Like I said before, with hunters fighting to deny other hunters the right to hunt, who need the antis........................

It seems like most people can't call it like it is, so I will.....

I use a compound bow because it is the bow that I feel will give me the best results during archery season. I make no bones about it. When I was a kid and growing up I shot recurves and long bows. I still like to, but if i'm hunting I will use my compound, because it gives me the best chance at killing a deer. If crossbows were legal to all hunters here in Illinois I still would use a compound because I would still feel it provides me with the best chance to kill deer.

During gun season I use the best shotgun with the best slugs I can, HELL if you really look at it my shotgun is more like a rifle than a shotgun. It's a single shot full rifled barrel with a scope. I use it because I can and I want the best chance to make a clean kill.

If you want to use a longbow that's fine with me, it's your choice, if you want to use a crossbow again that's fine. as long as all are legal.

I think too many people are acting like kids here.

There is nothing wrong with a crossbow as long as it is used LIKE ANY OTHER WEAPON correctly. I said it before you guys are acting like spoiled children. Archery seasons in most states were around long before compound bows hit the scene, but it was ok to include them? But now when there is another type of bow (and that's what it is) that's starting to get popular then it's not???

I probably will never shoot a crossbow because it does not appeal to me at least not now. But if someone else wants to thats fine. Just like the other person shooting the long bow too.

Just a matter of choice.

BigJ12 - well I'll be danged, yet someone else that gets it !

Datamax,

I think a lot of other people get it too. They just won't admit it because they don't want other kids to play in THEIR sand box.

And that's what it all boils down to....unfortunately

BigJ12,

Well said!

Datamax, if you really think crossbows are legal archery equipment here in NH, I'll get you access to some prime territory up here and we'll get you set up in a good spot. I'm sure you won't have a problem explaining yourself to a Conservation Officer on how in your mind a compound bow and a crossbow are really the same thing .. he'll buy it I'm sure.

It looks like you and Silent would have to keep using that old school "archery" equipment here.... unless you get a Dr. note and fill out the proper forms to petition to use an even "easier" weapon than a compound.

and BigJ12 ... even guys me like get it. We agree 100%, guys who shoot and love crossbows should get a chance to hunt with them. Some of us differ on the when of it though, and thank God we can all still have opinions on stuff. You think crossbows are archery equipment, I think they are a completely differnet type of weapon ... but we both agree they should be allowed in the woods and hunted with. You think that should be "Archery Season" .. I think that should be a "Primitive Weapons" or Muzzleloading type season. Why do you guys have to be right? Most states, at least currently think my way is the right way, not yours. That may change as their popularity increases .. but we'll see.

I've got a bum shoulder, it should be no problem for me to get a permit signed by a doctor and use a crossbow in archery season in NH. I got a full plate this fall with CO mule deer and KS whitetails though ...... I'll have to pass the invitation.

But bottom line, archers who are handicap NH have the choice of using legal archery equipment of recurves/longbow/compounds/crossbows - their choice. You still don't believe it ? Call that number and the fine gal on the other end will plainly and clearly tell you that archery who have a handicap permit are allowed to hunt with legal crossbows in legal archery season - they crossbows ARE legal archery bows for handicap people. You said they were not at all - you were wrong.









For the record I use to argue AGAINST crossbows based on what kind of characters were likely to pick one up and go hunting. Couldn't really argue the technology side because hey, I used a high tech compound. Couldn't argue draw and letoff because - yep, you guessed it - my bow had letoff and vastly different draw and mechanism than recurves. I couldn't argue triggers because boy, the mechanical release done WONDERS for my shooting. I mean really, that gadget alone changed compound shooting.

Well, I eventually realized it wasn't the weapon that made the slob hunters - we got planety of slob recurve/longbow/compound shooters and the weapons they choose don't mean nothing. My argument was deeply flawed and I was exposed.

Well since then I started shooting trad, and I realized that there a vast ammount of difference shooting trad vs shooting compounds, and vastly MORE hunting with the two weapons. Not at all unlike the differences between compounds and crossbows and infact, a lot fewer differences IMO when its all said and done.

And its becoming apparent too - compounds have come too far and people are realizing that they might as well allow them because in all honesty, compounds can easily be considered the better weapon. And with booming deer herds and fewer bowhunters every year and the absolutely NONEXISTANT negatives (see AR and OH) ? Makes sense to allow them.

I may be wrong here and please correct me if I am. I do believe that most states where a crossbow is allowed either by the main stream or just handicapped it's during the archery season.

The other point that I do not agree is the "completely different" part. I think when you look at a crossbow and compare it with both a rifle and compound bow you will find more similarity with the compound bow than the rifle, starting with the name.

Their ugly.

No, you had it right when you pulled it off the web site, a crossbow can only be used if you can't manage a conventional or compound bow. A disabled person doesn't get the choice of crossbow or archery equipment.

I am not arguing against crossbows either here, as I have been clear in that I feel they have their place in the woods.

BigJ12- in most states where a crossbow is legal for healthy people, it is during a firearm season. A few states have opened archery season to crossbows .. and to no ill effect. I believe Maryland has a good crossbow solution. They have a crossbow season, that overlaps with part of Archery season, and like many states that count Muzzleloader kills as firearms kills, they consider in Maryland, crossbow kills toward their archery seaosn totals, but also count them seperatly.