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I've been hearing a lot of good things about the Whitetail Hunter Pro STR from Barnett from the crossbow hunting community and I had no experience with the crossbow myself so I decided to buy one and test it out. Here's my review of the Barnett Whitetail Hunter Pro STR.
The Barnett Whitetail Hunter Pro STR was released in 2018, and it became a really popular crossbow that year for deer hunters. We've also reviewed the Whitetail Hunter STR the Whitetail hunter Two and the Hyper Whitetail 410.
In the package, you'll find the Barnett Whitetail Hunter STR, a 4x32mm illuminated scope, rope cocker, side mount quiver, and two HeadHunter arrows, Allen wrenches and lubrication wax. The crossbow ships mostly assembled.
The Barnett Whitetail Hunter Pro STR features a lengthened stock, the crossbow measures a total length of 36.5 inches and it has an axle to axle width of 17.75 inches. It is a good size for larger framed hunters. The crossbow weighs only 6.9 pounds (without accessories) and is well balanced. It is a very comfortable crossbow to hold and shoulder.
The Whitetail Hunter Pro STR is a very well built crossbow that feels strong and durable with a well thought out design. This crossbow is equipped with a step trough riser (STR) which ensures that there is no annoying footrest anymore. The step through riser is made of a fiberglass composite and therefore the crossbow is less top-heavy, which provides better stability during shooting which improves accuracy.
The crossbow features a CNC machined aluminum flight track and two Picatinny rails, one on which the scope is attached. and one for forward-mounted accessories.
The Whitetail Hunter Pro STR's TruBark camo looks fantastic and covers the entire crossbow. This camo lets the crossbow blend more naturally in natural environments.
Barnett has equipped the Whitetail Pro STR with string dampeners that dampen the sound of the crossbow when shooting, they also reduce vibration.
The Whitetail Pro STR is accompanied by a professional crossbow scope with illumination. The 4×32 multi-reticle scope is shock resistant and waterproof. The scope gives you a clear view and features seven reticles that allow you to aim accurately out to 80-yards. It is a fine scope considering that this crossbow was released back in 2018.
The Whitetail Hunter Pro STR is equipped with the awesome TriggerTech trigger system. This trigger mechanism gives you maximum control over your shot due to the integrated string stoppers. It significantly reduces vibration and gives you precision control over the shot. The three-pound trigger has a smooth, light pull with no detectable creep. The trigger assembly has a Metal Injection Molded (MIM) trigger that does not only look great but also feels pleasant to work with.
The Whitetail Hunter Pro STR is packed with safety features. The trigger mechanism contains nock sensors and anti-dry fire (ADF) technology that prevents accidental firing which can damage the crossbow or worse damage the user.
The self-adjusting soft lok floating bristle arrow retainer from Barnett keeps your arrows from drifting and the flight deck has finger safety reminders that protect your fingers and thumbs by preventing them from getting in the way of the strings.
The Whitetail Hunter Pro STR comes with a cocking sled that is mounted on the stock. The 187 pound draw weight of the crossbow might be a bit heavy for some hunters with smaller frames or weaker backs, but it is very easy to draw once you adjust the length of the sled rope until the handles touch the hooks.
The crossbow is compatible with a cocking crank but it is sold separately(I included it in the recommended accessories section). With the crank, you'll reduce the cocking effort to a mere 17 pounds.
The Barnett Headhunter Arrows that are included in the package work fine with the Whitetail Hunter Pro STR. These are high-quality 22-inch long hunting arrows that weigh 13.78 grains per inch. They are specifically made for superior performance with high-velocity crossbows. Their composite carbon shafts now have a more consistent wall thickness for more durability. They come with field points and moon nocks.
The Whitetail Hunter Pro STR shoots arrows at a massive 16.375-inch power stroke and a draw weight of 167 pounds reaching a top velocity of 400 feet per second, with 140 ft./lbs. of kinetic energy, which is of course more than enough for big game hunting. Barnett Speed tested the Whitetail STR Pro using a 380 grain arrow.
I was blown away by how accurate this crossbow is. When I took it out on a hunting trip, I had a 76-yard pass-through double lung shot on a big Whitetail. It was the first animal I hunted with this crossbow and it was great.
This Whitetail Hunter Pro STR is very easy to assemble and disassemble featuring a single bolt assembly design, which is convenient especially if you are a beginner. You only have to attach the limbs to the stock using the Alan wrenches that came with the package. The scope comes pre-mounted, you just need to attach the quiver mount to the rail of the crossbow. The “ready to shoot” scope was easy to zero in, it only took me a couple of shots.
In case you are looking for other better alternatives then Carbon Express Piledriver bolts go well with this crossbow. These arrows are 22 inches long and specify the Whitetail's specifications.
We recommend pairing the hunting arrows with Rage Crossbow X broadheads. These broadheads are optimized for crossbow usage. They are available in 100 grain or 125 grain and deliver a 2-inch cut.
The universal deluxe crossbow case from Guide Gear is a durable water-resistant crossbow case that fits the Barnett Whitetail STR Pro nicely. The case features an adjustable shoulder strap. The case weighs 2.43 pounds.
If you want a sling to comfortably carry the Whitetail Hunter STR Pro then we recommend a Barnett Talon crossbow sling. This sling is adjustable from 32 inches to 40 inches.
The Whitetail Pro STR from Barnett is a very powerful crossbow that propels arrows at speeds of up to 400 feet per second. The crossbow is very comfortable to hold and shoulder and is extremely accurate. With the scope, you can accurately aim and shoot out to 80 yards.
Its cocking weight might be a bit too much for some hunters with a smaller frame but doable for hunters with a medium or larger frame. The crossbow comes with a cocking sled but is also crank compatible.
| What We Like | What We Don't Like |
|---|---|
| Very accurate 400 FPS crossbow | Cocking might be too much for smaller-framed hunters |
| Durable | Only two arrows in the package |
| Lightweight | |
| Comfortable to hold, shoulder, and shoot with | |
| String dampeners help to reduce noise and vibration | |
| Step-through riser(STR) helps you to shoot accurately | |
| Crank cocking device compatible |
