ORIGINAL: rybohunter

I’ve done my research, people freely admit it in the forums I browse and the articles read, etc. The X-bow companies are the ones making the big push. There is no organized group of hunting citizens fighting to get it done. I could all well and understand it if there were, but such is not the case. Yea a lot of people may like the idea and will use one if it passes, but not enough to fight to get it passed.

Friends,
As many of you know you are receiving this email because you have expressed, in one way or another, support for crossbow inclusion into Michigan's archery hunting season. I have just done a major updating of the list and there are now 146 names and email addresses such as yourself in this email address file.

To update you as to news of what is happening in the State Legislature HB5741-H2 passed the House of Representatives by the overwhelming vote of 94 Yeas.......14 Nays......2 Abstentions. The bill has moved onto the Michigan Senate where it has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Environmental Affairs. Due to the summer recess and election season recess that will be upcoming in the fall and then a lameduck session after the November election the bill will probably not be taken up until next year. That does not mean that we need to rest on the laurels of the victory.......and that REALLY felt good....in the House of Representatives. I will be getting back to you soon about contacting the senators who are on the senate committee that will be considering this bill.

As an aside, perhaps I should tell you something about me. My name is (Blank it out). I live in Manistee County and am a retired teacher, married for 42 years with four grown children and ten grandchildren (my wife and I spoil them at every opportunity as the rules of grandparenthoodness allows us to do...LOL!). My interest in this crossbow issue stems from my position as a moderator in a site called Michigan-Sportsman.com. Over the years I read posts by MS members on the issue of crossbows being included (crossbow inclusion) into the State's archery season. Claims and counterclaims were made and I decided to do some research on my own in order to find out where the facts and truth rested. Simply put this search convinced me that the extravagant claims by those opposed to crossbow inclusion where based on emotion, opinions, and a serious amount of misinformation.

I am a former bowhunter who used a compound bow. Six years ago I had my left hip replaced and upon the advice of my surgeon..."If you climb up into trees you take the chance of falling and ruining a perfectly good hip replacement"....I decided to no longer get up into trees in order to bowhunt. For a bit I considered hunting from the ground until I realized that one of the greatest thrills I derived from bowhunting was sitting in a tree for a month and a half watching all that nature offers unfold around me and from the ground much of this would be missing.

I am not interested in hunting with a crossbow in the least although a bit of inborn stubbornness still leads me to think of taking one up just for spite which, in the long run, isn't a valid reason for doing things. Life is too short to step into the morass of spiteful actions.

If you receive this email and are not interested in the issue of crossbow inclusion please reply to it and tell me to remove you from this email file. It will be done. For those of you who are willing to work for crossbow inclusion you will be notified about what you can do. It will entail keeping in contact with your state senator for the most part.

The names on this list will not be shared and all emails will be sent out as blind copies/bcc.
Regards,