DATA!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've Got an Answer For You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've changed my position, but it is a valid cocern.......

Xbows should have a seperate season. You know why? B/C I want to hunt with one!! But, I love my bow more. If xbows just got lumped in with archery, I would never get to hunt with one. However, if they had their own season, I could do both!!!

The negative to allowing xbows in archery season, is that I have to quit using one to use the other!!!!!!!!!!

It's just like muzzleloader vs rifle. The reason we have muzzleloader is simply to extend our season, to use different weapons. The effectiveness is basically the same.

No it's the states definition of what is legal to use in that state, not what an object is.

I used this before, it is a good comparison. In Illinois a .22 pistol is not a legal firearm to hunt deer but a .44 pistol is. by your deduction you would say a .22 pistol is not a firearm because the states legal definition says it's not.

See your flaw?

DC - if they were lobbying to put Xbow into muzzleloader (i.e. primitive), I would have their back. Its bow season thats a problem, eh?

I am not against that per say. If you look back a few pages BOWFANATIC and I talked about this. It could work well in some states it may not in others but he suggested a trial run (separated) to find out the effects. If no negative effects were found and the hunters agreed then perhaps a single season could work.

Hey I'm easy going.......except about a crossbow not being a bow

I've answered before. I would say a.22 is not a legal (or ethical) caliber to hunt deer with in that state.

The state's definition of legal is the legal definition in the state.

Wasn't that easy?

I do want to say one thing to all of you. While I may get animated at times, it's just my nature (i'm Italian) I take nothing personal and I mean nothing personal. I will and have apologized when I think I might have crossed the line or hurt someones feelings. Ok?

Back to the debate

In all seriousness, this sums up my position on xbows.


The future of bowseason in MY state rests on the harvest results. Bowhunters account for about 15% of the harvest. We are at the upper thresholds of what will be allowed by the gun hunting majority. As bows get more advanced, harvest results increase. Gunners are taking notice and speaking out on this. Crossbows have the potential to increase the harvest results significantly(see Ohio). Gunners WILL NOT STAND for shortened seasons, reduced bag limits, etc due to increased archery harvests.

I understand what you are saying.....I think. And I agree about the .22 pistol not being an ethical caliber to hunt deer with. I guess what I'm saying is even though it's not a legal caliber or an ethical one for deer that state. And the state deems it that way by making it illegal, it still cannot say it's not a firearm.

PLEASE FIX THE GLITCHES WITH THIS THREAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This was one of my concerns about a separate crossbow season. I can see both gunhunters and bowhunters having a huge problem if their seasons are shortened. The only way it will work (this is my opinion) is the crossbow hunters will be included in one of the existing seasons.....you already know what season I am leaning towards.