NS whitetail Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 crossbows were made legal here in Nova Scotia last fall. Some were all for it, so were all against it. No matter ~ it passed and they are now legal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 I'll just say that my objections mirror Doc's in every way. The difference here is unlimited doe harvest rules and baiting. Combining the two turned hunting the Garden State to shooting in the Garden State. The deer sightings and harvest numbers have been in steady decline. The season lengths are also a contributing factor. Gun hunting in some form lasts from shortly after Thanksgiving to the middle of February in most zones. Hunting ground is at a premium and public lands are crowded in most seasons. Remember that NJ is ranked 11th in population yet is 47th in size. Add all the NR that cross close borders to hunt here and you get the picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorden Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 I still hold firm on the notion that who are we to dictate who uses what to harvest an animal with, if it's a legal weapon ... :rolleyes: I really thought this was about the hunting experience and not the weapon ... I'm just glad that this weapon and others are availble so I have the chance to hunt with people I enjoy being with .. Exactly;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggs Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 Never understood why they are banned anyway. One look at Ohio and I would think other states would have common sense enough to believe that all the myths out there just aren't true--they are a viable choice for deer. I think every state could learn from Ohio's DNR. They do a great job. In my 29 years, I've seen their efforts pay off and there's a lot more opportunity out there then when I learned to hunt when I was 13. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 Originally Posted by VermontHunter I still hold firm on the notion that who are we to dictate who uses what to harvest an animal with, if it's a legal weapon ... :rolleyes: I really thought this was about the hunting experience and not the weapon ... I'm just glad that this weapon and others are availble so I have the chance to hunt with people I enjoy being with .. It is about the hunting experience, Luke. :rolleyes: The bowhunting experience! No one is telling anybody that they can't use the weapons of their choice. The argument is about allowing crossbows in archery season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkoholic Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 Why is it that we seem to think getting more people involved in hunting is a good thing while at the same time we are seeing overcrowding in the hunting woods during the season? I am not sure that creating a situation where you will allow more hunters in the woods at the same time is a good idea. On top of that, the hunters that take the easy way (and there can be no argument that shooting a crossbow is not easier) are quasi hunters at best (for the most part) and are only interested in an easier way to kill something. Part of this "hunting experience" we speak of becomes lessened with an increasing hunter presence. To create another, crossbow, only season would make more sense and reduce hunter pressure while increasing the hunting experience. As stated before, there are already laws in affect that allow for use of crossbows when physical limitations do not permit one to shoot a more conventional bow. As for age/strength issues, somethings are worth waiting/striving for and taking a shortcut may provide for short term joy but the taste of success will be sweeter if earned the old fashion way. If anyone should ask, yes, I have shot a crossbow, and it is like shooting a rifle with a very limited range. Just like a rifle, very little effort is required to get it sighted in and be proficient with it, especially at the distances at which it is affective. One thing is certain, the great crossbow debate will never be resolved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 Why is it that we seem to think getting more people involved in hunting is a good thing while at the same time we are seeing overcrowding in the hunting woods during the season? I am not sure that creating a situation where you will allow more hunters in the woods at the same time is a good idea. That may be the case in PA, NY, and MT but nationwide the trend has been that our hunter ranks have been falling. They were here in MS too but basically leveled out a few years ago. On top of that, the hunters that take the easy way (and there can be no argument that shooting a crossbow is not easier) are quasi hunters at best (for the most part) and are only interested in an easier way to kill something. That may be the case in Montana but I know a lot of so called quasi hunters with compound bows too. Hunters that do little if anything to prepare for hunting with their bows. I've seen guys show up to bowhunt places before that didn't have a clue if their compound bows were properly sighted in or not. There's some out there that don't pick up their bows until right before the season opens. Ever seen a guy give you the look when asked how his bow shot with broadheads? I don't know how many times I've had these so called quasi compound hunters ask me where they needed to go hunt. There are quasi hunters in all ranks. Part of this "hunting experience" we speak of becomes lessened with an increasing hunter presence. To create another, crossbow, only season would make more sense and reduce hunter pressure while increasing the hunting experience. I agree that the the "hunting experience" is more enjoyable when I have the woods to myself or share it with just a few hunters. You have no argument from me there. I wonder though...how many traditonal/compound bow hunters would be willing to have their archery season reduced to create a crossbow only season? The MBA is already up in tizzy here about the possiblity of loosing some bowhunting season days next year regarding a proposed bill to equalize the days of each deer season based on choice of weapons. I got an email from the MBA about it the end of last week. They are livid over the proposal! The bottom line at least here in MS is, bowhunters are not willing to give up any of their archery season hunting days for any other type of weapon's season. Oh, the official stance of the MBA is they don't want to share it with crossbow hunters either. I have to disagree with the MBA's I want my cake and eat it too stance even though I'm a member. As for age/strength issues, somethings are worth waiting/striving for and taking a shortcut may provide for short term joy but the taste of success will be sweeter if earned the old fashion way. Suffice it to say not everyone thinks alike. I'm old school and I understand where you're coming from. I also share your same feelings regarding the sweet taste of success. Hey...I recall that same argument back in the days of traditional vs. compound bow hunters and I was on the trad side of the line making waves on behalf of trad hunters back then. We called compound bows string guns back then. Obviously I've had a change of heart and have come full circle since my younger days. If anyone should ask, yes, I have shot a crossbow, and it is like shooting a rifle with a very limited range. Just like a rifle, very little effort is required to get it sighted in and be proficient with it, especially at the distances at which it is affective. One thing is certain, the great crossbow debate will never be resolved. I've shot a crossbow too and you're right about limited range and what it takes to be proficient with it. It takes a lot longer to become proficient with a traditional bow when compared to a compound too. You're right about the debate too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
need2hunt Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 As for age/strength issues, somethings are worth waiting/striving for and taking a shortcut may provide for short term joy but the taste of success will be sweeter if earned the old fashion way. So what your saying is you don't want kids to hunt unless they can use a bow. Like Doc your not against crossbows your just against kids (or anyone else) hunting. While these two statements sound harsh and unrealistic they are no different than the absolutist thinking that a crossbow will create a mad hoard of crossbow wielding hunters running rampant through the woods on deer drives ruining the entire bowhunting experience. A compound bow has a larger effective range than a crossbow - or put simpler a crossbow hunter needs the same close experience that a bowhunter does MINUS drawing back when the animal is close. And a bowhunter would have a heart attack if his bow had even a slight percentage of the noise that a crossbow has. If putting a sight on it is the issue then feel free to shoot without the sight on your bow as that's the same lame excuse traditionalist have against compound bowhunters - as for doing it the old fashion way pick up a rock. :D:D Sorry couldn't help that one. If i torque some of you guys off, too bad! :D:D but that's not my goal and while many of my comments are pointed they are also tongue in cheek. This whole conversation is the same old arguing amongst hunters because their way is the only true way or to be a real hunter crap and only they are special enough to enjoy the outdoors - all comes down to greed, jealousy and ego's which does nothing for hunters as a whole. That's about .04 more than my .02 I've stirred the pot enough and am done with this dribble. Lastly even if you don't agree with what I said you have to admit I used some creative words - really whens the last post you saw that used the word hoard? :D:D:D:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 Guys, I have to look at it from the perspective of a disabled hunter. Not that I am fully disabled, but depending on the time of year I have heart surgery and how close it is to bow season, I may eventually have to resort to using one. It is EXTREMELY hard drawing a bow even four weeks after heart surgery and it REALLY hurts too. From that perspective it is a good thing, because it keeps me out doing what I love and not cooped up inside resorting to watching Michael Waddell put the smack down on one (not that that isn't fun to watch :D:D). In SD, I believe you do have to have a note from your doctor to use a crossbow in the general archery season. Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAhunter14 Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 Guys, I have to look at it from the perspective of a disabled hunter. Not that I am fully disabled, but depending on the time of year I have heart surgery and how close it is to bow season, I may eventually have to resort to using one. It is EXTREMELY hard drawing a bow even four weeks after heart surgery and it REALLY hurts too. From that perspective it is a good thing, because it keeps me out doing what I love and not cooped up inside resorting to watching Michael Waddell put the smack down on one (not that that isn't fun to watch :D:D). In SD, I believe you do have to have a note from your doctor to use a crossbow in the general archery season. Dakota This law wasnt passed for disabled hunters in PA, because if you were disabled you could already use a cross bow before they passed the law. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 That's about .04 more than my .02 I've stirred the pot enough and am done with this dribble. Come on Gary...I was just starting to enjoy this as much as Dman's "help me out with a name" thread. :D Lastly even if you don't agree with what I said you have to admit I used some creative words - really whens the last post you saw that used the word hoard? :D:D:D:D I'm with you Gary but I'm sure there's a hoard of hunters that won't agree with us. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
need2hunt Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 Come on Gary...I was just starting to enjoy this as much as Dman's "help me out with a name" thread. :D I'm with you Gary but I'm sure there's a hoard of hunters that won't agree with us. :D LOL @ Rhino - even if a hoard of others don't see it at least I have one person that can enjoy my dry humor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jm23494 Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 PA has allowed for those who had medical reasons to use crossbows for the past few years (maybe longer I can't remember). The argument that I have as well as I'm sure the rest of the current archery hunters in PA is that it will make it that much easier for the pseudo hunters in the state to go out and tromp through the woods and decimate the deer population even more. In 2007 there are just under 925,000 hunting licenses sold in PA. There were about 267,000 archery stamps sold for the same period. That means that only about 28% of those who went out to hunt actually participated in archery season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nut Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 Why debate(argue) when nobody will change their bias? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 Why debate(argue) when nobody will change their bias? Because eventually in states such as NY, this debate will become official, and all the arguments for x-bows become talking points to be rebutted in my future letters to DEC officials and any politicians that may have a voice in the decision as well as local and state hunting organizations. In other words these debates here are tune-ups for the real thing that is surely coming here in my homestate. It always gives you a bit of an upper hand to know the strategy of your opponent in a debate. And that is what is being served by discussing it here. Also, I am sensing that not all here have made up their minds on this issue and are still weighing the pros and cons. We may have that same thing going on in NY, so there will be people that need convincing across the state. Again all these points for and against are very useful in letter writing campaigns. This thread and others will be very useful research material. Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 I see debates like these being good ,,, as long as everyone shakes hands at the end of the day and walk away being friends ,,, you don't have to like the other sides opinion, but in the end we are all on the same side ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohiobucks Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 Saw this over at AT.com, thought some of you might get a kick out of it..... Crying towel now available at Cabelas and BassPro...... ----> <---- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 Saw this over at AT.com, thought some of you might get a kick out of it..... I get a kick out of the grammar more than anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohiobucks Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 I get a kick out of the grammar more than anything. Well, it is geared towards PA folks... :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 well, it is geared towards pa folks... :d lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flintlock1776 Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 NJ should open cross bow for next season. Unfortunately the CB I really like is way too expensive.................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 NJ should open cross bow for next season. Unfortunately the CB I really like is way too expensive.................... Isn't that a shame... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 I get a kick out of the grammar more than anything. Tells you a little about the opposition, don't it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 NJ should open cross bow for next season. Unfortunately the CB I really like is way too expensive.................... What !!!! A $1000.00 for a setup 10 Point is out of your league ... Well guess what ,,, mine and many others too ... :( So I guess I'll just stick with my Katera ,,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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