Are Crossbows Hurting Deer Numbers?

Is crossbow hunting hurting deer numbers? Here's a look at some statistics that show the impact crossbow hunting has.... Read more...

The post Are Crossbows Hurting Deer Numbers? appeared first on Bowhunting.com.

Continue reading...

 

After watching the new Sub-1 Crossbow Mathews video about a scoped crossbow that shoots 1" groups at 100 yards, I'm a firm believer that crossbows have no place in anyone's hands (disabled excluded, but still shouldn't be allowed with a scope) during the archery season. It's pretty much allowing the introduction of a gun into archery when it's capable of shooting accurately at that distance. Sure, you can say that they allow weekend-archery hunters to be more lethal and more ethical with their shots, and you can make the argument that it's not impacting anyone's hunt as long as the state biologists are managing the deer herd properly, and you can make the argument that the introduction of compound bows changed the archery dynamic similarly, but where's it going to stop? What's next? Getting rid of all the separate seasons, reducing tag numbers, and allowing anyone to hunt with any weapon they want for the entire combined season?

It's a slippery slope and it's a really hard hill to climb back up after you've slipped too far...

Edit: Here's a link to the Sub-1 video in case you haven't seen it:

 

crossguns are making hunters LAZY! Period! notice before crossguns were legal to hunt with the crossgun shot BOLTS? magically now they shoot ARROWS! they aren't bow and arrow, they are crossgun and bolt. to each their own I guess.

 

Crossbows are the last thing on my mind when states still allow deer to be shot over bait.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

 

I sure hope crossbow hunters are "hurting" deer numbers. That is the whole objective of hunting, to kill a deer.

 

Do you know how many guys I ran into this past spring and summer while I was shooting my bow at the range? Zero. Not one person until the weekend before the archery opener in OH. PEOPLE ARE LAZY. The difference is a guy with the crossbow has a better chance of killing the deer. The guy with a bow will mortally wound a few first. I wish more guys hunted with crossbows. Then I might not have to read so many posts about poorly hit deer running off etc etc.

 

I was against crossbows at first, I evolved to the point where I said who cares what weapon is used. The range of the evolved crossbow is not a positive advancement for the acceptance of a crossbow as an archery weapon.

 

I remember these same arguments years ago against compound bows vs. traditional archery. I support all legal hunters.


Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums

 

You don't think that the advancements in crossbow technology might hinder the crossbow movement in states where crossbows are not allowed during the archery season? In Minnesota the elderly and injured can use crossbows not seeing it change in the future.

 

I have a ten Point that I picked up used a few years ago. It shoots great out to 80 yards. My Ravin R-15 will shoot great out to 100 yards I'm told. My Mathews MQ-32 would shoot great out to 70.(wish I never sold it). On a good day I can shoot my elite pretty good out to 60 yards. Just because I can shoot at paper at those distances doesn't equate to killing whitetails in the wild at those distances.
For me the attraction to archery is getting close to the animals I'm hunting. The closer the better. Of course the crossbow manufactures are trying to build faster and more accurate crossbows so are the compound manufactures. This is all hyped up in their marketing and of course we lap it up because who doesn't want to shoot the most accurate hardest hitting bow they can.
As far as any of this having an impact on future legislation regarding archery seasons who knows. I'm going to keep killing with both my compound and my crossbow.

 

I started bow hunting with a recurve and remember when the Sissy bows with training wheels came on the scene. If you were not man enough to pull back and hold a real bow then you had no business in the woods. Same arguments back then and there are more deer today in spite of the Sissy bows and muzzle loaders with sabots. Crossbows will simply mean fewer wounded deer. Maybe the hunters who enter by way of crossbows will progress to Sissy bows someday and hopefully progress to become a real archer with stick and string shooting with their fingers. We can only hope.

 

I'm old enough to remember the same arguments when the compounds began to outnumber the recurves. I really don't think it'll make a dimes difference. Simply because they're are fewer and fewer hunters every year and the EFFECTIVE range is just not that much more than a good compound. Look at Ohio where the xbow has been legal for many years. It just hasn't made much if any difference there. This next season will be my first with a crossbow, age and loss of muscle tone in my case, and the only change it will make for me as far as hunting goes is I might take a shot out to 45yds or so, whereas I was limited to about 30 yards with my compound.

Blessings........Pastorjim

 

In my area, it's hard to find someone hunting with a vertical bow. I've asked many crossgun shooters why they use them I get the usual response : I don't have to practice......It's easier....It's like shooting a rifle....and my favourite when referring to compounds or traditional archery" If I had to use one of those GD things, I'd never hunt. That's those people saying, not me making it up.
Not many decades ago, the archery season was very long so those that wanted to rise to the challenge of archery, were offered ample time to maximise a chance to kill a deer. That is long forgotten. I can honestly say there are more people using crossguns than there are deer in the area. The crossgun has brought so many more people into the woods and it an imbalance.....but the gov't can sell more licences for more money I guess and that's all that seems to matter.
The notion of making a more humane kill with a crossgun is pure baloney. Anti-hunters have tried to use that load of crap for years. So, the question was are crossguns hurting deer numbers....absolutely. And BTW, I hunt with a compound and traditional archery equipment. Both pieces of equipment require practice and the disadvantage of movement.

 

Jim....Please don't take my comment as an insult. Many hunters in your situation have paid their dues. You have earned the right.

 

You seem very passionate about this topic. Can you elaborate a little more as it seems some of your points are at odds with each other. You present crossbows as easier alternative but are unable to concede that as such and all other things being equal they would be more likely to produce a quick killing shot.
If I understand your post correctly It seems as though you have no first hand experience with them. I can tell you that in my limited experience with them over the past few year they have proven to be consistently very deadly. Of course that just my limited experience over the past few years compared to 30 some years of compound hunting and shooting. Again this is my limited experience and I concede that the alternative could very well be true but intuitively this makes little sense to me. Furthermore it may have no bearing on the original question, but then again it might.

 

The technology with crossguns is to the point that their might as well just be a hunting season, no need to separate bows and firearms/crossguns.

 

Love my recurve crossbow! I love going after other people’s deer with it!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Same old argument.... With hunters numbers dwindling, I want any hunter in the woods I can get. Let's face it we don't make up much of the population. It hard to hate on any of them.
That being said, if you have a injured, handicapped, youth or older hunter you don't see people putting a compound in their hand it's a crossbow and thank God for that, but let us not blur the line in association and or progression from gun to xbow to compound to recurve. Xbows are cool if your into that but if they shared gun season as opposed to the last two weeks of bow( the rut usually here in NY) I would not complain.
OK go ahead guys get pissed and offended.