Happy Anniversary! Happy Anniversary! Happy Anniversary!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!
100 pages!!!!! woo hooo!!
Whos hosting the party?
Crossbow guys...the anti crossbow people have made some good points. I just want to touch upon them again, because I wonder if they have valid concerns.
One of the concerns I saw was poaching. Now I fully understand that its the person and the poor attitude that causes someone to be a poacher...BUT....certain weapons lend themselves to poaching. Enabling people to poach "easier" if you will. I would think a crossbow would be one of those weapons. Silent, easy to fire from a truck or car window, etc. Now I dont want to say ban them all, because, as mentioned, I really dont want to prevent people from pursuing this wonderful sport. But....in a way, they are bad because they are a silent weapon that can aid in poaching. Does anyone agree?
Of course silenced pistols would be another weapon to aid in poaching game, but I think they would be harder to get your hands on. Im not sure though....Im not into guns, so I dont know much about them. I guess each state would have different laws pertaining to handguns and silenced weapons. Maybe someone else can speak more knowledgeably on that topic.
Like I said, I understand its not the weapon. Even if you banned crossbows, there would still be people figuring out a way to poach. But I think it would be harder for them to do so. Right?
Also, someone mentioned the number of hunters increasing causing the seasons to be shortened. I understand that many of the hunters would be "crossover" hunters, and the answer was that they would use up their tag. So the harvest would remain the same. That works.....but not in all states. My state has separate tags for firearm, bow, muzzleloader....I know, I hate that too.....too many dang tags per person if you ask me. But introducing a crossbow, and allowing more hunters may infact shorten some states archery seasons. Right? I would think so. Though I doubt they could honestly effect the season that much.
But then again, that contradicts what was said about introducing more hunters to the sport. If it isnt going to bring enough people into the sport to impact the harvest or the seasons, is it worth bringing it in, and upsetting all the hunters who already hunt with the currently legal bow equipment?
Sad to say, but there are probably bowhunters who would quit, JUST because of the crossbow introduction. Maybe not a lot, but there might be a few. You know, the hard-headed guys who would boycott the season because of their unhappiness with the new "unfair" weapon. This may raise, lower, or keep bowhunting numbers about where they are at. Hard to say. Hasn't been introduced everywhere, so....you cant know for sure until its in your own woods. Right?
Thats why I think the states interested in crossbow hunting during archery season should survey the three states with it already in place. Numbers, solid factual numbers, thats what the states need. Then each state needs to take a look at the way in which the xbow states seasons are arranged. Compare that to the way they arrange their seasons, and see if the effects would be the same or close. Im sure in most cases they would be.
A trial period would be neat for research purposes too, but it would probably upset too many people. Either way, I mean if you introduce it some people are gonna flip cause its there, and then if you take it away, others are gonna flip cause its gone.
I think if the states want to introduce it, they have to do as I said above, look into it, and from all aspects. Who it helps, who may be effected by it. Might it shorten seasons...Might it introduce too many people, too few, etc.....
You cant just throw it in the mix. But I think it would be beneficial if we could alter the laws to include; youngsters, seniors and females who may not be able to draw a legal weight bow. Handicapped people go without saying. They are already legal everywhere I know of. Is there anywhere that doesnt allow handicapped people to use xbows? Regardless....
I can see both sides here. I guess Im still on the fence....I just need a good push either way!
I hope its not a high fence, cause I hate heights....dont look down....DONT LOOK DOWN!!!!hahahahah
100 pages..still not a record though boys....go over to Archery talk....they have one thats even longer...I cant remember how many, but I think they are going for a world record or something. Im not really sure, I never asked, but its a thread of funny pics and stuff....
---Matt
