I just don't see it that way, beprepn. Crossbows MIGHT account for a few crossover converts, but I don't think they would do anything to increase total numbers of hunters. In fact, it might make a spike on the graph early on, but would eventually lead to a decline like we've seen with the compound. Don't get me wrong. The compound has brought thousands of people into bowhunting that wouldn't have dreamed about it before the wheelbow was invented. But, over the past 10 years, our numbers have been constantly declining.

Take, for instance, the lady on one of the bowhunting forums that was griping about a proposal for regulations limiting bows to 65% letoff, saying that they would close hunting to women and youngsters. What a crock that is! 15 years ago, when 65% letoff was the raw edge of high technology, there were FAR MORE women and young people involved in archery and bowhunting than there are now.

What is happening is the equipment is making it seem so easy that none of the folks using high tech stuff feel the need to shoot regularly to maintain competence. I believe there are many, like myself, that find that kind of gear unpleasant to shoot (not to mention expensive as the dickens). I also feel that lessening the degree of challenge in mastering the equipment leads to boredom. And boredom leads to fewer participants, not more.

Why else would traditional archery be the fastest growing segment of the bowhunting community?

If you want to really get people hooked, hand them a stickbow and show them that they darned sure CAN hit something with it, without all the gizmos, gadgets, paraphernalia and fooferaw that the techies seem to think so damnably indispensible.



Edited by - Arthur P on 01/26/2003 00:26:26