As you can see by the variances in the posts/suggestions, this issue is not going to be easy to solve. Everyone has their own agendas (myself included - however I hunt with all implements so I can say I am fairly "impartial"). If "we" can't come up with a unified solution, the proposed changes are going to go thru. My "simple" solution is:

1) start bow early or not - doesn't make much difference to me. As most bowhunters have stated here - those 2 weeks would be mostly unproductive and tend to be rather warm. Lets say it starts Oct. 1 (we can have some armed scouting)

2) start the gun season on the new proposed Saturday (a compromise for me, who likes the traditional monday and a bowhunter who will lose a good weekend) - this seems to be what the "majority" of hunters want so why not (eventhough it may overcrowd the woods on that weekend?)

3) gun season - the 29 days from the saturday opener - as is the case now, muzzleloaders can use their MLs in this season. additionally, allow MLers to use their ML tag during this season (I believe now they can only use their regular buck tag and/or doe permit)

4) late season(s) ML and/or bow - I personally don't care if there is a late bow. I would just assume give the MLers "their own" season late. let's make it a worthwhile season (say from end of gun for 3 weeks). this would allow the deer to "calm down" after gun season. it also allows the MLers a longer opportunity to utilize their implement that they did purchase a license for

To me, this seems rather simple and fair. Everybody gets a little something and nothing is really taken away from the bowhunters.