I'm a little curious as to why some of you think this would make the woods more crowded? Especially on quota hunts? The concept of a quota hunt is that the number of hunters are controlled at any one point. They could allow the use of them and not increase the numbers of permits. In other words, it would just open up the choice as to what someone wanted to use but not necessarily increase the number of people in the woods at any one time.
Crossbows have been around for hundreds, if not thousands of years. They have found them in archeological digs all over the world. Matter of fact, in the big sceme of things, they're a lot a lot more of a traditional archery platform than a modern compound bow is.
Additionally, they have the same range as a regular bow. It's not like they're something that can be used to shoot hundreds of yards. Physics and gravity don't change just because one arrow is shot from a longbow, another arrow is shot from a recurve, another arrow is shot from a compound and another arrow is shot from a crossbow. None are more effective or more deadly than the other. Arrows weighing close to the same, fired at equal velocities and tipped with the same heads will all fly pretty much the same. What affects one, will equally affect all.
I personally don't hunt the archery season. But I have shot longbows, recurves, compounds and crossbows. I doubt if a deer really cares what was used to put a broadhead into flight. I will grant that it takes a lot longer to get proficient with a longbow, recurve or compound, but so what? It takes a lot longer to get proficient with a flintlock than it does with a modern, scoped inline. But, both are legal in the muzzleloading season. Should we outlaw inlines and only allow flintocks and percussion capped rifles during the muzzleloadig season?
It appears to me that the same rationale people use to complain about crossbows could be used to divide hunters along other lines. And that, my friends, is a dangerous path to begin walking down. As hunters, we can not afford to let something like this divide the ranks. When it becomes "us against them" because of the tools someone wants to use, then the anti's have won a significant victory.
Just my 2 cents worth. Fell free to disagree if you wish.
Cheers :cowboy
It takes skill to shoot a bow.. anyone can shoot a cross bow with a scope. It keeps bow season uncrowded. IF they open up a bow season everyone will get a crossbow and it will be like general gun. packed like a bus full of fat camp graduates on a day off at the buffet.
Reason why i never hunted bow season : just didnt want to learn how to shoot a bow. Now i would bow hunt for the rest of my life if i had no guns, and love it.. Bow hunting is a different skill. It takes practice and dedication to bow hunt.
Wait until you wal up on your first bow killed buck.That is the best.
I've killed a few spikes with my bow,and a 4.Also a few 6 pts and an 8 and several does. Takes a lot of practice.
Good nite " El Pollio Loco"
