Why couldn't those kids been in the woods, there is a lot more to hunting than shooting deer? My way .. which is the way it is in almost every state in our country has those boys waiting till ML or a firearm season to shoot those deer. They could use their crossbow then, if legal.
Those little guys are definitely hunters, but in my opinion .. and my opinion only, they are not bow hunters. They won't become that until the can hunt with a bow.
It appears that we are wrapping up this thread, and I'll say after many posts read, that I am even more clear on my own personal feeling about the subject of crossbows than before it started. I passively felt that crossbows should have their own seperate season, but was ok with them being legal only during firearm season, now I am even more convinced and would voice an opposition to their inclusion into archery season should that come up in my state. Datamax and others have made the point so WELL that technology continues to improve and change each year ... where does it stop? Look at how far they have gone with the concept of a pair of limbs and a string ... but going so far as to let a different weapon in, and even easier and more advanced one at that, has to be where archery stops, and crossbowing begins. Where it is amazing what they have done to a simple bow in the hands of engineers, where do you think they'll take crossbows now that even 3 states allow their use during archery season? Let's be honest guys, crossbows really only recently started to be even considered a viable hunting tool again .. where they are going to take these things will be downright scary. They have already got concept crossbows with in excess of 250 lb draw weight, the 2 bolt crossbow is already in development ... hell, a repeater!
Guys have asked, where do you draw the line .. the line has to be (in my opinion) where the limitations of man's strength and effort allow them to draw and hold back an arrow. It's the only thing that holds compunds from craziness .. because there is only so much you can do with that 70 lb draw on a bow where guys can pull and hold. Take that away . and you have a crossbow. A whole different ball game, and gladly still illegal in almost every state for healthy people.
The sport wouldn't have benefitted anything but that is irrelevevant first of all because she wasn't able to do it. So practicing was a moot point. Second, just because she was unable to shoot a bow very well she was very capable of judging yardage and making good shots with a crossbow
And for all those guys looking for that one reason why crossbows are considered by many to be more firearm like then bow like, read Silents post. Here is a person who could not shoot a bow .. not even practice with one due to lack of strength. But she could grab a crossbow her husband cocked and loaded for her and go and shoot deer. That's what makes them so "gun like".