Saw something today that made sense

[BT]

A fellow on another site had written a reply that caused me to think a bit about the positive effects that the crossbow might have on our bowhunting community here in NY and elsewhere

The point was that if indeed the lazy mans weapon of choice would be the crossbow then better the crossbow than the compound.
Now this made alot of sense to me personally

For the most part , the mass majority of our states do not require a proficiency test of any kind (sadly) and therefore there is no way to curb the actions in the field of those who cannot or will not practice to become proficient.
BUT!....
The crossbow would not only allow for this behavior , it would correct a high degree of the fallout that these types of folks bring down on us as a whole
With that being said....

Many of these "lazy folks" gave up or will give up bowhunting because they suffer the inability to take game or just dont have the ambition to try anymore.
The crossbow might well bring back a few of these people and do so without the negatives that existed prior to their getting out of the sport altogether

I know a handful of people who would indeed come back if the crossbow were made legal here in NY and just for the reasons that I have stated.
They are lazy
Be that as it may be .... it wouldn't hurt our cause to have them back in when equipped with the tools they needed all along

[tdickens58]

In these times, with less people hunting every year, my personal feeling is that if the interest in the crossbow can help from losing people from the sport and maybe add some along the way, then this is a very good thing.

The exception to that is the "Sloppy" or possible unethical people that may decide they want to give the sport a try. This obviously is an issue with firearms and archery as well (Sad to say).

One positive that I know of is that a friends father who is getting up in years will be able to hunt this year because of being able to use a crossbow.

In some respects, I consider it another tool in the trade.

[kmp]

The same people think they can pick up their gun and go hunting when the season rolls around with checking their zero or practicing.

Using a crossbow still requires practice. I watched guys miss not only the 10" target at 20 yards for qualification but the block it was attached to at a recent qualification. They missed with bows and crossbows with field points.

Lazy hunters or shooters are lazy no matter what. It doesn't matter if it is archery, rifle, pistol or shotgun. Unfortunately they are out there, and their actions represent us just as much as our actions represent us.

[BT]

That is just plain sad kmp.
As you say , they are out there anyway.
Thats why I am all for proficiency testing.

[horizontalhunter]

admin said:

That is just plain sad kmp.
As you say , they are out there anyway.
Thats why I am all for proficiency testing.

Agreed and well said. Massachusetts finally put in a hunter ed requirement last year. But unfortunately there is no proficiency testing here and anyone who had a hunting license the previous year is grandfathered. In 27 years of hunting I have been shot at twice during shotgun deer season and also this spring turkey season there was a shot taken so close to me I could hear the shot going through the trees near me. All on public land, and yes there is a 500sq inch hunter orange requirement during the gun seasons.

HH

[BT]

So what to do?
The manufacturers are gonna fight you every step of the way and alot of bowhunters are against it.
State archery associations are under maned and under valued.

Until we unite to change these things we are basically standing alone with our collective butts in the wind.