Personally I would have just a few lines drawn.
1 No lights or lazers projected from the bow

2 No mechanism to hold the bow at full draw

3 no night vision type sights

4 I would also have reservations about rangefinding sights.

Other than that, let technology run it's course. We should be ever vigilant for develpoments that may go too far. What might that be, Don't know, it aint been invented yet or if it has, I aint heard of it!!

Personally I would have just a few lines drawn.
1 No lights or lazers projected from the bow

2 No mechanism to hold the bow at full draw

3 no night vision type sights

4 I would also have reservations about rangefinding sights.

Other than that, let technology run it's course. We should be ever vigilant for develpoments that may go too far. What might that be, Don't know, it aint been invented yet or if it has, I aint heard of it!!

Personally I would have just a few lines drawn.
1 No lights or lazers projected from the bow

2 No mechanism to hold the bow at full draw

3 no night vision type sights

4 I would also have reservations about rangefinding sights.

Other than that, let technology run it's course. We should be ever vigilant for develpoments that may go too far. What might that be, Don't know, it aint been invented yet or if it has, I aint heard of it!!

This is a very good thread and everybody is showing the character that makes bowhunting an above average sport. As has been stated many times already it's up to the individual as to what he or she is comfortable with. As you can tell I'm a "bowhunter" who happens to use traditional equipment. Before the compound came out I was just a bowhunter. My brother, who got me started hunting, is a person that needed the compound in order for him to be efficient and humane in this sport. One of you guys hit the nail on the head when you said traditional bows seem to be a fad. I see literally hundreds of people shooting traditional equipment that should be shooting something much more proficient if they are going to hunt living creatures. Every bow made is more accurate than any person shooting it but it doesn't mean "you" will be able to get that accuracy out of it. I happen to be able to shoot my longbow with nearly the same accuracy as the average guy shooting a compound so I feel comfortable using it but if you can't hit anything with the bow your using then switch. It always amazes me that a person who would trade a rifle immediately if it didn't hit in the same place twice will carry a bow they aren't capable of shooting in the same place twice!

"I do know that we should all stick together as ARCHERY hunters."

Every time this kind of thread comes up, someone throws that line out. Quite frankly, as long as everyone is talking, we ARE sticking together. It's when everyone throws up their hands and walks away, down seperate paths, that things become divisive.

I'm on both sides of this. I shoot selfbows with cane arrows. I shoot a single cam, fiber optic sighted, mechanically released, carbon arrow flinger too. And I shoot anything and everything in between. It's all fun, just some of it is more fun than others.

But there has been a wedge between traditionalists and compounders for the past 30 years. It's time for us to figure out how to remove that wedge and come back together. Right now, you can't hardly bribe most trads to go to a mixed shoot that allows compounds. Some compounders won't allow trad bows on their hunting leases. The whole thing is idiotic and it must STOP!

Problem is, every time compounders get a new piece of technology to embrace, especially one that really agitates the trads, they always counter the complaints with 'we need to stick together as bowhunters.' Each time that little comment comes out, it's another tap of the hammer on the wedge.

Why not show a little understanding of the traditionalist side once in awhile? Perhaps if techies would quit flaunting this stuff in their faces, some of the trads would develop a little tolerance for their techie gear.

Understanding and tolerance is a two way street, folks.

BTBowhunter - Care to explain why you would draw those lines ?

I have the upmost respect for traditionalists. I think that they are AMAZING. I personally don't think that I could shoot a long or recurve bow that well so I stick with my compound. I don't rub anything into the faces of those guys. I give traditionalists a lot of respect because it takes lots of time and dedication to do what they are doing. I don't really see any traditionalists bad mouthing compound bow users.

Good Luck This Season: Buck Magnet
P.S. Only Chuck Adams can sit at home and see deer so get into the woods. =;^)

Arthur P, Great Post! I for one have absolutely no problem with trad hunters.As long as any bow "hunter" can kill what he is shooting at proficeintly they get my respect.The guys that walk around with their Fedora on and can't hit the side of the barn make me a little nervous.lol.

I do have a problem when a trad. hunter tells me I'm not any good because of the type of bow I hunt with.This has happened in the past,especially on another board that I frequent.I think you post there to.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>? Perhaps if techies would quit flaunting this stuff in their faces, <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>

How do we do this, flaunting?

Personally I don't like the draw lock device.However if it was the only way a disabled person could enjoy the archery season,i'd let them hunt with it.i'm talking about a truely disabled person here not the guys that go to their doc with a lame excuse to get a specail permit.I've had four back surgeries and am classified as 50% disabled and still hunt with a compound.

Crossbows,I don't have a problem with people hunting with them.Im just not sure what season they belong in.If the state allows archery and muzzle loader in the woods together,I'd let crossbows in at the same time.

Arthur P - I went back to a compound right before last season. I didn't feel &quot;less&quot; of a bowhunter, however it was much easier to accomplish a kill then if I'd stayed with my longbow. The reason I went back - I simply wasn't good enough with my longbow.

I am not trying to drive a wedge, what I am doing is answering the question, will technology eventually be too high tech. I think yes, it will, and might even push compounds into a different season with perhaps crossbows. I dunno, I aint even suggesting it really, but the lines are getting bolder between what is high tech and therefore easy, and traditional and difficult.

Charlie P - Why not a draw loc if it makes the bowhunter a better shot ? Please elaborate.

hey Pa, Technology is good for all aspects of the hunting world...but no one has seemed to answer my question, where do you draw the line between actually hunting, and having so many gizmos and gadgets that it becomes shooting. (like I said before it has nothing to do with distance).

I am a diehard hunter. If I go out with the intent of shooting for meat, I pull out my 7mm. If I want to really hunt I pull out my bow! I have no lack of respect for the choice of weapon one so chooses to partake in be it a knife between the teeth or a rocket launcher (bbq style of course <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>)!

I just dont see why folks are reaching for the the gadgets when they have the answers in plain jane writing in front of them. I shoot trad because I like it, because I am also proficent with it. I also agree there are many many folks who dont belong out there with trad..then again those same folks are the ones making stupid uneducated decisions with there 'new found accuracy' when in all reality there is very little learned. In due time yes of course they are going to learn but having 15 different calls, 10 sets of camo, arrows you can steer with remote control boxes, like I said..where do you draw the line and hunting is still hunting as opposed to shooting? For me specifically, that happens to be my longbow for now. Yup it has space aged technology behind it, granted the fiber glass and wood hasnt changed to much since it was first invented. I seal my arrows with a high tech sealer that drys so fast you can litterly grab it in seconds and it feels dry (although its not fully cured yet).

I guess I dont embrace it, I take it with a grain of salt. I do however feel our own technology will become our own demise as bowhunters....back to drawing the line between it still being hunting and it being shooting. Let me iterate something, I understand from many failures there is no such thing as a crap shoot!!! I guess its a little hard to explain and have it come off the right way so take it for what its worth....