Datamax - I agree that things are going to change in the near future, and do think crossbow hunters will get more and more opportunities available to them. I think that states like Maryland have the right answer in place already, a seperate Crossbow season that overlaps a portion of archery season. I don't think adding crossbows during a portion of archery season is going to affect harvest totals much, and if you can make up the difference in lost hunters with some new ones it may help some states meet management goals.

As I said before, they are viable hunting weapon that has a history for taking game ethically that goes back hundreds of years. I also don't dispute that a crossbow is not as effective as a compound, or even a long bow in the hands of a skilled archer. Hell, the English proved that almost a thousand years ago when the long bow smoked all the crossbow guys and armored knights back in medieval times.

Your point about "splitting" all the season up is a bit off though. Every other viable hunting weapon has already been accounted for. ML's, pistols, rifles, shotguns and bows all have their appropriate season. It's the crossbow guys that are left on the outside looking in.