Barnett Whitetail Pro STR Crossbow

Both STR packages share the same Step-Through Riser frame, but the Pro version is the faster, harder-hitting of the two: 400 FPS at a 187-lb draw and a 16.25-inch power stroke, against 375 FPS and roughly 165-187 lbs on the standard Whitetail Hunter STR. Barnett's own listing credits a fiberglass composite step-through riser and a lengthened stock built for full-framed shooters, paired with a TriggerTech frictionless release instead of the Hunter STR's standard trigger.

Weight and footprint are close either way - 6.9 lbs at 36.5 inches overall for the Pro, against 6.6 lbs at 34.875 inches for the Hunter STR - so the real choice between them is speed and draw weight, not size.

There is no Hyper in the Whitetail Pro STR's name, so it takes standard-diameter Headhunter bolts rather than the narrow Hyperflite shaft. The package ships with two 22-inch arrows and a Soft-Lok floating bristle arrow retainer that cushions the bolt rather than gripping it rigidly.

The string length confirms the bolt family independently of the name: aftermarket makers cut the Whitetail Pro STR's bowstring at 39.75 inches with 20.5-inch cables - longer than the Whitetail Hunter STR's 38.125-inch string, which tracks with the Pro's longer 16.25-inch power stroke. Full fit tables for both are on the bolt and string fit by model page.

The Whitetail Pro STR ships with a rope cocking device rather than a crank. Barnett sells a separate "W/CCD" package variant with the crank cocking device already fitted, so buying that version is usually cheaper than adding a crank to the standard package afterward.

At a 187-lb draw, a rope cocker is manageable for most owners, but shoulder or back issues are a real reason to step up to the crank variant instead - confirm which package you are buying before checkout, since both share the same name on some listings.

The Whitetail Pro STR is sold through several archery and outdoor retailers; at the time of writing it does not have a confirmed live Amazon listing, unlike some of Barnett's other current packages. What is reliably available either way: 22-inch Headhunter bolts, the 39.75-inch string and cable set, and crossbow lube wax.

Whether new or secondhand, re-zero the scope at 20 yards before trusting it in the field - the sighting-in guide covers the order that avoids wasted bolts, and the decocking guide covers bringing the string down safely with the rope cocker rather than leaving it cocked between hunts.