The Crossbow Saga Continues

[ruttinbuc]

I'd be all for a crossbow only season, as I would a traditional bow only season. We can debate until we are blue in the face. I know how I see it and take it for what it is worth, but some of you guys have bought so far into the hype it's incredible.

[buckshot]

Quote - I'd be all for a crossbow only season, as I would a traditional bow only season.

Don't see the the need for having a separate crossbow season and a traditional season.Why can;t crossbow hunters and bowhunters share the same season?I mean if I decided that I was going to hunt with a crossbow instead of my compound bow I'm going to hunt exactly the same way as if I was hunting with my bow.The only difference is that I'm using a crossbow and not my compound.Don't see where that is going to make any difference to other hunters.

[VaTechHunter]

I have no problem with crossbow hunters, they made it legal in VA for all hunters to use crossbows a few years back. Before it was just for people that could not pull back bows because of medical reasons. I know some people that decided to try compounds after using crossbows, it kinda got them into archery hunting and I think it is a good thing. I also think it is great for younger kids that can't put back enough weight to kill deer with a compound. I feel it is a good tool to get people into the world of archery and if it is legal, go for it!

[The_Kat]

I don't mind the whole crossbow thing, but I will say that I agree on there being a very BIG distinction between bow hunting and crossbow hunting. If you don't believe that not having to draw the bow back is no big deal, then I truly don't feel you have much experience bow hunting. Drawing back is hard to do and not get busted. With the crossbow there is no drawing, therefore it is much like shooting a rifle.

I agree that theres a difference, and a major one at that. Crossbow hunting is EASIER than compound hunting. The hunt is the same, true enough, but the execution of the shot is much easier with the crossbow.

As for the "it's not as easy as it looks" guys.....yes it is. I shot a Horton crossbow last year in Ohio and was drilling dots out to 50 yards the very first time I picked it up. It was no different than picking up a rifle and letting some lead fly....in easy to use terms.

As I said tho, I am not against them getting to hunt in archery season. It makes no difference to me what a hunter kills their deer with. I mean what does it REALLY matter to me? It's kinda like getting mad at a guy for using a 300 mag to shoot a deer.....alls he really needs is a well placed .22 round .

[Dawg]

[Adjam5]

I don't mind the whole crossbow thing, but I will say that I agree on there being a very BIG distinction between bow hunting and crossbow hunting. If you don't believe that not having to draw the bow back is no big deal, then I truly don't feel you have much experience bow hunting. Drawing back is hard to do and not get busted. With the crossbow there is no drawing, therefore it is much like shooting a rifle.

I agree that theres a difference, and a major one at that. Crossbow hunting is EASIER than compound hunting. The hunt is the same, true enough, but the execution of the shot is much easier with the crossbow.

As for the "it's not as easy as it looks" guys.....yes it is. I shot a Horton crossbow last year in Ohio and was drilling dots out to 50 yards the very first time I picked it up. It was no different than picking up a rifle and letting some lead fly....in easy to use terms.

As I said tho, I am not against them getting to hunt in archery season. It makes no difference to me what a hunter kills their deer with. I mean what does it REALLY matter to me? It's kinda like getting mad at a guy for using a 300 mag to shoot a deer.....alls he really needs is a well placed .22 round .

Well said Kyle.

Especially the part about not having to draw in the animals presence .

Many are avoiding that fact.

No hunter left behind...make 'em all successful. We don't need no stinkin rules.

A crossbow in archery season is like not reading the book and getting the Monarch notes.

You got the story, but took the short path to get there. I wonder what teachers would think if a student took that path to a book read?

I will discuss this topic(civilly) as many times as it is brought up. I will never ask people to stop sharing their opinion...EVEN if they are different than mine. After all...this IS a public place for opinions and discussions...right?

[Doc]

It's interesting to see all the different ways that people try to interpret what all should be included in "bow" season. But it seems that most of the replies indicate that nobody really wants any definitions applied at all. To them, bow season is just another time of the year that has absolutely no more significance than some place-holder on a calendar. Jam in whatever you want. On other forums, I have even seen people pushing the idea of putting primitive black powder guns into bow seasons and calling the whole thing a "primitive weapons season". That is an idea that I predict will eventually find traction. But anyway, the point is that since bowhunting is in the process of completely losing its identity, I am expecting that eventually people will be looking at eliminating it. I know the gun hunters are already looking at ever increasing success rates of bowseasons and questioning why we continue to enjoy a head start over them. They are wondering why we have exclusive access to the herd during the rut and have the unfair advantages at the better bucks (i.e. thinning the herd of quality bucks) before they even get a chance at them. And with the new attitudes toward archery equipment, who can blame them. Their point gets stronger and more convincing with every new type of equipment that gets added.

Sure let's keep heading toward eliminating the definitions of bow hunting. There will undoubtedly come a time when we no longer have unique set-aside seasons. The way we're heading, there won't really be any purpose or justification.

If all you want to do is to cram more people into the bow seasons, by golly we're on the right track. Notice I didn't say cram more people into the iover-all hunting ranks, but simply moving people from gun hunting into bow hunting. I'm not sure just what that is supposed to accomplish other than to destroy the primary reasons that many hunters decided to take up the bow. But anyway, the crossbow is just one more move toward integrating gun hunters with the bowhunters and blurring the whole reason we ever established a bow season in the first place.

Fortunately for me, I am of an age where I really shouldn't worry about such things, but I do have a fondness for bowhunting and it is an activity that I would like to see continue after me without being diluted into something that is hardly recognizeable anymore. But then, I suppose that's just the way things evolve.

Doc

[Tominator]

Kyle,

I rescind my offer to take you hunting in Ohio. AF.

[ruttinbuc]

Right on the money, Doc! The sad part of it all is that that a generation now and those in the future will never have the true experience of bow hunting as we knew it. Nor will they ever learn what that experience has taught the legions before them. A shame really.

[Doc]

Right on the money, Doc! The sad part of it all is that that a generation now and those in the future will never have the true experience of bow hunting as we knew it. Nor will they ever learn what that experience has taught the legions before them. A shame really.

However, the reality of it all is that nobody really cares about that sort of thing anymore. It's just a sign of the times.

[Strut10]

However, the reality of it all is that nobody really cares about that sort of thing anymore. It's just a sign of the times.

Yep. I think somebody already alluded to the "hey..........nobody's a loser......everybody gets a trophy and let's not hurt anyone's self-esteem" deal. If you can't hit a baseball, we'll start a whole new league where we put the ball on a tee. Good freakin' heavens!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DEVELOP SOME SKILLS AND PLAY BASEBALL!!!!!!!

[Doc]

Yep. I think somebody already alluded to the "hey..........nobody's a loser......everybody gets a trophy and let's not hurt anyone's self-esteem" deal. If you can't hit a baseball, we'll start a whole new league where we put the ball on a tee. Good freakin' heavens!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DEVELOP SOME SKILLS AND PLAY BASEBALL!!!!!!!

LOL ..... Everybody wants to turn bowseason into T-ball.

[swohiodave]

i have been busted more times trying to move my crossbow into position with the deer close enought to get a shot than i can count.....bad argument..... ask the ten pointer that busted me with my crossbow on my lap facing the opposite direction. he busted me real quick and then ate a slug during shotgun season from someone else. i have both and have hunted with both and they both have ups and downs. You are supposed to support your fellow ethical hunts, keep the bashing for the anti crowd!

[Doc]

i have been busted more times trying to move my crossbow into position with the deer close enought to get a shot than i can count.....bad argument..... ask the ten pointer that busted me with my crossbow on my lap facing the opposite direction. he busted me real quick and then ate a slug during shotgun season from someone else. i have both and have hunted with both and they both have ups and downs. You are supposed to support your fellow ethical hunts, keep the bashing for the anti crowd!

I support keeping bow season for bows. Seems like a reasonable thought to me. It has nothing to do with bashing. In fact the only bashing that I have seen in the whole crossbow controversy is the name-calling (selfish, elitest, etc.) from those who insist on cramming an inappropriate weapon into bow seasons. It's not a controversy that was brought on by bowhunters.

[Ohiobucks]

http://photobucket.com/images/beating%20a%20dead%20horse/