They do allow the taking of game after legal shooting hours to easily without being detected (not the crossbows fault, the hunters of course)
That has nothing to do with the weapon and like I have also pointed out it's no harder to do with a compound and as data pointed out, trad equipment is the easiest to shoot after dark so that isn't a valid con.
The further lowering of the standards of practice and training necessary to become proficient as an archer
Are there standards in place? I wasn't aware of that. I have seen guys come in and buy compounds the night before season with the intentions of hunting with them the next day, on several occaisions. I don't think they knew about the standards. So again the level of skill is not measured by the choice of weapon but rather by the person yielding that weapon. If that person is capable of making killing shots consistently that's all that really matters. But that gets back into the boys club thing and people thinking you're special doesn't it
Safety – being a loaded and cocked weapon makes them inherently more dangerous than a bow. Especially considering the treestand use of archery season
All weapons are inherently dangerous that's why they are called weapon. If you don't load them until you intend to shoot then they are no more dangerous than anything else. But I would like to see some research that backs up your assertion. Again, I live in a place where it's legal and in a bow only zone and I don't ever know of anyone being hurt by a crossbow.
Dividing the sport of archery and hunters in general. This thread clearly shows the passion and division the crossbow has upon archers who shoot bows and those hunters who shoot crossbows.
You guys are the ones being devisive. Crossbow enthusiast are asking to join the club and you guys are the ones saying "no you aren't special like us"
Crossbows don't devide people. That's like saying that black people shouldn't have asked for the right to vote because the issue devided people. No, their own stupid predjudice devided them, just like here
The effect this will have on archery seasons in SOME states. In GA, AR and Ohio the sheer numbers and opportunities on deer allow for the additional weapons and hunters on the population. Here in NH we take about 10,000 deer a year, less than 2,000 during an archery season that runs 3 months. Our herds couldn’t take greater kills, so added pressure would require shortening of seasons. Today crossbow usage is limited to firearms season, if they were allowed to hunt the 3 month archery season the greater participation based on ease of use would require shortening the season. So adding crossbows would reduce archery season.
Well that's purely speculation but let's run the numbers anyway. Let's apply Arkansas numbers to NH. In Arkansas (after 30 years of intergration) approximately 2.7% of the deer killed in the state are killed by crossbows. In NH that would amount to approximately 270 deer. I don't really see that making a difference in your season. But, I thought there wasn't going to be any new hunters added by allowing crossbows???????? So there shouldn't be any more deer killed should there? Aren't people just going to switch one weapon for the other? If what you say is in fact the case then you just made my arguments even stronger that crossbows are a good thing at getting people involved in the sport. In which case it again means your just being greedy and you again would rather benefit yourself than see the sport benefit which will (I can guarantee you) bite you in the ass one day.