RE: legalizing crossbows
 

Being traditional doesn't make it right , just stupid .

Nearly every major archery association worldwide recognizes crossbows as archery equipment , Pope and Young don't count since they are a record keeping private club . Admit it or not fellas , if it uses a stick and string to launch a stick with fletching it's considered a bow by . Those of you who want to deny yourselves the experience of shooting or hunting with one are well within your rights to do you , it's when you try to deny your fellow hunter a choice that you show how selfish and backward you can be .

Like them or not , crossbows are now legal in more states than not and rapidly growing in popularity . As cash strapped F&G departments search for revenue they will increasingly look for tools to do it and the crossbow figures prominently on their list of tools to consider . My own state of Indiana recently declared them legal for taking bucks during our Late Archery season(we could already take does) , and they will be an even hotter topic during our next administrative rules sessions . It wouldn't surprise me if our DNR begins to allow them during our Early Archery season after that too . Crossbows will be coming to a woods near you whether you like them or not someday , deal with it .

RE: legalizing crossbows
 

ArthurP,

I have to say you hit a new low. If that's your justification for not wanting to allow crossbows then that has to be one of the dumbest posts that I have ever read on this forum.

RE: legalizing crossbows
 

Kevin,

It's more important to them that their time in the woods isn't infringed upon. It doesn't matter if it might help strengthen the sport. All that is important is they don't have to share their time in the woods with the crossbow hunters.:([:'(][:@]
That statement pretty much epitomizes the mindset. They think they are keeping archery "pure" but they are just building barriers that help to keep people from taking up the past time that we say we care so much about. I tend to think that if we cared that much that we would take the steps necessary to strengthen it. In todays political climate strength comes from numbers and from finanacing.

RE: legalizing crossbows
 

Can't either of you two recognize I was being tongue in cheek? Ever heard of sarcasm? What the blazes do you think I put that smiley on that comment for, anyway? C'mon boys. Engage your brains before hitting that reply button.

RE: legalizing crossbows
 

It's hard to tell with you Arthur which is why I said "IF". However, with your opinions on this subject coupled with some of your comments that statement could have been serious as easily as it could have been tongue and cheek. Coincidentally that post is about as close as you have come actually giving reasons for not wanting crossbows to be allowed[&:]

RE: legalizing crossbows
 

You mean those that you call selfish, greedy reasons, SA? Well, I don't let people just walk into my home because just because they've got two legs. I don't hand over the keys to my truck to everyone that's got a drivers license. I don't just give away my money to someone who simply thinks they need a little more. I don't see any reason for bowhunters to give away their season to any outside group just because they think they have some entitlement to it.

Who's next? Guys with handguns and iron sights? They're effective range is about the same as a bow or crossbow. Then who? Muzzleloaders? Their effective range is only a bit further. Then who? Well, 30-30's have about the same range as the muzzleloaders... etc.

As long as anyone is excluded there is going to be complaints. Only deal is, they are not excluded. If they want to hunt in bow season, all the heck they gotta do is get a freakin' BOW! Then they can hunt in bow season. What's the problem with that? Then when the season comes in that they can use their other weapons, crossbow, shotgun, muzzleloader or rifle, then they can use them.

NOBODY is being excluded. NOBODY is being turned away. EVERYBODY is being offered exactly the same opportunity, only with a special dispensation for the handicapped to use a crossbow.

Surely that's not such a difficult concept to come to terms with, is it??

RE: legalizing crossbows
 

First the season doesn't belong to you. Second, what would you be giving away exactly? We allow crossbows here I can tell you unequivically that there hasn't been any detrimental effect.

Oh really, what about kids that aren't strong enough to pull a 40 lb bow. What about women that can't pull a 40 lb bow. What about the person that has a bad shoulder and doesn't qualify for "disabled" status or is to humilated to go through the process of being labeled as "DISABELD" just to be able to hunt in "YOUR" season? Do they have the same oppurtunity?

RE: legalizing crossbows
 

By the time a kid is old enough to get a valid hunting license for deer hunting, he/she should easily be able to pull a 40 pound bow. For small game, there are no legal minimums I'm aware of.

Strength training exercises and overal fitness regimen. If a woman can't pull a 40 pound bow, she NEEDS some exercise.

You just described me to a "T". I switched hands to put the strain on my 'good' shoulder. Other than that, they can get the permit.

Then they need counciling to deal with their psychological issues.

Do they all have the same opportunity? Yes.

RE: legalizing crossbows
 

Si if it's a kid that is a little older but a weakling then he doesn't deserve to hunt in your archery season?


My wife is 5'3 and 115 lbs and works out 5 days a week and is unbelievably strong for her size but she has trouble drawing 40 lbs and couldn't draw it for a while. Some people are weak in those muscles needed for archery though they may have overall body strenth. But againg if it doesn happen to be a particulary weak women then to hell with her she doesn't deserve to hunt in "your" archery season any way. Right?

What if they got two bad shoulders? See above posts.............

yea, becasue that's how you fix all the problems. Instead of taking the descrimination away and the hurdles that impede success and recovery you just offer them some support:eek:

I don't even think you believe that. If you do I don't see how you can say it with a straight face.

RE: legalizing crossbows
 

But your wife DID get to where she could handle a 40 pound bow, right? Any healthy person can develop plenty of strength to shoot a legal bow. It takes some work and some dues paying, but that's always been part and parcel of archery and bowhunting.

Same applies to weakling kids. Get the little imps off the XBox or Playstation and out shooting bows and they'll get up to 40 pound bows in no time. Side benefit, we wouldn't have this national epidemic of fat little flourdumpling kids.

No need to comment further on the bad shoulders stuff. I can't add any more to what I said above.

What, and let them continue through life ashamed of their disabilities? That is not recovery, that's denial. It only makes matters worse, and either prolongs or prevents recovery. Get them to face up to their misplaced shame, conquer it and move on with their lives. I had a helluva time struggling through that when I became disabled. It's been 14 years and I still feel odd parking in a handicapped spot.

Maybe you should speak only to something you know about.