Crossbow hunters probably make up close to 50% of the "bowhunters" here in OH, and there are some that are GOOD hunters and some that are SCARY!!! While stopping at a gas station to grab a drink and chew one morning, I encoutered a guy in camo, with his wife and kid in the little station wagon he was driving, and a LOADED CROSSBOW, drawn and bolt w/ a BH sitting atop a PILE of trash in the back of the car, with the bolt aimed in the general direction of his 4-5yrold son. Now I know this is not the norm, but certainly it is scary to think that some JACK-HOLE is running around w/ a LOADED CROSSBOW behind his son in his vehicle. I did walk over and tell him that it was not only ILLEGAL but very, very stupid and dangerous for all inside the vehicle. He did then at least removed the bolt, however, he DID NOT uncock the stinking thing.

If they haven't been shown to adversely affect deer populations.......

What is your problem with them? I'm actually surprised at some of these answers from "hunters".

What other reason (OTHER than selfishness) could there be to oppose these weapons?

I'm all ears.....and I'm looking for someone to change my opinion.

Why is it so selfish to want to maintain a “quality” hunting experience? In many people’s eyes, the influx of more hunters in the woods (for any reason) diminishes that experience. A lot of you really can’t comprehend the amount of people that are squeezed into huntable areas in this state. To add a few more hunters doesn’t impact much when there is few hunters to start and plenty of room. But when you already have a zoo-like atmosphere in your hunting woods, adding more is just something you don’t want to see happen. Call it selfish if you may, but if you want to hunt the general archery season, pick up a hand drawn bow, or just wait a couple weeks and use your crossbow in the seasons that it already is legal in.

Rybo:

For what I've heard about PA.....my stance THERE.....WOULD be different. Valid point in YOUR state.

Indiana allows fairly liberal use of crossbows, they can be used anytime that a regular bow or firearm can be used other than our early archery period due to closed minds and backdoor politicking. After more than six years since they were liberalized our DNR reports that their use has not in fact devastated any season or really had a significant impact other than getting a few more people out in the woods. At the end of the day it really doesn't matter what the guy in the tree 500 yards from you is hunting with as long as he's legal, don't lose sleep over it.

Reasons the crossbow won't ruin your hunting.

1) Not as effective as the naysayers would have you believe. Contrary to popular belief, xbows won't shoot 100 yards, and they aren't the poachers weapon of choice.

2) Noise. Most of the middle of road crossbows sound like a 2x4 snapping when shot.

3) Size. Awkward to manuever in a treestand or a ground blind.

4) Cost. Whoever said that "all the old guys would be hunting with them", check out the prices on a crossbow. $400+ for a decent one. That usually doesn't include a case ($100) or bolts, BH's, etc. Its not a cheap date.

Some of you guys need to stop being so selfish. It's a weapon, nothing more.We are all just one shredded shoulder away from hunting with a crossbow.

Wisconsin only allows it for handicapped individuals and folks over 65 I believe.
Who am I to say if its legal that they shouldnt as they have a right just like myself for a bow.
I am sure when the compound bow came out all the traditionalist hated it at first.

T

In NY, they are only legal for disabled hunters .......I could give a flip if they are made legal for all hunters ..... I will just deal ....it's how life is when your situation changes almost yearly .......it cac vary from year to year sometimes .......I have learnedto go with the flow and have fun anyway ....

I had a lifetime crossbow license due to a shoulder injury. I hunted with one for 1 year and took an old buck. Personally, I felt guilty because to me it was more like shooting a rifle with a silencer on it. I have since found a bow that I can draw back even with a bad shoulder and the crossbow hangs in the garage for deer season and comes out when I go coyote/varment hunting. I do believe there is a place for crossbows for the elderly and disabled. Here in Iowa, there aren't that many who use them and I haven't seen any negative impact.

In these crossbow debates I always see a number of references about crossbows allowing a "less than skilled" person, a Bubba if you will,more time in the woods that will interfere with the "highly skilled real bowhunter". Now, I can only speak of where I live and of the examples I have seen onthis forum and otherforums but I am willing to bet that there is many, many more "less than skilled" bowhunters (compound users, trad folks would likely be much more serious and skilled))hitting the woods than there ever will be CB users.

It just seems that most on the CB opposition seem to assume that all folks that would use a CB are Bubbas with no skill, not wanting any and will poison the woods bad shots and unsafe actswhile all compound users are highly skilled and safearchers. Look at some of the more recent threads here. A lot of folks wouldn't know how to set up their bow or make their arrows correctly if their hunting season depended on it yet they sneer at a CB hunters as some know-nothing Bubba that only uses a CB just to get more deer. Like a CB user wouldn't just likemore "hunting time" in the woods whether they kill more deer or not. You know, just like many here claim they just enjoy "hunting time" in the woods and that the hunt doesn't necessarily have to end with a dead animal.

If you don't want CB users to crowd you out of the woods then buy your own woods and post it. Other than that the public hunting grounds are for ALL of the public. Personally, I would advocate one long deer hunting season for all weapons with bag limits adjusted for the effectiveness of the weapon. It's my bet that the woods would be a lot less crowded because then everyone would nothave to cram all of their hunting into a specific time frame. But that would surely piss off the "not in MY hunting season" crowd .