Here is a good one

[shaman]

admin said:

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

We are talking generalizations.
Yes, You will get bad archers.
Yes, a majority of firearms hunters would identify their target.
I still sometimes hunt with my gramps .30-.30, and my neighbors on either side of me both firearm hunt. So, I am not speaking as a hardcore Archer.

We have not had an archery related death, or even injury, here in Maine as long as I can remember (only 30 years, I dont remember much before four years of age). We have numerous shootings and usually a death by bullet every year. Giving firearm folks crossbows during archery season moves that population of hunter into Archery season, thereby increasing the risk of Bolts replacing Bullets.

You also do not hear very often of Archers taking cows or large dogs instead of their intended game. We often hear people doing so with firearms, and more recently with bolts as well.

The reality is, the mindset of archery is different than firearms.
Introducing the Firearms mindset into Archery season would not be of interest to me, and apparently not in the interest of most Archers in my state. They lobbied in support of crossbows as a firearm alternative, but they restricted it to firearm season. Archers can still choose to use them in the firearms seasons if they would like to try something different, and firearm hunters can use them during the same season if they are up to the challenge.

But, this is one of those discussions where few people change their position. It is an opinion topic and every person and every state will address it as they see fit. I am pleased with my State for its approach.

[michihunter]

The current regs here in MI allow for a crossbow to be used during firearms season by anyone that chooses. The archery season allows for crossbows to be used by anyone deemed handicapped by the state. There have been no crossbow accidents as far as I'm aware of in this state. I think these regs are not only fair to anyone that wants to use a crossbow, but also to those people that are unable to use a Trad or Compound, or Firearm anymore for whatever reason.

[BT]

Your thoughts are pretty solid shaman
I can agree with you in large part except I just don't care when the crossbow is used

[tshark]

In NC, crossbows are allowed for disabled hunters only, but they can use them during any season. I don't know how I feel about it. I've always wanted to try a crossbow just to see what it's like but I'd probably come back to the Grizzly.

I fully understand not wanting to bring the firearms mentality into the archery season. I love the archery season that we have. It's quiet and peaceful in the woods. The hunting population is low, but when gun season comes in it quadruples and shots are everywhere.

If crossbows were to be fully legalized for archery season it wouldn't affect me personally. But, I could see where some people would get upset. I know a lot of the gun hunters around my area and I don't know that I would like sharing the woods with them during archery season. At least during gun season they gotta wear orange so I can see them and stay away. ;D ;D

[BT]

There are some pretty good reasons addressed here but I want to point one thing out before I close.

In '72 or there about , the issue was the very same with the very same arguments.

At that time the Compound bow was the object of everyones scorn
All the same arguments were as equally true as those pointed out above but one thing is for sure.
It didn't hurt the sport.....it improved it.

[shaman]

admin said:

In '72 or there about , the issue was the very same with the very same arguments.

At that time the Compound bow was the object of everyones scorn

I was born in '72, so I can not comment about those times.

What I can say is that if the same issue were up today (compound vs traditional), or a new uber bow technology came along that doubled bow speed but maintained the mechanics of a bow;
- vertical manual draw
- human holding power
- finger/hand/wrist held release

I would have no issues at all.

The physiological mechanics of shooting a bow vs a crossbow is the philosophical point of departure for me.

A cross bow is pre-tensioned, it is shoulder rested, and it is sighted similarly to a firearm. To me, other than the fact that it is a limb driven power source and shooting bolts instead of bullets, I see little difference in how the two, firearms and crossbows, are physically put to use.

Guess I've said my piece.
Peace.

[deadeye]

AHHH the crossbow. As Michi stated, Michigan allows the crossbow to be used by anyone in the firearm season and by the physically challenged in the archery season. I can live with that.

HOWEVER, we are constantly facing more and more challenges for more crossbow use in the archery season. We have an NRC meeting coming up this month that may change things as we know it. Suggestions that are going to voted on include:

Reduce the degree of impairment from 80% to 60% to qualify. Additionally, the proposed change will allow a physical therapist to certify the medical impairment using the current testing protocols, without requiring the applicant to also have a physician certify the need.

Allow deer hunters 65 and older to use a crossbow for hunting deer during any designated deer season. No special permit will be required for these hunter.

Every state is different. We have about 700,000 that hunt in the firearm season and 300,000 that hunt in the archery season. We have a tremendous amount of state owned land in the northern lower peninsula and upper peninsula. That is allot of hunters for a deer herd that has been drastically reduced over the years.

The crossbow is more effective as it can be shot from a rest and is already cocked and ready to be fired. I am worried it will jeopardize the length of the archery season because of the significant increase in the number of bucks taken before November 15th. Firearm hunters are already concerned with the number of deer killed before the November 15th firearm opener. The simplest way to restore equality would be to shorten the bow season.

There are other options that can be used that would modify the current compound bow which would be much less costly than buying a crossbow. Unfortunately, those that don't qualify under the current law for a crossbow permit are not being informed about these options.

[Greg Krause]

I can tell you that a compound in trained hands, is more effective than an x-bow in anyones hands. i have shot them and will tell you that my compound is quieter, has more KE and is more accurate than any "typical" x-bow. sure there are some that have more KE........buts thats all they have. The only 2 things they really have going for them is that they don't need to be drawn(at the time) to be shot and anyone can shoot them accuratly in about 5 minutes.

My issue with them is also the "gun hunter" mentality they will bring. People will argue that they will bring in more hunters...i don't agree. i think it will mearly shift hunters and not increase numbers. Now if NY made it legal in gun season, for people over 65 and opened big game hunting for kids at any age(with a parent)........let kids under 15 use them. This of course on top of already alowing the disabled to use them. These options would still allow anyone that wanted to try them, to use them, it may actually bring young hunters into our ranks and would allow older people to still enjoy our sport by using one........if thats what they chose.
Don't get me wrong, i'd try one in a minute....but after I made a kill with one I'd go right back to a real bow.

[smj]

Anything that brings more folks out to hunt is, I think, a good thing. As for old and disabled and youth using a xbow - aside from the youth, how far back in will the old or disabled get? I have to think that if you hike back in a half mile or so, you won't see those people. So, you won't see the xbow they use... If you hunt in a tree by the road, yeah, you would no doubt see them now and then.

xbow seems like a lot of mass to haul around to me, I don't think I would like to hunt with one. More tough to get through thick country than a rifle or a bow. I don't like taking a rifle, either, although once in a while I do this... When Kevin wants to hunt and archery season is over... And when he lets me borrow a rifle... And offers to drive and feed me for the weekend...

I think that xbows and BP rifle season should be one. Out here, that would mean for 10 days in the middle of achery season, which is when BP season is, and I wish they'd change that! Still, I'd give that up to them and wish them well. Typically I don't get out much during BP season anyway - so - if it would get more folks hunting it is probably the right thing to do. To be honest, it might appeal to rifle hunters trying to escape the hords of rifle hunters - and they would go there rather than regular archery season... I'd be alone in the woods again! (You have your dream, I have mine.)