Come time for shotgun season, the deer don't act "natural" (IMO) and to me it's just not much fun anymore (For me anyways). And to me, crossbows would be just about like shotgun season and ruin it. Bow hunting (Compound and traditional) is just so much more intense, fun, and it gets your adrenaline rushing so much harder. Just my thoughts however, so take it as you will!
During my hunt 1st season shotgun in November '03 I gun hunted out of a blind set up along a rub line. I had 2 awesome bucks within 3 feet of my blind, a 7 point that I shot and then a monster 12 point that I just watched. Just because you hunt with a shotgun during shotgun season, doesn't mean you have to take 150yard shots. To me there was no difference in the thrill I had when those bucks came in that close compared to any other bowhunting - it is on the hunter to make the most of his legal season. It is not decided by the weapon.
I honestly think that most arguments against crossbows come down to the clubhouse complex. Bow hunters have extra time in the woods and they don't want anyone else joining them.
I couldn't agree more! We all cringe at the thought of another hunter in "our" woods.
For every argument against crossbows by bowhunters, the same argument could be waged against bowhunters by gun hunters. Why not welcome the opportunity of a new weapon and a chance to utilize new skills. After all, the goal is the same for all of us - quality overall experience with the benefit of tasty venison. How we get to that goal is a personal quest dictated by personal values and ethics, not dictated by which weapon is superior/inferior.