On one thing, I agree with Stealthy. I've been saying for years that compound technology has blurred the line between crossbows and compounds. Used to be, we could point to holding weight and time at full draw as a distinguishing factor. That argument has been obliterated by the number of people that ignored the old 65% letoff rule, and even more by P&Y's new rule which accepts anything.

The 'hand drawn and hand held' argument has a weak spot. Most people don't have to touch their bow's string at all to shoot it any more because of releases. Compounds are technically NOT 'hand drawn' when shot with a release. Don't explain the finer points to me, 'cuz I understand it. Instead, explain it to the game commissioners who don't have a clue.

We really have nothing left to argue on other than philosophical grounds. I'm afraid philosophy won't go a long way toward overriding the obvious income potential of selling more licenses and tags... Most especially when you can't point to a glaring difference in hunter success ratios.

The only way to keep bow season for bows is for our compound shooting brethren to back off from their ultra short, mechanically released, high letoff bows and re-establish an easily apparent distinction between bows and crossbows.

I won't be holding my breath, waiting for THAT to happen.[:'(]