I'm not going to say make the x-bow legal or not but I I think in Illinois it would have a limted effect of bringing more people into huntin. The main reason I say this is because Illinois has a growing number of people shooting in the archery season and a growing deer harvest every year via the bows that are currently legal. Now, I think if you were to legalize it you would see many of the two season hunters sell their bows and switch to crossbows because a lot of them do just own that bow for longer season. Perhaps a happy medium is what the bill is in the house right now in Illinois to allow hunters under the age of 18 to use an x-bow since some can't pull 40 pounds. That being said I think most 18 year olds could pull 40 pounds, I could as a 13 year old that weighed maybe 85-90 pounds and that was a old 50% let of Browning nomad that had to long of a draw for me (It was my brothers bow). Yes, I was a very skinny kid.
The only other thing that might make some continue to shoot longer is perhaps making them legal for folks over 70 or some other age. I don't know what would be approbriate on that side because there is such a variety of issues. THis would get rid of the doctors note, which in Illinois is about as easy to get as going to the doctor and asking for one.


Illinois used to have a seperate handgun Doe season in January but this year they allowed all firearms into the late 3 days season. Don't think it really mattered much but that is a lottery draw so it is possible not to get a permit which could force the handgunners out. That is not a nice thing either. Who knows what the future holds with that. With the new muzzleoaders around these days shooting out at 200 yards you will start wondering when the rifle hunters will start pushing for legalizing .444's rifles for hunting. Effective Range is probably less than the new inlines.