Opinions on Crossbows
 

Before I ask your opinions, I am going to give a view into what is happening. I live in Louisiana and we just elected a new governor, Bobby Jindal. Before a few weeks ago, the only people who were allowed to hunt with a crossbow were people who had a medical waiver signed by a doctor. Now, anyone can use a crossbow during open bow season (as well as primitve firearms during muzzle loaderseason, but thats for a different forum :)).

The governor did this to try and get more people into the outdoors. The past few years, hunting numbers have dropped in the state of Louisiana.

I am kindof opposed to the new legislation.

My questions are,

1. If you are in a state where this has already happened, and crossbow hunting is legal, how did this affect the hunting?

2. If you are from a state in which crossbow hunting is illegal, would you want this kind of legislation to pass, or not? Why?

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uh oh, i can see this one getting out of hand.[&:]

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I agree. One of the main points of bowhunting is the challenge, and with this legislation passed, it takes away alot of the challenge. I for one am going to stick with my compound.

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If you want to use one,use it. I did for a few years. I then switched over to compound bow.

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It became legal here in Pa about 5-6 years ago. I don't think it has changed much of anything though. This includes deer kills, like a lot of folks thought it would. I hunted with one when they became legal, and killed about 13 deer in a short number of years. I have since stopped hunting with one. I'm strictly a compound shooter now.;)

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no i meant this thread could get out of hand lol

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Use of the crossbow was once limited to the disabled in Illinois where I am originally from. It has since been expanded to include anyone 62 and over. I am unaware of any statistics or studies in Illinois or elsewhere which have indicated that expanding the use of the crossbow, including allowing anyone to use it,has had a negative impact.

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Oh, haha. True.

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If you want a challange throw away the compound and huntwith Trad grear.

Seriously tho whats wrong with getting more people involved in hunting are you scared they are going to kill your deer?

If's thats the answer well the deer belong to the state and not you, the state gives you permission to shoot their deer through licences;)

If it is legal then it's legal and thats all there is to it. The more people bitch about crossbows v compounds v trad gear the more ammo the anti's have against us.

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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.[:o]

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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.

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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!

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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]

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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".

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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.

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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.

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I live and hunt in Texas mostly and to hunt with a cb in the Archery only season you must have proof of a 20% upper limb dissability. I am againt allowing them in the archery only season as they are already allowed in the general firearm season, which the gun season already is allowed the most amount of time in the woods and encompasses the rut as well. As an archer I feel we already have a cheated season in Texas.... Plus you factor in the fact that a cb is not considered archery equipment (IMO as well as the State) otherwise it would have been allowed a long time ago!!!! I am not against someone hunting with a crossbow (I have killed a few hogs with one) I just don't want to see them in the archery only season!!!! I don't thinka crossbowqualifies as archery equipment!!!!!! AGAIN, I AM NOT AGAINST THEM I JUST DON'T WANT THEM IN THE ARCHERY ONLY SEASON!!!. ...I HAVE HUNTED WITH ONE AND TODAY I HUNT WITH TRADITIONAL AND COMPOUNDS AS WELL AS A RIFLE FROM TIME TO TIME!!!!!!

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Even though they are legal in my WMU, the state land I hunt hasn't seen any real influx of CB hunters to speak of.

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I agree. If there going to be allowed put or keep them in the firearms season. I don't say this because I'm selfish of someone shooting a deer during archery season. I say this because I believe there more gun like then bow like.

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Oklahoma just passed it to older people to be able to use one in bow season. that is not issue with me, if it came that anyone could use one, than that is taking it too far. IMO.

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That's exactly why I stopped hunting with mine.;)

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My point exatly!!! Very well said

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This is true, I couldn't have said it any better...other than that I will say no more on the subject...

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They don't??? Hmmm - they shoot arrows by means of stored energy in bent limbs when that energy is released to a string,to which the arrow is attached. So then, they should be allowed only during the firearms season because they are a firearm? Kind of doubt they fit that definition very well.

Crossbows are legal here for all hunters, handicapped or not. I have no bias for or against crowbows per se, but I do have some issues about the way I see them being used.

Our firearms season lasts about 2 1/2 months, during which time you can use archery equipment if you want to. As far as I'm concerned, that's a good time to stay away from the woods. Our archery-only seasons bracket that, 9 days at the front and 16 days at the end. More and more hunters are choosing to extend their seasons into these early and late periods by picking up a crossbow. That's fine, but a high percentage of the ones I've seen not only don't practice regularly, they don't have a clue as to the limitations of their equipment.

At a 3D shoot I attended recently, there was a separate crossbow category. Iinserted the scores of the 4 participantsinto a list of all the compound shooters and they came almost dead center in the middle. It seems there is no advantage or disadvantage as to range or accuracy, based on this. At least theseguys wereserious about knowing their crossbows.

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I live in la. to. I also happen to work in the sporting goods industry. Now my opinions on crossbows are kinda insignificant now that ammendment 165 has been signed, allowing for a (1) bow and arrow season AND (2) a bow arrow and crossbow season. How ever its some of the people behind the crossbows that bother me, alot of people think 70 to 100 yards is the norm....oh yeah I love this question "How accurate are these crossbows" well Bubba howsharp is the shooter??
I realy dont think it will negetivly affect general deer hunting for the state. I just want all La. crossbow hunters to consider that the "Anti's" or the non- hunting population does not recognize the difference between bows and arrows or crossbows and bolts. So please use good and moral judgment in all aspects afield.

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It hasn't effected the deer population or the number of hunters in the field during the archery season one bithere in Florida or Alabama. Florida instated a crossbow season and Alabama made them legal across the board.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Rybo:

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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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 ....

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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.

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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 ;).