I met a guy who made the statement that using a release is "cheating".

I have a response in mind, but what should I tell (or call) him?

As a matter of fact he says that "hunting" should be with spears.

LOL.

that fella really doesn't like crossbows.

Can always argue that while spearing is in line with fair chase,
Yet not a very effective or ethical method of hunting,
If We all took up spearing would be a lot of injured deer out there.

It is cheating that's why I use one.

id say ok show it to me in the rulebook

Id ask him if he has ever even come to full draw on a big buck. If not, the well....go figure right?

Ask what in his mind is actually cheating and not cheating

We know he thinks a release is cheating

but...????

does he make his own bow?

use sights or the force?

build his own strings or buys them?

if he does build strings does he buy the material or actually go out and nature and use animal tendons and whatever weird stuff people used 100's of yrs ago?

widdle his own arrows? Use modern tools or all done by shards of sharp rock chips?

This could go on forever if you wanna question it far enough.. I use to do this to the anti hunting vegetarian folks. They would get pissy when you bring up the whole killing of poor innocent carrots being ripped from the ground and just because the carrot can't scream or show the trauma your causing it you are still killing a living thing.

or you could just tell him that you don't even consider a statement like that deserves a response. and add 'its better to keep your mouth shut and have people think your an idiot, than to open it and remove all doubt.'

tell him spearing is cheating and that he should throw rocks or use a knife.
Its the old i'm a better hunter than you because i do it this way and you don't
there is no cheating. As long as it is legal do it what ever way you want

i know a guy with 1 inch thick callus's that draws a traditional bow...he is perty good, considerin their arnt any sights at all. he thinks i cheat using a compound bow.
i guess it depends on how traditional you are, as to whats cheating.
i know guys that absolutely will not hunt with a gun, but carry a side arm and have nice guns. im sure ya know what they think cheating is when it comes ta hunting.
so with that in mind, try and get across to him that there are people who want to do away with all hunting...and that no matter what one uses, hunters need to stick together. no matter how they hunt, and respect their means and methods.