Crossbow Debate

[SPIKER]

According to an article in the June/July issue of Outdoor Life, the NABC (North American Bowhunting Coalition) which includes the Pope and Young Club and more than 70 other archery associations vehemently oppose the crossbow in archery only season.

They declared the crossbow not a bow at all, but rather,"a weapon looking for a season".

The NABC says that the contention that the crossbow helps to get newcomers into archery is baloney. " Data shows that significant numbers of hunters who hunt during new crossbow seasons come from the ranks of rifle hunters,"says Denny Ballard, chair of the NABC steering committee.

When Virginia permitted the crossbow for use in the October deer season two years ago, officials noticed an almost 10 percent drop in traditional archery license sales because many hunters moved over to the crossbow category.

The NABC says it told us so, it's a matter of hunters shifting ranks.

There's also some rebuttal from aging hunters who can no longer pull 70lbs ( I say go to 50lbs ), and some urban deer management that could be assisted with the crossbow, but that's about the gist of it.

[michihunter]

This topic is as controversial as the Immaculate Conception!! And I won't touch that one either. ;D

[SPIKER]

Just reporting a news article...sir!

[BT]

I think that the NABC needs to back off the subject since the only defense they offer is that it hurts their agenda.
Protectionism rarely benefits the whole but rather protects the minority while handicapping the majority.

The problem here is that the minority is a part of the minority

[smj]

I wonder who is protecting who here... Is the NABC protecting our "archery" hunting rights, or are they protecting the very tight market of the archery industry that does not want to loose bow sales to crossbow change-overs? I just wonder some times whose interest is really being looked after on these deals and seldom believe what I am told anymore!

[BT]

You are point on smj