I agree that people are getting the crossbow permit/exeption when they don't really need them. In fact, I know one such hunter. Its similar to the handicap permit in this state were almost anyone with a big SUV, truck or Hummer gets one because they are too lazy to walk (and don't get my wrong, I deal with this everyday because my daughter is handiccaped).
What about suggesting the use of crossbow for children that can not shoot a bow with the right poundage to make a clean kill. My son loves the outdoors, he hunts with me all the time, but still can not shoot a 35 pound bow yet. Crossbows will be his option until he can shoot a bow not set to 35, but probably 40-45 which I think is more appropiate for a clean kill.
e I disagree with Carlos, I hope it does introduce more people to the sport of archery. We need more hunters to keep our heritage going. I just hope that the kids of today don't get spoiled with technology and learn traditional methods as well..
Just my humble opinions.....
Dude your allways complaining how the places you go to are full and too many people.. thats your main reason you dont like public land.. The only time that its non crowded on public land is ARCHERY SEASON. Im all for kids getting into hunting and getting more hunters into the Hunting Game that has nothing to do with my point tho. But everyone looks forward to archery season. If archery season gets crowded i will stop hunting public land.
Carlos,
The problem with this state....and this is a fact, not an opinion....is there is not enough available land open to accomodate the hunters we have. The state of Florida does not have as many licensed hunters as you might think. Available land is the problem(along with a quota system that is broken).
We can take this to a different thread so we don't de-rail this one
But that is the reason for over crowding. Folks in Hills/Pasco/Pinellas are forced to go to one of about 5 places to hunt. Same thing with S. Florida.
You go to N. Florida and it is different. There is more available land to hunt.
Yes I get pissed off when things get crowded. I don't hunt around here because of that. I drive 3+ hours every weekend to get away from the yahoo's. But at the same time I look at the big picture...If we lose hunters, we all lose!!!
Until we can get more land opened up, and get this stupid quota system fixed, it won't get any better. If SWFMD, SRWMD, and ST Johns WMD(just those 3 alone) would open 1/3 of their land that they own that is just sitting there, and do away with the quota system and go to a tag system, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Florida is a great state and has a lot of potential to be a very good state to hunt in. it is just poorly managed(to say the least).
Yes I hate the crowding, but I hope you see my perspective on the big picture
Thats all this is about (revenue) they lost last year by making a crap decision to make permits non-transferable. So now they will make a few more crap decisions to try to make up for the first crap decision. :censored
I'm not sure what to think anymore. I think they really shot themselves in the foot with the quota system change. I'm sure they think this will get more hunters into the woods. I really think it will just give more hunters incentive to apply for quota hunts they end up not going on.
One other point: Anyone that is critical of the new system should think about how many quota hunts they got permits for and didn't use... that includes mailing them back the week of the hunt.
crossbows had been made legal to use during bow season up in ga. a few years ago. couple guys in my camp use them, and at first, not knowing enough about them (crossbows) i didn't think it was right. now, knowing what i know. i don't really care, they don't do any better then the vertical bow hunters. not any much of an advantage. probably more of a hinderance to deal with. if it gets more people in the woods-- i'm for it. if the land they state has set aside doesn't get used what are they gonna do with it?? More condos??? just my .02 cents.
