Here's one opinion. Just an opinion, mind you. Back when the first archery seasons were started, of the available equipment, the worst xbow made was better than the best stick bow or recurve [trad]. They provided an advantage then and still do today. Around 1968-70 along came the compounds. I never shot the early compounds so I'm not qualified to compare them. As the compounds technology advanced, some where along the line they exceed the performance envelope of xbows, proven by competiton scores where they are both shot. At the same time, xbow use became much more popular and accepted by many. This has proven that there is virtually no difference today between compounds and xbows by harvest stats in the states that have both and keep track. The resistance to xbows today is due partially to misinformed people, groups w/ agendas, and some selfish desires to keep the deer, hunting land, ect to a select group of people. That is all changing virtually as we speak.

Around the 1200's some Pope outlawed them for warfare against Christians, heathens were fair game, lol. Today we have P&Y [7700 members worldwide] putting out "position statements" that xbows are the greatest threat to archery, Christian or heathen, lol. They are joined by PBS, which "hired" a member named Marlow to do a study on the two. It was biased and proved erroneous by the harvest stats and has fallen fom use as debate matl. Much like the "test" performed by a former officer of WBH, which basically proved he could hit a bale of hay at a 100 yds w/ field tips, lol. As most of the xbowers on here know, screwing a bhead onto an arrow, shooting it out of a crossbow often is like taking a road trip w/ your mother in law in the back seat reading the map. They both would like to steer.

There are several signs out there on xbow acceptance. Go to any xbow forum, go back 6 months or a year, look at the posters. There are new people every day on every one. Go to the Bowsite state forums and read. Xbow threads there don't last any longer than a Twinkie in Rosie O'Donnells purse, they are jerked real quick as their own members question the reasons for opposition.