Should Crossbows be Allowed During Archery Season?

But I like Ohio's nonresident policy.

 

I bet you do! Lol... But seriously, let's break this down.. You guys have my curiosity really peaked. Tell me about your experience in the OH...
How many years have you hunted here? Which county/ies? Private or public?
What kind of success have you had? (Be honest!!)
And where are you visiting from?


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You can shoot me a PM, Matt, if you'd rather keep some info out of the public eye.


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I'm just curious Josh, what is your beef with non-resident hunters? Is it with the hunters themselves or the DNR'S policies? I have just begun to hunt Ohio on a private farm which is owned by a coworker. It looks like this is now going to be a permanent gig for me and I'm pretty happy about it. Now if I were hunting some overun public ground I might feel differently. The great thing is that I am the only person with permission on this farm. Just curious about your thoughts.

Blessings..........Pastorjim

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I'm also from Wisconsin and not a huge fan of the crossbow for those who are able bodied, however I asked a guy my age why he bought one and he said he doesn't practice enough to know that he will make a clean hit with a compound bow. Thats agrees with people being lazy but he did bring up a good point for the deers sake. That being said its not that hard to shoot 10 arrows a day.

 

I agree, its not hard to get practice in. I shoot 15 arrows in the morning three to four times per week before leaving for work. 30 yards is the furthest I can practice at home, but I have never killed a deer past 25. Crossbows for the young, old, and disabled. An able-body person not willing to put in the practice time should not be pursuing archery hunting in any form.

 

Count your blessings, Jim. You're one of the lucky ones. It's ODNR's ultra-liberal policies that disgust me. I'm a life-long bowhunter, but a city kid by birth. I have no family or friends who own farms or any significant amount of land. I'm stuck hunting on public.. which used to be really good, but in the last 10 years, things have gone to hell in a hand basket. "Overcrowded" doesn't even scratch the surface.
Here's a prime example: I was in the most remote area possible of a nearby state forest a couple years ago, when two guys with crossbows slung over there shoulders came stumbling through the thicket I was hunting. I waved my bow and gave a subtle whistle that caught their attention at 50-60 yards... Now, rather than wave, turn around and try to quietly exit the area, these guys discussed the situation amongst themselves for a couple minutes, then proceeded to march to the base of my tree... With about 1.5 hours of shooting light left, they asked me "How long are planning on being here?" They explained they were from NJ and really wanted to hunt this spot.
So, combine experiences like that with a deer population that's roughly half of what it was a decade ago, and throw in an almost unreal amount of trash, stands and old gear left to sit in the woods in my home state, and you should see where my animosity comes from.


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Welcome to Ohio!!!


Mike4christ

 

When crossbows were legalized a few years ago in Oklahoma, the sporting goods stores couldn't keep them in stock. However, I've yet to run into a hunter using one and I hunt public land 100% of the time in Oklahoma. Texas Parks and Wildlife has been doing a study for several years now in a controlled area. They issue half the tags to crossbow hunters and the other have to bow hunters. So far success rates are very similar. I'm thankful to be able to hunt at all. I think Ohio should go to strictly recurve hunting for the next three years. They would have a lot of folks quit hunting (including the compound shooters) and the deer numbers would increase. There you have it. Problem solved.

 

I'm with ya Skywalker. I believe they should be used during the alternative season as well. People with disabilities should get an exemption.

 

I think they are fine during archery season for the disabled and/or elderly.

 

Or just cut the state bag limit from 6 deer to 3, and cut Down county bag limits. Don't make people quit there passion, that's stupid.


Mike4christ

 

O.K. for all you he man hunters --I am 62 years old, have bow hunted since I was 12 yes thats right 50 years ! Before some of you were even in diapers---and yes I started with a stick bow I made myself---after 2 major spine surgeries and a total shoulder work over I can no longer use my hoyt ! and I sure do miss it by the way---Now its a crossbow or sitting at home watching Oprah, Ellen and soap opera s ! tell ya what- you make the choice ??? What the ((*& would you do ?

 

If you read over the replies within this thread again, not one person has suggested that someone with your past injuries should not be allowed to use a crossbow.

I would go as far as to say that everyone would be glad to hear you are still out there chasing them.

 

I voted it doesn't matter to me.

Everybody has their biases and it always flows freely into these discussions. The idea that crossbow shooters are somehow lazy unethical hunters is ridiculous. The same could be said about any group of hunters regardless of the weapon they have in hand. The fact is there are plenty of lazy unethical compound bow shooters too. Come around during the season and you can read page after page of stories from guys who are ill prepared to make a clean ethical killing shot on a deer with their compounds. They seldom face the contempt thats bestowed upon the lazy cross gun shooters.

Thankfully It doesn't matter to me I enjoy my time afield regardless.

WRT to the original question. I'll let the professionals set the season dates and frame works and I adjust accordingly. I find it amusing that guys who can barely manage to balance their check books somehow have all the answers when it comes to state wide game management.

 

Not one person here has said its a bad thing for the elderly or handicapped to quit bowhunting and take up crossbowing. While you can no longer bowhunt, the crossbow is the perfect alternative. I think everybody supports a crossbow season for the elderly and handicapped and little kids that cant bowhunt. Bowhunting is not for everybody. Thankfully you have crossbowing to fall back on.

 

Angry much?

 

I will when I get time.

 

Only for youth and handicapped is what I think it should be


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My choice would be no dart guns.


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