Are Crossbows Hurting Deer Numbers?

I guess I just live in a densely populated hunting area. Seems like every Joe Schmoe and his family are wearing camo these days. A lot of it just for show I’m sure. Gotta love duck dynasty lol. But honestly I have known a lot of guys that have slowed down due to access. Public is a turn off and it seems like gaining access to decent private is harder these days. I’ve lost a bunch of spots and been told no quite a bit lately due to either problems from other people in the past or other people already having permission. It does get disheartening and I can see how it could discourage a guy to the point of just finding another hobby


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Compare that to the US population...




1960 roughly 7.7% population hunted (assuming 1 license=1 hunter which of course it doesn't but sake of argument)
1980 roughly 7.2% population hunted- even though # of licenses sold increased by appx 2.5 million
2010 - 4.6% population hunted.

While our overall numbers are only decreasing marginally; our political clout has been cut almost in half in 50 years. That's a fact. More hunters is a good thing- also a fact.

 

The vast majority of population growth since 1980 has occurred in cities/heavily metropolitan areas, so it's not surprising the increase in growth doesn't equate to more hunters.

Hunting is still doing just fine.

 

WOW! so the jist of your post is that all the poor people need to stay on public ground and leave the rich people to their leases? the more property you guys lease up the worse public ground gets. hunting leases and posted property are killing the hunting population. so as long as all you guys keep working hard and buying up all the property you will be the ones to blame for low hunter turn out. eventually all of us poor people will have no place to hunt. and the most irritating thing is when you see guys that have leases out hunting on public ground or they want to come on your property but you aren't allowed on theirs. definitely becoming a rich mans sport!

and by the way, it might be good karma to offer a dinner table to someone that isn't fortunate enough to have a place to eat. pay it forward goes a long ways!

 

Idk the jist I've seen in this thread is anyone who doesn't use a compound bow is unethical, lazy, stupid, and doesnt deserve to hunt because others work harder and deserve it more. I mean seriously Justin even basically got called a spoiled brat that has no idea what it takes to hunt outside all his cushy outfitted hunts. Or anybody else for that matter that has private ground or isn't from Ohio. Funny how none of that was a problem, only when it gets turned on you. So i guess take it how you want.

And btw I'm far from a rich and probably make half as much as most people here. But thanks for the chuckle.

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likewise

 

That's exactly what this thread has turned into. The most comical thing in here is seeing everyone who hunts public land... Complaining about others hunting that same public land because they are using a crossbow. Sorry to say, but if you're on public ground you have no right to ***** and moan about another man, woman, or child hunting that same piece of ground.

 

I think in Illinois the crossbow will eliminate some bowhunters moving forward. In some states it is already illegal to bowhunt if you have a felony and the combination of the progression of the crossbow and the new archery tags allowing crossbow or compound/recurve, etc. I would say could end the hunting of some moving forward.

Should a felon have a crossbow that can shoot 1" groups at 100 yards? I think the public will say no.

 

Not this public land hunter...

Problem with that theory is they vote. And a large percentage of them are much more sympathetic to Bambi and that hot chick from Big Bang schilling for ASPCA than us rednecks in our pickups, camo, and our guns, bows, and yes; crossbows. While they look down their noses at us you can't seem to see past the end of yours.

 

Nice way to end it! Made me laugh.


Decroo shot a doe with a crossbow on today's BHOD episode. There were a few negative comments about the crossbow on the YouTube video, but not too many. Honestly, I'm still waiting for the episode where Decroo hunts from an actual treestand and not an elevated blind or ground blind. I think the dude is scared of heights. Also, glad he's doing well after his car accident. I've been in three rollovers and they're never fun.

Decroo's crossbow doe kill segment starts at 20:19

 

I can confirm he isnt afraid of heights, I have sat beside Decroo in a treestand a few times.

 

Glad you took it in stride. I'm just very much in favor of growing our numbers...but not by "too much".

 

A lot of the time I lay prone with my ghille suit. Adds a whole new dimension to my hunting. I Start out still hunting, then when I find a good spot, I go prone. I can only do it with a crossbow, after doing it for one season, I’ll never hunt any other way!



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I've hunted several of his stands and was concerned how to pull off the shot between my nose bleed and the shot angle...Pretty sure heights is not an issue.

 

I have a bi-pod foregrip on my xbow for the same reason. I rarely use my xbow but it's there if I want to.

 

I thought you were posting pics of all the gun parts. especially that big ruby scope lens. just poking fun! lol