Here is a good one

[BT]

www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=491050

Check this thread and let me know what you believe

[rreda]

I certainly do not an axe to grind against crossbows as long as their use does not result in the loss of any of the regular archery season that I enjoy today.

As I have said before, the thing that I truly enjoy about bowhunting is the "closeness" of it. The experience of being right in a wild animal's living room. However, I am sure that many of you have had the experience of being too close at times. So close as to not being able to draw your bow. IMO, that is the real difference between a bow of any kind, and a crossbow. With a regular bow at the "moment of truth" you have to go through the motion of drawing before you can shoot. With crossbow you only have to squeeze the trigger. As I see it, that is the main advantage to the crossbow.

[SPIKER]

I have to admit that I don't have the attention span to make it through all those posts, but I did see something that I agree with:
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Some guy on AT wrote:

"The source of my discontent is that crossbows are not real bows. They do not need to be hand drawn. or hand held. The truth is that they require absolutely none of the archery skills to shoot, and in fact require a gun shooter's skill set to operate.

I have no problem with crossbows in their own season. I admit that they are more challenging than any firearm (except, perhaps my old Mossberg smooth barrel that shot 6" groups at 40 yds) and should not be grouped into gun season. I would be willing to sacrifice some of my bowseason to ensure that crossbows had their own season.

But I absolutely DETEST a crossbower claiming that he is a bowhunter. He is not...only those who shoot bows can be bowhunters. I think it is abhorrent for crossbows to pollute bowseason. I believe it even worse for them to consider themselves bowhunters."
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Well I disagree with sacrificing any of my bowseason, and I don't detest anyone for what they like to do, but the rest is pretty much on the mark. They are pretty cool, I want to get one, but I feel strongly that they should only be allowed during rifle season, mostly for safety reasons.

[BT]

I have to say that if they were only allowed during rifle season , you'd see nobody using them at all
The crossbow is either going to be included in the regular archery season or it will be included in the special black powder season to my thinking.

I just don't have a problem with the crossbow at all....not going to have an effect on my season one way or the other
I have always hunted during the regular gun season with my bow and those guns didn't effect my success at all.
I don't see how a crossbow would effect my outcome any differently

[royden]

For my part I could care less also. They could be used during archery for all I care or rifle season for that matter. If it was rifle only, I think a few people would use 'em - just like a few of use still carry our indian bullet slingers during regular rifle season too.


The effective range of a cross-bow doesn't seem to be any greater than a compound, they are noisy (the one and only one I shot), and cumbersome.

I don't use them, but I don't use mechanicals either - who cares if some one else does.

[SPIKER]

OK, it's bow season.......and there you are, dressed in full camo leafy wear. It's dawn, and your making your way to a stand.

And then, there's the guys from the city, or other local urban area, with their either sex tags, bent on bringing home anything to justify their hunting trip.

They see the brush moving, looks big enough to be a deer, wham, first hunter of the season takes it in the ribs!

I just think that if you are going to use a weapon that doesn't take any skill to use, your going to have the people that don't want to put the effort to learn the skills needed to successfully, and "SAFELY" hunt gravitate towards it.

I know that a lot of responsible hunters will look at it as an alternative to more traditional methods, but the knucklehead factor......especially here in NY ....... would be overwhelming.

I say, hey, throw it in with the rifle, or special muzzleloader season, and be done with it. Leave bow season to the people who put the time in to learn a craft that the average Joe can't accomplish, thereby creating somewhat of an elite group that can minimize wounding, and hunter fatality.

Just my .02 but I feel strongly about it.

[shaman]

I have to agree with Spiker.
If people want to hunt for the crossbow experience, it should not matter what season they shoot in, and firearm season should suffice. But, people don't. They want the right to hunt with a crossbow in archery season because they want the best of both worlds;
- they want to get an early jump on firearms
- they want the ease of not having to take up Archery.

Maine allows crossbows during Archery for the handicapped and, with a special course, during firearm season. NO ONE is taking the crossbow course to hunt with the 'more challenging' crossbow in firearm season.

Sorry, but I don't want the Firearm mentality in my Archery Season.

Now that muzzleloaders shoot 250yds, have scopes, and prepackaged loads... they should be separated from Archery seasons in those states that have them in synch as well.

[SPIKER]

HERE HERE !

[BT]

Well I have to respectfully disagree as to the belief that crossbows will bring out the knuckleheads.
The fact is that those same people would use a gun anyway and so far the fatality statistics dont support the belief that it makes hunting dangerous.
To the contrary , hunting is the safest sport out there
If knuckleheads were that dangerous then the bullets would slay far more people than any crossbow might

The fact is that there is a truck load of archers that want to use crossbows...at least try them and to deny them the right to do so during a time of year that best suits them isn't fair in my opinion

Of Course....thats my opinion

[SPIKER]

Don't misunderstand what I'm saying. Crossbows during rifle season are fine IMHO.

There are also truckloads of riflemen eager to get in on the bowseason as well....should that be allowed also?

As far as safety, we had two fatalities last year right near me, and one was an uncle of a guy I know. As private land diminishes, and more people are forced to hunt public land, I fear that this trend will continue.

Then there is the poaching factor. I hate road hunters, I don't know how many people are aware of them, but I can tell you that they are an army unto themselves, I confronted one on my property in Prattsville a few years back. These people have no ethics or brains. Then there are the spotlighters....these guys are out there doing it with rifles anyway, so maybe it doesn't matter.

I am in no way saying that crossbow hunters are knuckleheads because of the weapon that they choose to hunt with, just that I can see how things are going here in NY now without them, and see no reason to bring them into the mix....during the bowseason.