BigJ

I do agree, that is where the simularties end. Everyone that has entered anything bad about crossbows on this thred is saying. It is not that they are so different to any bow. It is when you use one to hunt, the crossbow is more simular to a gun when harvesting that game than a bow. So some people think that crossbows should be used in a season that uses like weapons, being ones in the same manor. Refering to gun/crossbow shouldering sighting, staying loaded. Verses common bows one of my compounds, longbows, or recurve that I have. Just trying to clarify some thinking on a level headed conversation when people get hot headed it is hard to see to other side. BigJ thanks for the good conversation. Russ

It's not the first time that was stated! It was exactly my (and others) point to begin with. But BigJ12 keeps going back to the "their closer to a bow than a gun" arguement saying that we're not responding to his opinions. We HAVE! We're NOT talking about limbs/strings or whatever. We're talking about the actual hunting situation.

What in particular are you concerned is going to happen?

Where do you get your info from? I guarantee you they aren't as accurate and they don't carry the KE either. I have been around them for a long time so I think I have a pretty good grasp of them. Where do you get this info to the contrary?


That's probably because we have seen the fact they they have had no negative effects in our state. We aren't just speculating about what might happen we have seen for ourselves that there are more positives than negatives associated with them.

In an actual hunting situation you still have the same capabilites with a crossbow that you do with a compound as far as range and judging yardage etc. that in my opinion makes them very similar. If they are nearly identical in their range KE etc. and they have no effect on you yet may offer others the oppurtunity to be in the woods with a weapon then what is the negative?

Let's have a pro's and cons segment. List the pro or con about the effect that crossbow hunting will have on archery hunting. I'll start

Pro's

Could bring more people into the sport.
Could allow those with physical limitations to hunt during the bow season. If they aren't hunting in the rgular bow season then they aren't going to be considered archers and they aren't going to be on your side when laws are being passed.
Could bring additional revenue both in the way of license purchase, WMA permit purchases that will both benefit wildlife as well as increased revenue for Outdoor related retailers who typically help promote the sport as well as put money back into the sport.

Con's

Stop silentassassin! You're making to much sense! My head is hurting! [8D]

BOWFANATIC and all you other anti-crossbow zealots - the next greatest compound bow that comes out, the next greatest gadget to take your compound shooting ............ you better damn well ste up and fight it in the name of making bowhunting easier, and better and making compounds LESS and LESS like a "bow" every year.

If you don't ............. well, you know full well already that a compound isn't anything like a recurve/longbow and how it shoots, how it performs, how it stores energy etc etc anyway, don't you ? But your argument against crossbows, while you don't accpet that they apply to compound all to soon they'll have to because technology WILL NOT STOP. Bows will become more accurate, more powerful requiring the shooter to do less and less to achieve greater and greater results.

And compounders will eat it up. They'll buy whatever it is all because it'll make them better with less effort - the very same thing that they hate about the crossbow.

Bowfanatic

Ok, I see your point.

If all you are talking about it the way it is held and shot then YES it is more like a rifle than a bow.

My contention is however....you must look at the the overall function of the weapon ie: type of projectile, type of energy used to propel said projectile, it's capabilities and effective range as well as a half a dozen other items not listed AS WELL AS how it is held and shot, in order to place a weapon in a certian classifcation.

I think if you do that then you will see that a crossbow would be classified as a bow before a firearm.

Now for the hard part.....if allowed, what season should it be allowed in? to me it's logical.....the bow season, only for the reason that it falls into the classification as a bow and no other.

For the record I live in Illinois where a crossbow is only legal to handicapped. The season is the same as the regular archery season and the kills count as archery kills.

Also for the the record, If allowed I see no example in the states that do allow them that they would have a detrimental effect here in Illinois.

And the last for the record, If legal I would still use my compound bow.

I do not mean to fight with you or others and I do sometimes come across wrong, I am only debating.

Con's (from a compounders point of view)

They're easy to use, although my bow is easier I don't want anyone to have easier than my easy
They'll bring more people into archery season and I want it all to myself
They might result in more deer being killed and I want thos deer for ME to kill
P&Y and PBS says they're evil

4 of the most common reasons right there - not sugar coated just the plain truth.

While I can agree with you and Datamax on many points, this is why I fight xbows in archery:

A. An increase in man days during bow season will 1) increase the harvest and 2) put more pressure on the herd. That will in turn piss off the gun hunters(THE MAJORITY OF HUNTERS) and they will lobby to shorten or do away with bow season. Many gun hunters would like to see that happen right now. I've heard those sentiments on several different boards, especially in my state. While many gunners may elect to hunt with a xbow, it will never replace their love and choice of the gun, thereby, IMO, cancelling out any support gained for archery. The bottom line is this, if it hurts the gun season, it will not be supported by the main stream.

B. Opens the door to other weapons and a future of multi weapon seasons across the board.