I thought I did ? I will again though, no problem
Well, Mississippi just voted down the allowed use of xbows during archery season. However, they did legalize their use during the firearm season.
I for one support that decision. I do not personally believe that letting xbows into archery season will result in increased number of hunters.
Isn't that what compounds do too ? And isn't MORE hunters better ? I don't mean for hunting situations, I mean strength in numbers ?
What I believe will happen is increased man days in the field while hunter numbers stay pretty much constant. Sure, there are isolated cases such as Silent's wife and a kid here or there. But the only true increase that I predict would be man days, which IMO is not needed.
Well, you need only to look at the states that allow crossbows to figure it out. Increased man days certainly IS a benefit to archery - and compounds do the same thing BTW. But a rifle hunters tagging a buck as an archery kill is still a bowhunter and counted in our ranks. We can use as many as we can get, can't we ? Not to mention the kids/women that can hunt now. And even if that number is 2,000 or 5,000 ........... every single one helps, doesn't it ?
To be honest, I don't support kids using xbows. I don't think they are mentally mature enough to make the right decisions required for shooting at game with an xbow.
But they can use compounds that kill every bit as easily ? What age do you place on kids being "able" ? With supervision, guidance .......... I don't have any problem with it at all. In fact, it teaches responsibility and HELPS children learn to be capable.
I could handle a 45-50lbs bow at age 10 or so, but my Dad knew I wasn't ready to start flinging arrows at game and he was right, heck I was barely ready at 13 when I did start bowhunting.
You were an exception to a 10 year old handling a 45-50 pound bow. By far.