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.
If you read my entire post, I have acknowledged tht it is easier to use a crossbow than a regular bow. But, that is a moot point. It comes down to personal choice. You choose to use a bow, while someone else may choose to use a crossbow. My point was about crowding on quota hunts. If the permits are already limited, allowing a different tool will not increase the # of hunters in the woods. It may increase the # of people applying, but not in the woods.
Crossbows are a lot more traditional than a compound. Never heard of a single compound being found in an archeological dig, but they have been finding ancient crossbows for decades. I remember when the compound first began to become popular, all the recurve and longbow guys were saying exactly the samething you are saying. If they had gotten their way, you wouldn't use a compound today. Same thing happened when the inline muzzleloaders hit the scene. Neither of those instances caused the situation everyone foretold, and neither will allowing crossbows. Negativity breeds scare tactics.
Here's where I see the problem. Little things like this begin to drive a wedge between hunters. Anytime someone wants to limit what someone else can do, just so they can continue to do things they are used to doing, it weakens us. As we weaken, the anti's get a little stronger. Remember, if the anti's could get hunting on a statewide vote, we'll probably lose our right to hunt. Only by banding together will we keep that right.
If you want to hunt exclusively with a bow, then good on ya. But, that does not give you the right to try to exclude someone that wants to use a crossbow, if the state legalises them. When it becomes an "us against them" issue, we all lose.
It's about brotherhood. Welcome all, deny none.
Cheers :cowboy
That's the point Flags,they already have their own season and they can use them during gun season also. I personally don't want anymore hunters in the woods or competition for permits.Some of these guys just go in and drive around or never use the permits as it is.
Wait until a few try lugging the crossbow into the woods and shooting from stand with them then they will say hey.The crossbow is heavy, not the easiest to use in any cover and you dont just sit in stand holding your crossbow at the ready for very long.Many will hang it up fast!
i hunt with a crossbow(ten point) in Georgia.i did not like it at first because of the awkwardness and weight but eventually got used to it,it's a killin machine up to 40 yards after that the drop is horrible.due to shoulder surgery from a car accident when i was young and dumb i hunt with the crossbow, sometimes on into general gun.i have recently started shooting one of my buddys' left hand bows,though i am a righty.just want to see if i can get good enough to merit buying a compound.we'll see this off-season :rockon
