Arthur P and John nail I agree with the both of you. First, you are correct Arthur that there are way too many bowhunters who leave the bow in the closet and not touch it till a week or two before season. It seems to be human nature to be lazy, why else do we have microwave ovens? Microwaves were orignally used for communications. Second, John I agree that it is a personal issue when it comes to what we like to carry into the woods. I would disagree that the anti-hunters are laughing in delite as about these type of debates. I believe that this is exactly what they don't want, they don't want active debates among sporstman. Even though we don't all agree we are sharing information, facts, and figures that are meant to keep our sport alive. If we were not talking among ourselves and just staying closed mouth we would be easier targets. From my military point of view I would rather attack the enemy that stays in his own camp looking in than the enemy that actively moves about his camp to keep touble at a safe distance. I must admit I have never fired or held a crossbow, I don't intend to as they don't really appeal to me. What concerns me about crossbows is the false sense of power and precision they offer. Those hunters that walk into their local "shop and rob" purchase a crossbow package then take it home to fire it a few times just to hunt the next day scare the beegeebers out of me! In Michigan bowhunters are not required to wear hunters orange; I don't mind being in the public woods with other bowhunters this way but if we start allowing crossbows in the archery season I am afraid we will have an increase of hunters being shot. The crossbow offers false promise of power and accuracy, just lift it up and pull the trigger. I did see a program on the History channel where they test weapons of old, the crossbow was insanely inaccurate, the shooter shot at least ten bolts at a watermelon from a distance of about ten yards before hitting the melon. We all have some cleaning up to do within our sectors of archery of that I am certain, but my point is crossbows should be a seperate catagory, if our lawmakers want to give them a season it should not be with the archery season.
Vern Pratt
"Peace friends, and blessings to your lives"