Yep, when they started allowing folks 62 and over to use the crossbow in Illinois, the old farts just came swarming into the woods. So, much that the deer harvest, I believe, actually dropped slightly during the first year of expanded crossbow use.[]

Crossbows were just made legal here in SC a few weeks ago. They are fussing about it over on the local forum as I type this.

I honestly don't see what all the fuss is about. Some people act like shooting a crossbow is like shooting a lazer guided weapon that is loaded with deer seeking missles.

There are no facts on crossbows, but through observation of people's online threads and from personal experience with crossbow shooters, its almost fact that most people even after they "try"crossbows really don't like them. They are big, bulky, heavy, and really aren't much more accurate than some of today's bows.

Some people act like they are going to take over bows. Infact the crossbow has been around A LOT LOT LOT LOT longer than the compound bow, but still most people rather hunt with a compound or tradational.

If it will get more people involved with hunting, great. I work for the state. It will actually probly help to get us more federal funding.

I am more worried about the deer herds on public land, and the impact it will have on the Wildlife Commision's decision on future hunting seasons.

As for old farts, if they can get to where I hunt, they deserve all the deer they can shoot!

That's a regional issue and doesn't apply everywhere. There's not enough public land open to deer hunting for that to be a worry in Texas. The huge majority of deer hunting here is on private land, and who gives a rip if the guy on the other side of the fence is using a compound or crossbow.

I've been expecting the legislature to go the extra step and legalize crossbows for bow season ever since Parks and Wildlife decided the drawlock device was legal. Hasn't happened yet, thought they would do it last summer in fact. But I think it's inevitable.

I shoot crossbows now and have learned quite a bit about them over the past two years. I've learned what a PITA they are to handle. I've learned, even with a scope, I can't get the same accuracy shooting offhand with one that I used to get with a good compound with pin sights. They are, like StrutNTom said, heavy and cumbersome, but he left out the part about LOUD. My 150 pounder shoots a 430 grain bolt right around 250 fps. That's a shade under 60 ft lbs. Not exactly WMD kind of performance. [8D]

I'm from louisiana also and I haven't noticed an over abundance of people going to crossbows,I believe that most bowhunters now will continue to shoot their compounds until they get to the point they can't anymore for whatever the reason may be, and I for one think it's great that the opportunity to use a crossbow is avaliable,as far as the crossbow's impact on the deer herds on public lands I just don't see them getting much worse because in my opinion the deer numbers are way down anyway on state wma's and TENSAS WILDLIFE REFUGE , espeacilly if compared to the deer population on the states privite lands.

I think that the issue is that some (but not all) of the anti-crossbow folks are the type that do want to be able to call all the shots, includingwhat the guy on the other side of the fence is doing on his private property.

IMO Ohio and AR are the role models for CB hunting and what it will do, VA is also a newer state that can prove that CB are not what the people say they are. Some say that there state is different, maybe so. But the paste from below is a publication you can find on Ohio's DNR web site. The CB was open to all in 75 or 76 and with proper management the numbers have only gone up. We now have over four full months of archery season with no closed dates at all, maybe it is closed to the two day youth hunt, not sure. Ohio has always treated the archery season well and controlled the deer numbers with the gun season, we have a two week shotgun only season and a short ML season. I am sure gun hunters wish it could be longer, but Ohio has always done most of the management with that season. We now can take up to seven deer in Ohio, I think our DNR is one of the best a state could have IMO.

Illegal in NC .....except by permit (hcp or medical issue).

Woudn't bother me in the least if they legalized them during bow only season for everyone. I actually have no opinion on them one way or the other. To me....they're just another "bow".

There are legal here in special regs areas. The X-bow manufacturers are trying to lobby them to be legal in the general archery statewide. I hope this does not pass. Crowded areas have gotten more crowded, and it will be the same in the rest of the state if it passes. X-bows are legal in every other season, I hope they keep them out of the general archery season.

I have no problem with someone using a crossbow during the regular firearms season. I can't see how someone can cock a 150lb crossbow, yet can't draw a 50lb compound with 65% letoff..Sorry but I am not a supporter of crossbows during the regular archery season.