Here is the core issue....who sets the "standard"???
I think the answer is complex. Sometimes its the G&F based on facts and data and impacts on the resources. Sometimes its special intrest groups that lobby for it. The Pope and Young club had bigtime influence a couple of decades ago.
Not only complex answers, but its ever changing. This year mechanicals might not be legal for elk in NM, next year they might be. I know this - its rare when something is finally allowed IN and then later removed. Once in, VERY hard to get out.
Unless there is a safety issue, legal issue, or there is a dramatic effect in the deer herds or the quality of hunting, archery is archery...ALL of it, and no one really has the right to impose their "standards" on someone else.
I lean towards this view more than any other. As long as seasons and bag limits aren't impacted, allow it all, crossbows, drawlocks, whatever.
That said ...... there WILL come a time to draw line,
Wyvern Crossbowwho's going to draw them and where ? I'd like to have answers in my head BEFORE that time gets here, a view of it all and firm footing on what I believe and what I don't you know ?
I want to be there when the elitiest that sets the standards tells Joe Compound user that his equipment is not "archery" and he has to hunt with orange on or he may get shot...
Imagine, the "group" that took over what archery is being eliminated from archery season, that WOULD be something wouldn't it ?
OH...and as far as "loosing what hunting is" (by your standards of traditional equipment) the HUGE rise in people going to traditional archery is a sign that this is not only not true, but just the opposite...people have spent many years doing it the easy way and now desire more challenge. THis alone will help bring the sport back to its roots.
If that is the direction we're going as a bowhunting community, why not legislate it ?