Keep in mind that their ability to sell tags and makes money is what solidifies our abilities to hunt. Tag sales drop, money stops flowing, and all of a sudden we're in trouble. The more money we put into the pocket of the government, and the multi-billion dollar hunting industry, the more we are protected.
Justin, very reasonable responses and well thought out. I agree. Bruce, you've picked on me before and you're doing it again. What are you, the BH.com playground bully?
More importantly, they have to manage the animal population. If they are trying to sell more tags it is likely that enough deer are not being killed to keep the carrying capacity where it should be. Here in MD we keep losong hunters and the deer multiply like crazy. This season I get unlimited doe tags, an increase from 36, but it doesn't cost me a dime more. They really don't need to sell more tags to make more money, just raise the price of the hunting licenses and tags.
I have noticed a trend with the debates on crossbows, both on here and off of here. Those that are against allowing crossbows use the words "I" and "Me" a lot. Those that are for allowing them use the terms "We" and "Our." It's pretty telling.
As long as a hunter is enjoying themselve and furthering the sport through conservation and common sense, I don't care what the shoot.
Stating your opinion in a civilized manner isnt attacking fellow hunters. If you write an article on a debatable subject dont expect to not have people state their opinion. Thats not picking on the writer, or fellow hunters. If you write for feild and stream only a few people will send in a letter, on a website everyone will comment one way or another.
For those that want X-bows to have their own season....... what if they want Nov. 4th through Nov. 13th to be their season? Personally, I like the current Wis. stand on X-bows....... old or injured only.
I think the best comment on this so far, for me at least was by Justin. "If it gets kids out in the woods hunting and not playing video games or getting in trouble, then its a good thing". So here's a question. This is not related to the current conversation topic on the xbow debate. If a guy kills a record book buck with an xbow during archery season, should that be listed as an archery record or a separate xbow record? Just curious on the responses.
SCI has the only fair and modern scoring system. They have categories for Rifle, Muzzleloader, Handgun, Bow/Arrow and Crossbows. P&Y is outdated.....SCI rules. Here is the Typical Whitetail Records for the Midwest. http://member.scifirstforhunters.org/members/RB/view_topten.cfm?specID=M98
Bruce, to say MANY compound bow users don't mind shots of 75+ yards seems like a gross exageration to me
Yep, I totally agree with the SCI rules being better. But, if you're going by the SCI rules, Bow/Arrow and Crossbow are separate. Why? Aren't they both "archery" by modern standards? I believe the point of the original article in this post is that crossbows should be allowed and considered archery equipment. Not being argumentative, just trying to inform myself and stir lively conversation here.
It may be but, from what I have seen on these and other forums, it is only a vocal minority that disdains those shots. Many others say "If they are comfortable with the shot who are we to say it is not a good shot".
I would also prefer crossbows only be legal for indviduals that are disabled during Archery season. I am not opposed to them being used by anyone during rifle season. It favors my agenda. No other reason than that...
Rifle, handguns and ML's are firearms. If they wanted to lump everything together then,as you are implying, they should just have and archery and firearms records. But, really, perhaps they just want to recognize records for different weapons. It could be just that simple.
I know nothing about Buckmasters. What surprises me is SCI excepts animals shot from fences. Kind of a liberal organization if you ask me. But they (SCI) helps fight for our rights as hunters and I thank them for that. But so does P&Y and all of these other hunting organizations people tend to rip on.
What you, and anyone else, fails to mention about SCI accepting Estate kills is that they have their own separate record books for Free Range and Estate. You make it sound like they're recorded together. Not to mention, it's still legal to hunt high fence. P&Y is outdated and out of touch with modern bowhunters. SCI fights for rights of all hunters while P&Y is busy alienating today's hunters by putting an asterisk next to their name because their bow had more than 65% letoff and spending money trying to keep other hunters out of the field, ie crossbow hunters. I'll admit too, I don't know much about Buckmasters.
