MA Jay, while I do not gun hunt, and have not for nearly 20 years now....I would never want to se gun hunting suffer in any way that is unaviodable.

I do not wish to see folks who love to use a firearm suffer the loss of their passion.

I can concede that you now are making legitimate points with your Ohio numbers....although I would say that these dual season hunters are knowingly cutting short their gun season by filling their tags with a bow of some sort.

Where does that leave the now smaller group of gun hunters who do not wish to partake in the bow season?

Good question.....

This could conceivably negatively impact gun only hunters due to shorter seasons.......but I am sure you realize that the health of the herd dictates harvest quotas...

So, going with this line of thinking.....somebody has to suffer if the harvest gets too high.

I am not saying that I prefer one group to suffer a shorter season over another....either way a "hunter" loses some opportunity.

Ohio took I believe 14 years of wide open crossbow use to have crossbow hunters catch up to verticle bow hunters.....

If this post seems like mindless drivel....I am trying to pack for a long weekend of archery, sporting clays, golf, and cart racing........

My mind is not on debate just now!

Anyway, thanks for the civil discussion, and I have no doubt we will revisit this a few times in the future......