Regardless of the weapon delivery system, a person still has to be able to put one in the "boiler room" to be the most effective. Someone else has commented that using the crossbow will be a great option for his wife because she cant pull back his 60 lb compound bow...Dude I cant pull back 60 lbs either and alot of women and some men I know cant pull that due to various reasons. I have worked my way up to pulling 55 lbs which I think is pretty darn awesome! But once again, it doesnt matter what I use, or how much I can pull back, my best chance to harvest an animal is to practice putting that arrow where it counts. If this is what brings more people into hunting then why not? I personally hope this presents more opportunity to teach others good hunting ethics, sportsmanship, etc
My brother is from Texas, and he hunts with a crossbow. I would love to invite him here to hunt with me, but he doesn't own, or care to shoot with a compound, or recurve. I don't rifle or shotgun hunt for deer. If they passed / approved crossbows in mn, my brother and I could hunt together, Mn would sell an out of state permit which puts another 100 + bucks into our broken budget, airlines will sell another couple of tickets, and local restaurants, sports shops, etc. will see some benefits. I don't believe this is unique to my situation, so expanding our archery season to include crossbows would benefit our economy, our wildlife fund, our tourism, and our state budget...which will give the liberals in the twin cities more money to spend on illegal immigrants, and welfare frauds, and crappy sports teams. On a personal level not only do I applaud Wisconsin, but hope that Minny would follow suit here as well. Will I take up the crossbow...no, but does that make my brother less of a hunter than me...absolutely not. He's by far a better hunter, and much more knowledgeable of the woods, wildlife, etc. than myself. If it wasn't for the fact that he can only hunt public land in Texas, I would join him there to hunt with him. To those who curl their lip and raise their noses at crossbow hunters, I applaud your arrogance, and ignorance of the reality of the hunting sport...and wonder what hunting really means to you. If it is only to harvest meat...I got a reality check for you..its cheaper to buy beef than to hunt deer. If it is only that you want to preserve that big buck for yourself...then buy or lease your own land and plant your food plots, post no tresspassing signs, hire armed guards, put up deer proof fence, and farm-raise your animal properly, if done right you can make it into the P&Y record books. (It helps if you acclimate them to you so by all means teach it as a fawn to eat from your hand first) Or you can put up feeders which disperse feed at precise times, build or buy nice comfy elevated stands at perfect yardage from them, complete with heaters, recliners, closed circuit television monitors of trails, etc. Then you can brag to your friends about the nice buck you got by "real hunting with a bow"..because a crossbow is just not nearly as manly your 2000 dollar compound with 85% let off, and IBO speeds of 350+, your range finder that tells you exactly which pin to use, the distance, and angle of your shot, and your windage indicator that tells you if you need to allow for windage. Seriously guys..is there really any argument against crossbows..if so...then can we argue against hunting our own (game managed) land , or prebuilt deerstands, or food plots, or feeders? Or should we expand the argument to include the ethics of baiting, mineral licks, scents, camoflage, and ground blinds? How about the use of trail cameras, and plot watchers? Get real...legalizing crossbows will not limit your hunting rights, nor will it limit your chances to harvest deer any more than your lack of funds you want to invest into the sport, or how you approach the sport of hunting. All it will do will be to allow more families to hunt together that would not otherwise be able to. IE wives and daughters, elderly or less physically fit, or (as in my case) people from other areas of the country that hunt exclusively with crossbow, can now hunt with their families who hunt with bows. I personally would not take up the crossbow, I like my Obsession. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the traditional hunters, and I would like to see the record books differentiate the traditionalists, the compounds, the crossbow, the cap and ball, the inline muzzleloaders, the open sighted rifle, the scoped rifle, open sighted shotgun, the scoped shotgun, and the game farm animals, versus the wild farm animals on private land, versus the game farm raised animals. That would be almost impossible. Sorry for the rambling response, but the arrogance and ignorance of banning crossbows from archery because someone thinks it is less of a challenge, or less "manly" kind of gets to me. I won't take up the crossbow because I do not have the time to practice with it as much as I do with my compound...(I try to get in about 50 shots a day presently), unless I gave up my compound (which I love to shoot) and I would not want to enter the woods with a weapon I am not proficient with. The same with my brother who shoots regularly with his crossbow. He doesn't have time to invest in learning a new weapon either. (and doesn't want to give up shooting his xbow).
olddognewbie...I am starting to notice a trend in better then everyone else Bowhunters here lately. I'm a compound hunter myself. Alteast it seems that way to me...lol. I'm sure that comment will rub some the wrong way, but its not intended too. The way I look at it is, were ALL hunters. We need to join together instead of bashing each other for the type of weapon each chooses to hunt with. I could careless what someone uses as long at its legal.
Bootlegger...you nailed it, with alot less words than me. In my opinion (just mine with no illusions of right or wrong) hunting is about so much more than the kill shot, whether it be with a compound, xbow, rifle, etc. Hunting is to become a fellow predator with others in nature...nothing more, and nothing less....the style of bow, or the tool used to take game is really only a very very minor part of the hunt. I'm wondering though...should we separate the ones who use a binary cam, from the ones who use a solo cam? I wonder which is more ethical?
They have allowed people to hunt with crossbows in archery season in Wyoming for many years. Occasionally I would see other hunters with one, but mostly ladies hunting with their husband/boyfriend. We didn't notice a significant increase in hunting pressure, and we didn't see a bunch of B&C deer/elk being bagged at the expense of more traditional archery. On the other hand, after purchasing a new "legal" bow setup, the only thing my equipment lacks is a solid lockback point. I'm shooting the most lethal setup I've fired in my life. I'm sure when the separate archery season was dreamed up by my DOW decades ago, they figured guys hunting with a string and stick weren't going to be so efficient. I do remember the days when Chuck Adams spoke of limiting his shots to less than 30 yards ... and now we are efficient at up to twice that distance. Being this is under a three-year test evaluation, we'll know in three years whether this made a significant dent. Personally, I think winter range, private land access, ranching for wildlife, and the landowner-game preference systems in place now are more of a detriment to our hunting opportunities.
I've killed a couple does. Passed some scrubs and a 7 pointer. Really haven't seen the quality of bucks that I have in years past. Only seen two shooters but couldn't get shots at them. Just discovered a hoss that I'm currently pursuing. It ain't over yet, thanks!
So than you two are ok with legalizing rifles during the archery season as well, as long as it is legal? Imagine all families that could hunt together then, the out of state tags and airline tickets that would sell.
Say if you take the limbs off a cross bow and instead we use compressed air to shoot the bolt that has a broad head on it. You would still be able to have your scope, thumbhole stock and trigger so you would still feel like you were shooting a bow. This would be the same as a cross bow or compound yes? It just does not have the limbs and just think how much easier this would be for people to get involved in bow hunting that normally wouldn’t. We can still call it archery because we are still using broad heads and the only difference is the limbs. As long as there is money to be made, more people get involved, this weapon should be allowed during the normal archery season. Plus I would promise to be a good sponsor.
Here in Tennessee. Bow Season opens last week of Sept. and close first week of Jan. Muzzle loader opens in Oct. to Jan. then Rifle in November to Jan.. You can hunt with a Bow all season long. So I guess you can say Bow season is open with Rifle and muzzle loader here. I Bow hunt 90% of the time. Rifle hunt a little bit as well. So you can say rifle is open when Bow is...don't bother my hunting any. I just hunt with a bow during that time. As far as selling tickets...I don't have a dog in that race....lol. All I'm saying is- am starting to notice a trend in better then everyone else Bowhunters here lately. I'm a compound hunter myself. Alteast it seems that way to me...lol. I'm sure that comment will rub some the wrong way, but its not intended too. The way I look at it is, were ALL hunters. We need to join together instead of bashing each other for the type of weapon each chooses to hunt with. I could careless what someone uses as long at its legal. Nothing in my post about selling airline tickets or tags...lol. Please re-read it. I'm just talking about Xbows..and compound bow hunters thinking their better than everyone...lol. Atleast by some of the comments I took it that way. Maybe I took it wrong way...lol. Once again, ALL hunters need to stick together.
Wow I can't believe I missed this thread this weekend. Some of you take this way to seriously, it's hunting if it's legal and it gets more people into hunting then let it happen. What difference does it make to you personally anyway? You don't like it don't do it. That simple.
Some of you really need to think about what you are saying, in relation to xbows, compounds, or traditional. You bring up inane inuendos about air rifles, and legal gun seasons, etc. As long as you still got your noses in the air, take a whiff of what your arguments smell like...the same arguments that peta, and other liberal groups are using to try to ban all hunting, and killing of wild animals. (Its just not fair.) So if you are liberals wanting to ban hunting, then that is a way different discussion. If you are conservatives who want to limit government involvement in our lives, and allow more liberties, then act like it. Why would you even consider adding ammunition to the liberals, limit our hunting rights, or exclude potential hunters from joining our ranks? If you really want to talk about fairness to the game, and enacting, or limiting laws "to make it more fair"....then let's get very real and start drawing proportionate and real lines in the sand....where should we start? Baiting...some states have it others don't...what's right or wrong, or legal or not. I don't use bait..I think its unfair, but I don't criticize others that do where its legal...because I don't see much difference between baiting and food plots. So should we make food plots illegal? I don't hunt over food plots because I don't have the land, or machinery to plant them. If I did, I don't know if I would or not...but I think I should have the right to decide this on my own, on my own land. (Or land that I have leased for that purpose). Range finders take a big factor out of the sport...should we make them illegal? Trail cameras give us an advantage of being able to plot a deer's movements, times, and what they are doing, and when...should we make them illegal ?...it gives us an advantage in the woods. Okay...now to your bows...dual cams...should we make them illegal too? some would say they give you an advantage? Maybe we should limit bows to solocams...after all some who wouldn't be able to draw and hold the solos might be able to draw the duals and hold them...so we could limit the hunter access that way too. Or maybe having any cam is an unfair advantage....so we should limit all archery to traditional? Wait a minute...Carbon arrows and sights give the tradional guys way too much advantage...after all there are some that can draw a recurve that couldn't draw a longbow...so we should limit hunting to no recurves, sights, or finger tabs, or carbon arrows? You Peta guys that are disguising yourselves as bowhunters really need to decide which side of the fence you stand on...hunting or not. this is a great step forward for Wisconsin hunters, and hunters rights everywhere...why would you possibly be against it? If you want to be a big government liberal peta greenpeace advocate...than admit where you stand, and by all means more power to you.... If you want to be a hunter, and responsible game manager...than act like it. Crossbows do not hurt you, limit our resources, or inconvenience you in any way. If you hunt with a stone knife only from natural stands completely spot and stalk, and never in wait over a food source...then you got a right to complain about crossbows. If you stand for gun control, big government, and peta, and more laws that invade our homes, privacy, business, and families then I can see your argument against crossbows. If not...if you are actually hunters...if you believe in our freedoms, and not this communist dictators fantasy of personal domination...then get behind the new liberties given to Wisconsin and lets start moving forward to promote it in other states. Dictate to yourself your personal morals and what is right and wrong with the way you hunt. Your arrogance, and ignorance, and double standards make of you the worst type of hypocrite. If you are who you say you are at all, and not some type of peta protester trying to disrupt a hunting forum completely.
They allowed Xbows in Pa now for 4 maybe 5 years. When the law was coming out I was vehemently opposed to it. Not because I felt it to be cheating but because I already hunted in highly pressured areas and expected bow season to turn into as much of a zoo as gun season. There was a big spike initially, but things calmed down greatly, tons of slightly used Xbows flooded the market and there was really no big deal in the grand scheme of things. Looking back, I am little ashamed I felt so opposed to it, when the reality was no big deal.
The Wisconsin Bow Hunters Association refers to cross bows as gun bows. Their words not mine. Pope and Young also has a different view than yours. I suppose in your view they are peta people to. I personally have served and been a board member on several sportsman club. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. You shouldn't resort to name calling people hypocrite because they do not go along with your view. Next time you smell something when you take a whiff, may I suggest a shower?
I can't speak for anyone but myself but I guess my hang up as far as opinions go is this. I undertsand if a person doesn't personally want to hunt with a crossbow but I don't understand why anyone would want a law saying a crossbow can't be used by someone who wants to hunt with one or be opposed to such a law being changed. They are not guns and their projectiles are not bullets, they have far more in common with other archery equipment and many of the same limitations. Can't wait til someone films a hunt where they draw their crossbow with a deer in range and shoot the deer within a minute or so just so they can prove how poor of an argument "you have to draw and hold your bow" is.
"The Wisconsin Bow Hunters Association refers to cross bows as gun bows. Their words not mine. Pope and Young also has a different view than yours. I suppose in your view they are peta people to. I personally have served and been a board member on several sportsman club. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. You shouldn't resort to name calling people hypocrite because they do not go along with your view. Next time you smell something when you take a whiff, may I suggest a shower?" I don't care if you want to insult me, nor do I care what organization you belong to, support, or what...just get real with yourself. If you support gun control, more laws invading and limiting your rights as a hunter, and bigger government..that's fine. If you oppose those things..that's fine. Just don't pretend to oppose your rights being taken away by this communist administration, while trying to limit the rights of others. By the way, my nose isn't the one stuck up in air in arrogance about other hunter's right to harvest game in the manner of their choice. Go ahead and admit it...the truth will set you free...just pick a side....those who oppose hunting, and personal freedoms, and those who don't. Alot of good men and women gave their lives for your freedom to choose and I got nothing but respect for the choice you make... BUT DON'T TELL ME OR YOURSELF YOU ARE FOR MORE RIGHTS, WHILE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS that is hypocritical. The choice is simple to understand... More limitations on hunting = less freedom and less choices. Less limitations on hunting = more freedoms and more choices More choices = more personal responsiblity and less dictatorial legislation I am not a smart man, but even I can understand the simplicity of the choice...more laws and limitations on hunting = more laws = less hunting rights. (notice please I did not say priviledges)
Doesn't anyone remember when these were coming into popularity. Everyone was saying it was cheating and should not be allowed. They were against the law in many states same as a crossbow. So, why aren't people buying this setup instead of a crossbow now that they should be legal? Inline Crossbow - Why use a crossbow? | Draw-Loc
Well said, Ryan. I, too, was originally opposed (albeit not as passionate about my opposition as some). However, now seeing my father getting to enjoy the October/November woods with me for the first time this fall makes me realize how petty those reasons for opposition seemed.
The day I base my opinion off of a flawed scoring system which deducts for antler grown is the day I get a cat-scan
