ORIGINAL: Arthur P
But to answer your question, in part... The point of the matter is bow seasons were made for BOW hunters, not crossbow hunters. It's a matter of PRINCIPLE, a word that seems to have little meaning to many people these days.
What we've got with the crossbow contingent is a group of people who want to play in a particular hunting season, but don't have the principles or discipline to use the weapons approved for that season.
Since you are taking the time and effort to insult me and other crossbow hunters, I hope you can take the time to explain what you mean. Explain your high and mighty principals to me. I make clean, quick kills, I hunt on my own private land and I have zero impact on any other hunters. I spend 8-10 weekends a year scouting my hunting area and working to improve the area for wildlife. I have worked with my family and the hunters on the 5,000 acres surrounding our ranch to institute quality deer management in our area. I have passed on dozens of shootable 4-6 point bucks and shot spikes when I knew a great trophy was just around the corner in order to improve our breeding lines. I've never taken a shot I did not think I could make and I have never left a wounded animal in the field. Explain to me my lack of principals and discipline. The methods I, or any other hunter, choose have no impact on you or other hunters. Why does what I do create a problem for you? Saying "it's the principle" is shorthand for "I'm ignorant of the realities of the situation, have no real information, and formed my opinion based on my gut reaction to something new and different". If you have an answer for my questions I'm more than willing to continue this debate. Otherwise, have a nice day.