk Poiice might raid in black helicopters to prevent my watching bluebirds, tufted titmice, orioles, etc ripped to pieces while screaching before my very eyes. Using a human set feeder as a buffet is not part of the natural cycle, and the raptors are getting to be highly overpopulated in many areas, and take pets, as well.

In most states,farmers can kill hawks if they are destroying their poultry and stuff.
Eagles,owls and Ospreys are on the forbidden list period. Kill an eagle and the popcorn will hit the fan BIG TIME and rightly so.

Gosh,Neale! What in the world has happened to the UK??? I thought that you were basically a nation of archers with crossbows pretty much the norm!!
Here,crossbows are gaining by leaps and bounds. Pretty much now most states have crossbow hunting in addition to archery hunting.

Wayne

FPS on crossbows are wicked!

Target archery is alive and well but again no game can be taken with a bow.
We are restricted to carry sub 3" blade non locking folding knives,anything else is an offence,unless you have good reason and that is open to interpretation.
Carrying any kind of blade in a public place carries its risk even a legal carry model,police powers of stop and search are in place to try and combat the increasing level of knife crime in the UK,personally I support it.
Having a knife on your belt when out in the field is not a problem,just make sure you leave it in the car before you go into the pub,it's common sense really.
There is no private ownership of any kind of full bore pistol the exceptions being veterinarians and some game keepers when used for humane dispatch of injured animals.
Shotguns,sporting rifles and black powder guns are all restricted to police issued certificate holders.There is plenty of sporting and target opportunities in the UK but gun ownership of most kind is closely regulated and monitored.

Chief,
I am starting to check out the Excaliber series of crossbows. But this is in the thinking stage right now.

Neale,
Take no offense to this,but I am glad that I live in the US. I would be in the slam for sure in the UK within about a minute upon arrival.

The Bobbies there would take just one look at me and I would be in the slam for sure.

Wayne

The Excalibur crossbows are extremely accurate and simple, but harder to cock vs the compound versions.

Pap

The Excalibur Matrix Mega 405 is the creme de la creme, but as Pappy mentioned, the draw weight can be an issue. The 405, for example, has a 290lb draw weight.

Does it have a cocker?

The most expensive one comes with a 6'4" Native American to set it, but you have to feed and house him too.

Pap

The 405 is a true monster, in every sense of the word, and this includes cocking it. Even with the included rope cocking device, it will take some strength, stamina, and supreme focus. The reward is 405fps.