Example 1.My fatherinlaw. Bow hunted till the years of physical labor took toll on his body.In late 40's couldnt pull a bow back anymore.Couldnt get permit for crossbow so just gun hunted till he passed away.Here is a guy who hunted his whole life and because he got older his deer season is cut down to 20 days.He told me many times if he could use a crossbow that would be great to get in the woods during archery.In NY it isnt easy getting a permit.You have to be major disabled to qualify.
Example 2.My wife.Weighs in soaking wet at 85 pounds.She shoots 3-4 times a week but still cant get to a min. draw weight of 35 pounds.She helps me scout,put up tree stands,and wants to hunt.We are working with a pro shop to get her strengh up but we have been working at it for 2 years.Not many people have that patience.
Example 3.My kids.All possible future voters and future hunters but unfortuante for them built like their mom.They have a huge love for the outdoors now but what does the future hold?With numbers of hunters leaving and not recruiting what is lost where will bow hunting be in 30 years?You might not be here but what about your kids?
Before its said yes my wife could gun hunt if she wanted.She doesnt enjoy guns and is nervous being in the woods in gun season.Gun season up in western NY is an experince in itself.
These are very valid points please take the time to read them. I highlighted a part of particular interest. (I hope you don't mind Mdbllung)
With all of this talk about deer herds (with the exception on a few states) on the rise, not many have talked about hunters on the decline. Why would you want to deny or limit an opportunity to get more people into hunting. By saying crossbows should be illegal or only in their own sepatate season, how are you helping future bow hunters? It dosen't bother you that you may loose potential hunters by forcing them to use a compond, recurve or long bow? Especially in the circumstances listed above?
A guy does nothing but bow hunts his ENTIRE life until he can no longer pull back the string on his compound, long or recurve bow. So he goes looking for what?? A CROSSBOW!! If crossbows are SOOO different from "archery" why do they buy them? Just to extend their season? Why not just pick up the old trusty rifle or slug gun and head into the woods during gun season?
Why? Because those old hunters know it's still bow hunting. And it allows them the opportunity to continue to hunt the exact same way they always have. I will say it again, NOTHING about the HUNT changes. The weapon changes but the hunt does not! It's the same because all of the varaibles are the same it's just the weapon that's different. The range is the same, the stalk is the same, the type of projectile is the same, it's propelled the same, the thrill of having an animal so close you can hear them breathing or eating or snorting is the same.
Why do you think the handicapped choose the crossbow over a gun? Because the HUNT is different! They want to be able to BOW HUNT. You think they choose a less powered weapon with a drastically shorter effective range from a firearm because they think it's all the same??? No, because it's bow hunting. They are bow hunting.
Think about that the next time some of you say crossbows should be in gun season or are not bows.