Are Crossbows Hurting Deer Numbers?

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Dude, you're like that annoying kid in the background of live news broadcast lol... "Look at me! Look at me!!"... Wth, son.. where are your parents?!

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Dude, you're like that annoying guy in front of everyone lol... "Look at me! Look at me!! I hunt public land with a compound bow! If you don't use a compound you can't hunt PUBLIC land." Wth, man.. Why is it ok for you to hunt public but not another guy?

Don't have to take it so personal bud. I understand everyone has their own opinions and thought you took it far with the "spoiled kid" comment.

Happy hunting friend.

 

Jake let it go like super bowl dreams.

 

You know what separates the "haves" from the "have nots"?

Dedication, motivation, intelligence, perseverance, knowledge, etc.

If you don't have access to prime private land, and wish you did, it's only because you lack the items I listed above.

 

Or in my area, you need to add lots and lots of money to that list. I'd say not having $500, 000 to a million bucks to buy prime land in my area shouldn't qualify anyone as not dedicated, motivated, or knowledgeable.

Other than that I don't have anything else to add to this. Both Justin and Josh are good guys with lots of passion for this love of ours, bow hunting.

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I am one of those public ground guys and get baffled sometimes when guys want more hunters in the woods.

 

until you have another "have" right beside you knowing and doing the same things as you are. I now have to out smart other hunters as well as out smarting the deer. lots of lying at the parking lot when talking to other guys.

 

Because hunting is dying out, and the great thing about threads like this is it only proves it will impload from within long before the antis take it away. They just haveta sit back and wait until that happens then clean up the scraps.

It baffles me when those that hunt public land for whatever reason wanna keep others out. That's what its there for right? The public?

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It's only a myth that hunting is dying out. It has its ups and downs just like anything. It'll recover:

 

I am happy to be able to have public access but I'm not going to go out and encourage people to come to the areas I hunt. if everyone should be for more hunters then why are there leases and posted property for hunting. leases and posted properties are for keeping other hunters out. since I don't have that luxury all I can do is hope more people don't show up. so I feel it is hypocritical for people to wish for more hunters when they are controlling property by posting and leasing. if they truly were for more hunters then they should open their borders up for all. seems to be all hunters dream to have a hunting paradise all to themselves!

 

PA public land hunter here. I dream of having thousands and thousands of acres that I do not own...all to myself. I do not think it is selfish to feel this way. I believe in some ways, the sport of archery lends itself to that type of behavior. Bit of solitude while pursuing game is what many (not all) enjoy.

Are crossbows hurting deer numbers, not in my area of PA, best I can tell. Dad and uncle both have had them for 3 years...and are scoreless! I was not happy about crossbows in PA when it was first announced because I figured it would drive more hunters into public land. Then as my dad and uncle needed them instead of a compound, I realized the personal tradeoff and changed my viewpoint completely.

 

You have some reading to do on this subject. I agree there are a few bright spots, but overall we are in serious trouble in a couple decades or less.

 

hunting will never end in our lifetime or any of our kids lifetimes. it has been here since the beginning of time. I can't see it ever ending no matter how many guys stop hunting. I think a lot of charts and studies are just fear mongering tactics to get more guys to hunt to make more $$. they need this money to support all the paper pushers that are unneeded anyway. I think if they trimmed the fat out of their operations to lower overhead you would hear a lot less whining about hunter fallout. just a thought.

 

Far too many variables involved to draw a conclusion based on licenses issued. While interesting, other factors like demographics, societal shifts, zeitgeist, economics, and population distribution need consideration. Of course, ebb and flow occur, but long-term trends are the key. Even in the graphic you provide, the general trend from 1980 is downward. Certainly an interesting upward bump in about 2009/10. Perhaps a result of greater unemployment, lower income, and consequently less disposable income; a direct result of the 2008 global financial crisis.
T

 

I wouldn't be so optimistic. Aside from a few blips here and there, that is showing a downward trend for the last 30 years. The 2016 USFWS survey showed a sharp decline in participation from 2011 (albeit noted as statistically insignificant).

Population growth, urban sprawl, general growing reluctance of landowners to allow hunting, pay to play becoming more common (especially in big buck states), etc., are all going to continue to contribute to lower access. Limited access is one of biggest detriments to new hunter recruitment, and it will only get worse, and this is really only one major aspect of what impacts hunting participation rates.

I'm not saying the sky is falling...yet. However, it's always disheartening to how few hunters/anglers view what they do as a privilege.

I understand it's a Catch 22 with increasing hunter participation. I'm not naive enough to know how more hunters in the woods can impact hunting (especially on public). However, having more people out sharing the outdoors isn't necessarily a bad thing both economically as well as politically.

 

I cannot stand cyberscouting for public land spots. Do your own scouting for crying out loud and stop naming specific WMA's on the web.

 

that's because they are trying to get hunters to go there instead of where they really are. haha

 

Hunting has a HUGE impact on the economy in both revenue and jobs. Money controls everything in this country. Hunting is not going anywhere anytime soon.

 

Well we can talk about public vs private and privilege another time, but all this thread has been about is limiting someone because of their weapon or work ethic. When your on public land that's not a luxury you have and where the hypocrisy is. Why because thats what its for, the public.

Saying a private land owner should open their ground up the same way is like saying you should invite someone to your dinner table because they dont have one. The opportunity is there for anyone to buy or lease ground. What's the theme of this thread again? I worked hard for it so why can't everyone else. Seems harsh right? Keep tellling someone with a crossbow their just lazy and have to stay home because you're, or anyone, is a "real hunter" and it's same thing.

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