2 good points. Maybe its only me but I'v had things happen to a shot while I was all bundled up before. Ripped a button off a jacket on release that thru the shot off hit my arm with the string because of bulkyness. Neither would happen with a crossbow. Also the cold can get to me enuff that I cant draw back my primary bow, suprised the heck out of me & it was damn cold but the fact remains that that afternoon I was a deer watcher as I just couldnt draw my bow when the deer came. Again, crossbow you can cock it when your fresh & shoot it after 4 hours shivering on stand.

I'm not against hunting with them but am suprised theres actually people that think its not easier. As I said in another thread thats why they were invented in the first place.

datamax,
I too try to draw before the animal is actually where I want to shoot it but if it takes even 1 minute longer than you thought it would for it to get into your lane things get touchy. How bout 3 minutes? or 5? or 10? We all know how long a deer can stop & just stand in one spot if it decides to & when that happens sooner or later you gotta let down & in my case anyway almost always get busted.

No question, its easier to shoot & hunt with a crossbow. Does that mean its not bowhunting? Guess it depends on your definition of bowhunting.
Dunno what I'd define it as but I dont think it would turn that many new guys loose in the woods & thats what it seems most are concerened with.

I think alot of guys that ALREADY bowhunt might give it a whirl, I sure would. But someone who's never hunted or shown an interest in it before isn't likely to wake up one day & say "Crossbows are legal? Holy cow I gotta get one & kill some deer with it"
IMO you hafta be somewhat dedicated to being a hunter just to complete the bow course for hunting. Not that its a hard course but its a boring 8 hour class that IMO would be intolerable if you werent serous about it.