Crossbows are legal for anyone to use in quite a few states now. Legal in nearly as many states as bows were when P&Y started up. Not to mention that it's pretty rare to find a compound shooter any more who shoots 65% let-off or less and still uses his fingers instead of a mechanical trigger. No difference in performance. Only difference is in how they're held. Let 'em in.

Double asterisk though.[8D]

I'm new to all of this, so I had to look up Pope and Young on the net to see what it was. If I read right, you have to pay them to get your deer entered. So it doesn't look like I'll ever put one in there. I shot a friend's crossbow once, it was nice and very accurate. But for hunting in the thicket I'm going to have to deal with, a crossbow would be a handicap, they are just too unweildy in thick cover. Also, the thing about drawing the bow is overblown, I tried out a bow last week (black diamond?), it was very smooth and easy to draw, a breeze to hold back, and it shoots faster than my friend's crossbow. After about 10 minutes with the bow and some basic instructiuon, I shot the compound just as well as I shot the crossbow, and I had never even held a bow until that day. So, if their decision not to include crossbows is based on degree of difficulty, I would have to say their logic is faulty.

No, simply because that is not what P&Y is about. If someone wants a crossbow specific record book, then go for it. P&Y has been very clear on their stance with this issue, and it is their club afterall.

But I think they should have there own divisoin.

I'm with you 100% on this one. There is a difference between the old load-it-yourself muzzle loader and the new just-slide-it-in types that shoot 150 yards like a rifle. Personally the only thing that should be able to get in P&Y is long bows, recurves andcompounds. Put muzzle loaders in with B&C boys

Those of you who know me know that I consider a crossbow to be more like a bow than a firearm with their basic operation and so on, even though I don't use one (never have) I still feel they are "archery tackle".

I do nothowever feelcrossbow kills should be lumped together with compoundbow kills....nordo I feel compound bow kills be lumped inwith traditional bow kills. Give em each their own category and I wouldn't have a problem with it.

They already are. The only thing P&Y allows is traditional bows (recurves, long bows) and compound bows. They used to limit the draw let-off to 65%, but recently changed it. However, over 65% gets an *

I agree 100% on the new versus traditional muzzleloaders. The new ones should only be legal in "rifle" season. There is nothing primitive about those puppies.

What if it was a Bowtech?

Thanks for clearing that up. I am kind of ignorant when it comes to the rules of making the books.

That is probably a good thing. It means that you hunt for the only real reason that matters.