John C. You don't appear to be 55. After you bow hunt for 30 years plus and your Testosterone level is depleted, we shall see how you feel about the use of a crossbow!
Ahh....assumptions
I am 42 years old, so you got one things right..I'm not 55. But, pull up a chair and let me tell you a thing or two...
I am retired from the Army. I am a combat veteran of Desert Storm, Bosnia, and Iraq. During the course of my military career I was stabbed, shot twice, and survived 2 IED blasts. With those occurrences come injuries...
I have traumatic brain injury which gives me debilitating headaches and messes with my depth perception, so I am stuck with the use of a rangefinder. I have 4 herniated disks in my back which are fusing themselves in the wrong position which causes numbness in my feet and pins and needles, on top of shooting pains down the hamstrings, so I have to be especially careful when I walk because I tend to fall a lot. Most of the cartiledge in my right knee is gone due to surgeries removing shrapnel. I'm also on my second meniscus tear. Due to the bone on bone contact in my knee I am in constant pain and my knee also gives out quite a bit, once again, causing me to fall. My ortho doctor says I'm too young for a replacement, so I am stuck with a knee brace and cane and injections. The gun shot in my forearm causes numbness in my right hand, which is my dominant hand. When I was ejected from my vehicle in my second IED blast, I landed sideways on the side of my head and right shoulder. That broke my collar bone and pretty much wrecked the joint, on top of tearing the brachial plexus nerve bundle, which controls the entire arm. My right arm was useless for about 2 years and either stayed in my pocket or in a sling. My shoulder dislocates when I sneeze if my arms is in the wrong position. It also dislocates when I shoot my rifles, but I have gotten to where I can pop it back in pretty easily. I see ortho for it later this month. Along with the brachial plexus injury comes numbness in my entire arm, as well as shooting pains down it, plus a loss of a good amount of coordination in my hand on top of the problems with the gun shot. I have nerve damage in my left arm as well, from the elbow down, which causes dexterity issues. I wear hearing aids most of the time as well. I have scars on my legs and a large one down the right side of my face. It used to bother me when people stared and asked questions, but my wife says they are sexy, so I'll go with that. As for testosterone levels, I actually am low and am being treated for that as well.
So, let's talk about a couple more things... My primary care doctor is also a hunter and outdoorsman. He has offered me the paperwork for a handicapped parking plackard numerous times, and I have turned it down. He said I meet the criteria for the mobility impaired hunting permit in Colorado, but I turn that down. He also said I meet the criteria to use a crossbow in Colorado, but I turn that down as well. There are people far worse off then me, so let them have the special things.
I still try to hunt to the best of my ability. I have to go slower, and can't go as far as I used to be able to. On the bear hunt last year, I decided to forego the hunting when I saw the terrain, and did a lot of fishing and took the role as camp cook. I still use my upright bow. It took me almost 7 years to be able to use it again at the full 70 pounds I used to draw, but I've learned to compensate the draw using my back muscles and other arm, and use a high let off bow. I refuse to let my physical issues keep me from doing what I love. I just have to do them differently, and slower, and sometimes take different roles in the hunting experience, but I am still out there.
I'm not telling you any of this for sympathy...it's just the way it is and I live with it. I am embarrassed by my lack of ability sometimes and am very jealous of the guys I hunt with that can do the 5 mile hikes and pack outs like I used to be able to do. The best I can do is continue losing weight and quit smoking, so that maybe I can go a little farther for a little longer. Until then, I will cope with the hand I've been dealt.
As for hunting 30 years.. I found my first bow in my grandmom's basement when I was 10 years old. An old fiberglass recurve. I taught myself how to shoot it and got really good with it. At the age of 11 I shot my first rabbit with it and got hooked immediately on bow hunting. So, all in all, I've been hunting for 31 years.
Anything else you'd like to know? As far as I can see it...you can take your assumptions about me, your crossbows, and your excuses and stick them straight up your ass.
Have a wonderful day...
)them by far the crossbow would be the better choice. 
