Hello guys and gals!! I am looking for your input on a law they are looking to put into effect in Minnesota. Currently it is illegal to hunt in MN with a crossbow unless you have a handicap which enables you to hunt with a traditional style bow. The other day I was reading an article stating that the DNR is putting it on the table to allow residents 55 and older to hunt with a crossbow during the regular archery season. Can I get some input and views from others out their on this topic? I myself think it is no big deal I actually think that they should open it up to all ages, reason being is they keep saying the numbers of hunters in MN is diminishing and I think that this just gives people another way to get into the field and enjoy the outdoors. Minnesota has a very strict regulations I like to use the term that "we have regulations on our regulations" and I see this as being the starting factor in why people are staying away from hunting and fishing, its impossible to follow the regs and easier to just say nah ill golf instead. lets stop giving people reasons to shy away from this great sport of hunting and get people back interested in this sport and past time. I for one am all for crossbows, I am a bowhunter and even if they were to allow crossbows in Mn I would stick to my compound and re curve.
I see no need to hunt with a crossbow if you're healthy enough to hunt with a compound/traditional. I fully support the fact that people who struggle to pull back those bows are able to use crossbows though.
Yea, thats what they said in Ohio and now more than 50% of them use em. I am glad that the handicapped are able to enjoy the longer archery season with them, But between that and most states allowing them in some sort of gun season already in all 50 states now, there is no reason to put them into our archery season period!! Gives me the impression most 55 year olds cant whipe their own ass. And I am 55.
Couldn't agree more Sliverflicker. If you are physically unable to draw a conventional bow then a crossbow should be allowed during archery season. Crossbows for those who are able to draw a bow should be kept where they belong...in the firearm season.
Yes, but a recurve/trad shooter could say this about compound users as well! Just say'n. CBs are here to stay, like it or not.
Anyone that hasn't spent some time shooting a xbow, please do so. They aren't the long range, silent instruments of death that many people imagine. I don't know anyone that has shot one that prefers them to a bow, be it compound or traditional. Most are heavy, loud, and can be very expensive. I shot one alot last year, getting it ready for my dad to hunt with....and I wouldn't want to hunt with one. But being able to is a nice option....when its your only option.
Bowhunters in Texas fought and lost. Crossbows are now legal equipment for anyone with an archery endorsement on their license. The lobbyists for the crossbow manufacturers had more sway in Austin than the bowhunters of Texas did. Go figure. That said, I didn't notice any change in the woods. That change may come over time but so far I don't think there has been much impact. As a bowhunter ed instructor I have to put aside my bias. I borrowed a X-bow from TPWD and did some shooting with it. Its loud, and no more accurate than my compound. Its range is MAX 40 yds. and its bulky and a pain to move around. It is also very difficult to cock while in a treestand. I won't hunt with one unless it becomes the only way I can bowhunt. If someone else chooses to, well, thats one more hunter in the woods. One more hunter means more funding for conservation of hunting land, one more pro hunting vote, and who knows maybe one more friend to help me drag my deer out. I may not like crossbows but I WILL NOT dislike a hunter that chooses to use a crossbow!
Befor this thread gets started good I will also say this, Most of those that come on here and say it will not effect them is hunting private land, and you won't be seeing them put up any sings saying X Bows welcome here!
True, however if anyone wants to hunt with a crossbow on my lease I'll borrow the TPWD crossbow again. You're welcome at any time now for pigs or deer during season. Just shoot me a PM.
I was against it from the beginning because I had heard a few bad stories about crossbow hunters. I didn't see an impact at all this year. In fact I only know one guy who hunted with one this year (friends dad) and thats because he has a bad sholder. More power to them. I have heard the occasional "this thing will shoot out to 100 yards" at Bass Pro. That didn't sit well with me, but there are people I worry about more in the woods than that........like poachers Silverfilcker your probably right. I can't speak for public land since the majority of Texas's land is private. But the more people we can get in the woods and into the sport the better
Now I know, and you know, thats not the same as opening up your lease up like public hunting land. But thanks for the invitation, I thank you for it. Your not going to see a bunch of new hunters come into the sport because of the X Bow, What you are going to get is Gun hunters shifting over to bow season. Which will not bring in no more money to the DNR in states that have the same deer tag for rifle or bow season. I have seen a third of my bowseasons given away to special intrest groups over the years.
I do understand that concern. In Tx its $7 for an archery stamp so there will be a bit more $ going to the states coffers. I too am concerned about losing our archery only season. The way TPWD and the state legislature rolled over for the X-bow lobbyists I could see it happening with other special interests. There is already talk and rumors of making our archery only season a "primitive weapons' season, opening it up to muzzleloaders. the in-lines are hardly primitive, and that would just open the door to doing away with any special seasons and just have one 3 month long season with an anything goes attitude towards weapons. I have joined LoneStar Bowhunters Association. LSBA is the strongest lobby for bowhunters in Texas. We weren't strong enough to hold back the X-bows. EDIT: I'm trying really hard to take a glass half full look at this.
The main reason the DNR is suggesting this is because bowhunter numbers take a sharp fall at around 55 years old. The goal is to give these older guys another option if the compound is too much for them (yes, and keep license revenue up). If it allows a few older guys to keep at it for a few years longer, go for it. I really dont think limiting it to 55 and older is going to make a huge increase in hunters afield.
The proposal now in MD is to allow xbows during all of archery season. I voted yes. I hunt public land 95% of the time.
I hope they keep these things In the gun season. If their going to be used as a weapon, that's where they belong to me. As far as less licenses being sold, NO. Hunting Is growing In numbers here In Mn the last 5 years. Archery licenses sold- 2004- 59,006 2009- 99,474
Yes, it's loud. But, how is it not more accurate? Did you not have a scope on it? Mine has a 4x scope that gives CONSISTENTLY (you can rest a CB) tight groups to 30yrds (I wouldn't shoot further). I'd match it's accuracy to any compound shooter on this site. Also, why would you cock it at/in your stand? Just curious, because every deer within a couple hundred yards would hear that!
No doubt license sales are growing in archery, but the 55-60 year old range is where archery license sales slack off. My dad still uses a compound but he is getting up there in age, so if a crossbow was legal and allowed my dad to bowhunt longer with me, I'm all for it.
