Cabelas archery catalog. xbows get more ink!

Isn't it funny how riled up ppl get in hunting when it is a different method than you use. Its the same argument everytime with gun or bow, xbow or vertical, fixed blade or mechanical.

The "whack jobs" using crossbows is no worse then the whack jobs that use vertical bows of firearms while hunting. There's idiots everywhere not jus because of the weapon they choose.

The etxtended range statement is ridiculous, so if someone can accurately taie longer shots that's unfair? Last year I bought a rifled slug barrel for my shotgun and took a doe at 175 yards. Something I would of never done before, so should I not feel satisfied about that harvest because I did something to improve my chances at harvesting a animal.

 

Does it really matter what you hunt with? Rifle, crossbow, compound bow? I say as long as you are out there enjoy the outdoors and what God has provided for us, let people hunt with what they want. There have been plenty of "deer lost" threads here from bad shots. Over this past year and in particular due to this site and the show (the passion these guys show on camera) has really got me into bowhunting. I do still hunt with rifle/shotgun and the only deer I got lat year was with my 12 gauge. Honestly, there are enough big problems in the world today for hunters to be hating on fellow hunters for their weapon of choice. Just be happy to be in the woods enjoying what God has given us!

 

Well if I wouldnt of taken so long typing on my phone I coulds jus agreed with Justin, he pretty much said everything I was thinking.

 

As it always has gone...... To Each His Own

 

Once everything is sorted out you will figure out that the people that are idiots will be idiots no matter what. As far as the long shots with crossbows go, an unethical shot is an unethical shot no matter what you hunt with.

 

The 2 day/year gun hunter is the new xbow guy in Wisconsin.Drop a grand at Cabelas, drop some bait, 4 minutes of practice and I am now hunting almost 4 months right thru the entire rut. Immature bucks by the boatload will take the hit. As Minnesota how allowing rifle season in the rut every year has worked out. It will be interesting too see the net affect on buck harvest.

 

If they buy the permit and are legal, who cares what they choose to kill? It's a stretch to say crossbow hunters will make a dent in the deer herd. People want to hunt, the state wants to make money and control the deer population. It only makes sense that the DNR would explore ways to generate revenue. Crossbows give more people a chance to enjoy hunting. I fail to see why thats a bad thing.

 

If we ban all xbows, we can also ban auto transmissions in cars. It's take a lot of slob drivers off the road.

 

Or only let them drive on weekends.....

 

Ah yes, one of my favorite arguments. The infamous "what if". "What if" every gun hunter goes out and buys a crossbow! And "what if" they all put out bait piles and shoot 1 1/2 year old bucks!! Nevermind stats from states with legal crossbow use that have proven time and time again that this doesn't happen.

Having rifle season during the rut and allowing crossbows in archery season are two entirely different things. Shooting 50 yards and 300 yards are certainly not the same. Furthermore, judging by the few guys on here from MN I'd say there's no shortage of good bucks in their state.

 

Truthfully you may have a point there Fitz!

 

These are the people that are probably not going to harvest a deer no matter what they have in their arsenal. I say let them spend their money and keep putting that money in the coffers of the DNR of whatever state they choose to spend their 2 days of "hunting" in and go on about your own hunting. These are the same people that hunt 50 feet from the parking area so just get there earlier and go in deeper and let them alone to help fund the public land for the rest of us.

 

Wisconsin is the only state with mandatory in person registration and no xbows currently. Regarding Mn., look at book entries, Wisconsin is #1 and no other state is even close. Mn. is a non factor for book entries. When You put 30,000 extra guys in the woods during the rut who only care about a little bone the yearlings will catch hell. The DNR beg guys to take antlerless and they won't yet the coveted spork gets dumped no question.

 

i would really like to see the tranny thing go into affect soon! hahaha you get to work on that fitz!

 

I would say the answer is yes. There are lots of gun hunters in the area that would love to gun hunt year round if they could, but don't wan't to put out the effort to bow hunt. We all know it takes a lot more dedication and practice to be proficient with any type of bow. A crossbow is basically a gun that shoots arrows. It has a scope, a stock a trigger. I have almost completely quit gun hunting because I don't enjoy dealing with all the gun hunters BS. Point in example, opening morning a couple years ago, I was sitting in my open blind which sits about 75 yards off the fence line. You can see me plain as day in my blaze orange. The neighbors proceed to fire off 3 shots in about 10 seconds. For the next 45 minutes they stand out in the field talking. I could clearly see them, so they could clearly see me. They had no respect for the fact that I was still hunting. They had their fun and that's all that mattered. I'd prefer not to have this to happen during archery season, selfish or not that's how I feel about it. In Missouri we have archery season, alternative methods season and gun season. I'd prefer to leave archery season for archers.

 

Okay but what does any of that have to do with the weapon those people chose to use? Being disrespectful to your neighbor is a personal issue and shouldn't have any affect on legislation passed by our States in regards to weapons used during hunting season. When you hunt 75 yards from a fenceline you open yourself up to all sorts of possibilities for the neighbors to affect your hunt. Whether they decide to combine their fields, drive around ATVs, shoot guns, throw a party or just go for a walk with their dog. It's their land and they can do what they want, even if it means being disrespectful and messing up your hunt.

As for proficiency with a crossbow versus a vertical bow, who cares? Does it really matter how long it takes someone to become good with any particular weapon? Sure, you may take more personal pride in the fact that you practiced for hours and days to kill a deer at 40 yards with your compound but who cares what the next guy does? I hunt for myself and for my own personal sense of accomplishment.

Nobody seems to care when a first time bowhunter picks up a compound, heads to the woods and fills his tag with a monster buck out of sheer luck. Everyone's all smiles and congratulations even though he most likely didn't "work" very hard for it. But someone does the exact same thing with a crossbow and all of a sudden it's a problem?

 

UGH!!!!
i hate that crossbows are in the main bowhunting mags now. Sick of seeing them in the mags....dam articles and advertisements. It's all about $$$ for the mag and cabelas....can't blame them, but i don't care for it. I'm a compound bowhunter, not a dam arrowrifle!

 

What happens when an arrow passes through an animal being shot from a compound bow.....it dies.
What happens when an arrow passes through an animal being shot from a crossbow.....it dies.

The only difference between the two methods is the tool used to send the arrow. I can't believe there is this big of debate on this subject. Are you guys upset about it being non-traditional versus traditional or is it just an ego issue?

 

crossbows have ben around way longer than compounds so the untraditional part is BS.