I too believe there is a lot of truth to that newletter article. I grew up hunting with a recurve and took quite a few animals with it, including elk. I am far more pround of each one of those then I am with any that I' ve taken with a compound. Compounds make it easier, much easier. Anyone who doesn' t think so, hasn' t hunted much with traditional equipment. I am becoming more disillusioned by today' s equipment. The challenges that I use to have, are much less with my equipment now. If advances in technology keep pace at their current rate, It won' t be much more difficult then using a shotgun (without a scope) within a few years.

I am not one who wants to see modern equipment banned, but I must admit, I wish the progression towards easier-to-shoot equipment would slow. All I seem to hear is, " how fast is it?" , " how high is the let-off?" , " I can get 2" groups at 50 yards, but I' d like to get those groups smaller" , " I can put 70 lbs as easily as I could pull 30 with a longbow" , etc.. So few seem to be looking for a greater challenge. Most are looking to make it even easier.

If it gets so every other bowhunter is successful, they are sure to shorten the season. More and more people are bowhunting each year. Eventually, harvests will have to be reduced, especially if efficiency keeps going up. It use to be, a hunter who didn' t practice a lot, probably wouldn' t even hit a deer outside of 20 yards. Today, with one day of practice, they' re shooting 6" groups and thinking they can shoot 40 and 50 yards (not many taking the 100 yards shots, but lots in the 40-50 yards range, from beginners). Bottom line, many more deer are being killed in archery season. I really wouldn' t like to see bow season shortened, but I fear that it' s inevitable at today' s pace of technology.