Illinois - Crossbows
 

Just posting the information on the proposed crossbow legislation here in Illinois.

Senator Todd Sieben has introduced legislation to legalize the crossbow for any person 18 years or under in Illinois. These crossbows will be allowed to be used during the entire archery season. The bill number is SB0138. It will go before the House Agriculture and Conservation Committee soon.

Contact your elected officals now to let them know how you feel about this bill. This came about after 1 person asked for crossbows to be allowed so his daughter could hunt with him. Im all for increasing youth hunting opportunitys but I feel this is not the way to do it. This is only a stepping stone to get the crossbows allowed into the archery season by all.

It has been discussed with MR. Sieben to bring down the min draw weight from 40 to 35 pounds (like the surrounding states) to help with those that cant draw the 40 pounds. With todays bows this should not be a problem.
We currently allow crossbow use for Handicap people (permit required) and I believe that is excellent and should stay that way.

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

I personally dont want them to be legalized, if you cant pull back the bow..sorry thats tuff and i know putting more younger kids in the outdoors is a very good thing but for bows? i mean alot more can go wrong with bows and the wounding percentage greatly increases when you use bow.

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

bwhunter501, I am not a big fan of crossbows but, I see you are a compound user.

How about, If you can't pull back a long bow of the same weight, tuff, don't hunt.

See what you have started:D

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

do any of you feel its safe for a child to hunt from a treestand with a crossbow to me these things seem dangerous imo not safe for a child.if you can't draw a compound bow you won't draw a crossbow.maybe with a cocking mechanism i don't know sounds like they are just going in the backdoor to get them recognized as archery equipment.

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

I've been reading the posts regarding the legalization of crossbows in Illinois. It seems as though the majority of the posts are anti-crossbow but I haven't read any posts that explain the reasons for their anti- crossbow sentiment. Could someone tell me why they feel this way about crossbows? just curious..thanks

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

ORIGINAL: duramaxlt

thats pretty much the main reason im anit-crossbow right there. i wouldnt feel save with a youngster in a treestand by him or herself with a crossbow.

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

would a youngster be safer in a tree with a Mathews LX? or a shotgun? or a muzzleloader?

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

Well no but if we add crossbows that just adding one more thing to the list.

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

I dont beleive crossbows belong in the archery season. Im also concerned with the amount of new hunters that may end up in the woods if this becomes a reality. Illinois is ranked around 47th for the amount of public land it has.

Like I said before theres plenty of other ways to help get the youth involved but IMO this isnt a good one.

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

The problem I see with this is.........what do the youth do after they turn 18? Start shooting a bow? Its only a start to get crossbows legalized during archery season, count on it!

Klem......read the rules and regulations about being hand drawn and hand held. That is a state of Illinois rule in their digest, one that I think most describes a bow. Even though a compound has a letoff, the full weight of the bow must still be drawn within some point of the draw cycle. Holding at full draw is also not the same as holding a gunstock........which the crossbow has.

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

Illinois bow hunters:
Nearly every state around you has liberized or downright legalized them , none have reported any real dramatic changes or negative impact on other archery hunters . It wasn't just Seiben who got the ball rolling , it's been coming for some time now . I'd be more worried about the attempt to "dumb down" regular bows to the point that they may not take large game ethically and safely . We're having the same debate here , and the argument just keeps getting sillier by the day . Don't you boys have more important things to get into a tizzy over than a few crossbows in the woods ?

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

I dont understand it either If you dont like it dont do it but why should you be able to tell someone else what they can hunt with or what they cant ? This is still the good old USA is it not ? Go do what you do and me and mine will do what we do!

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

To the person who said if you can't draw back a regular bow ..tuff; You walk a mile in my shoes having only the use of one side. It takes those of us with disabilities more B***s to get out of bed, get dressed and fight our way to our blinds than I imagine you will ever have. If the use of a crossbow allows mwe or anyone else the ability to get out and enjoy a sport we love , who in the Hell are you to tell me that "if you can't pull back a regular bow ..tuff"

Crossbows are no great advantage over a regular bow, the range is generally shorter, they are louder. Deer can still wind you etc. The same skills it takes you to get a deer into range are the same ones a crossbow hunter will need.

Safetyfor kids?? that depends on the kid as in any case. If you feel your kid is ready to hunt with a bow, rifle, shot gun then he's ready for a crossbow. They will all kill in a heartbeat. What's the difference.

There is no legitimate reason that a crossbow should not be used. Generally speaking if a person doesn't hunt it's because they don't like to hunt, its not because they haven't legalized crossbows.

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

they are already legal in illinois for people with a disability so that isn't an issue as for my talking about safety i wasn't talking about the safety of other hunters i was talking about the safety of a child who is too weak draw a traditional bow.in a treestand with a crossbow seems to me they would be a danger to themselves.

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

Duramax, I apologize, I took your post incorrectly. I just get sick and tired of people implying that if you hunt with a crossbow you are , for some reason, not a real hunter. And I would challenge any of them to go through what I have, because I believe most would have crawled in bed and never come out.

As far as the safety of a kid; It depends on the kid. A 150lb crossbow is hard to cock, no doubt but if he/she is able to cock it on the ground they should also be able to do so on a tree stand assuming it has an ample sized base. You put your boot in the stirrup and use equal force on both sides, for most people with normal balance this should not be a problem. Whether they legalize them or not, Parents should make the ultimate decision whether or not their kid is ready. Practice it on something at ground level with the same size base.

Duramax, Again, I apologize for going off like that.

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

Well we have alot more problems then the crossbows being implemented. Take a look at this:

Heres the bills that are being introduced at this time.

HB1074
Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code and the Wildlife Code. Defines "resident" to require permanent abode in this State rather than actual residency. Requires domiciliary intent. Amends the Wildlife Code. Authorizes open deer season to be set between September 1 and February 15 (now no more than 14 days between November 1 and December 31). Provides that legal handguns need not be centerfire. Increases deer hunting fees. Authorizes DNR to set fees for processing and handling of applications and provides for the deposit and use of receipts. Amends the State Finance Act to create a special fund. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

HB1161 Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that there shall not be a limit on the number of resident or non-resident archery deer hunting permits. Effective immediately.

SB0138 Amends the Wildlife Code. Permits deer hunters under age 18 to use crossbows during archery season (now, used only by handicapped persons).



Ok, set the open season to Sept to Feb?. If this passes this means they can have GUN season anywhere between Sept. 2st and Feb 15th.

If all this passes your going to see Illinois Deer hunting go down hill in a big hurry. They want to make money as fast as they can for the state and ALL of us NR and R will suffer. Deer pressure will take a whole new meaning...........

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

Wow.....thats a big mistake on the states part. for one we are going to have a mess of hunters from anywhere and everywhere if they dont limit tags. man....illinois deer population might be next to nothing if this goes into effect.[:@]

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

The problem is any State Rep can ask for anything they want to get voted on. The state doesnt give a rats a** right now about anything but MONEY. The DNR isnt the ones asking for this our state reps are so they can CASH out on the deer herd to help with the states money problems.

Im calling the state rep thats asking for this crap.............

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

Spatrat don't give it another thought i believe anything that can be done to help people with disabilities hunt.should be done.i love bowhunting in illinois and just don't want to see this state get like my home state where the insurance co.s have put so much pressure on lawmakers to get rid of the deer herd that they keep uping the quota til there wiped out.i don't however believe a quota on NR bowhunters has any effect on the herd.but there definately needs to be quotas on any gunhunting this is where your deer are killed.the problem with the way they've been selling NR license over the phone is PETA and other antihunting groups tie up the lines and buy license thinking they are saving deer.CRAZY. they are also putting in for lotterys in IOWA AND KANSAS.NR bowhunters don't put a dent in the population.i hope they don't change the gun seasons at all.

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

Spatrat.......in many more than one post I have spoke for my belief in that people with disabilities should be able to use a crossbow.

I sure hate to see a deer season between Sept. 1st to Feb. 15th, with possible longer firearms seasons. Guys........this is Farm Bureau and insurance companies putting pressure on. As far as doing away with caps on non-residents, big mistake. Its going to increase leased land and the number of outfitters will double.

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

Wisconsin and Michigan only allow handicap hunters and people over 65 to hunt w/ a crossbow. IMO crossbows do NOT belong in the same season as regular archery. We as bowhunters have been under the microscope for a long time and making crossbows legal will not help the situation.

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

deer hunting in il brings in alot of revenue for the state by allowing crossbow hunting for everyone and by allowing shotguns and muzzleloaders during pistol season is just going to bring more money in for the state. i bet our deer tags will be going up pretty soon too.more hunters more money, the way i see it everything is about money. just my opinion. oh yes nr tags are going up too.

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

from what i hear NR's will be paying close to $500 to bowhunt with 2 tags i don't believe quotas will be necessary 1 of the hunters that goes with me says he's backing out if this is true.

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

Duramax,

Take a minute and read this article
http://www.pjstar.com/stories/021105...LTDR.068.shtml


Yes hunting will be a money sport before long. Those who have lots of it will be able to enjoy the sport. Those of us who dont wont be enjoying the future.

IL jacks up the NR tags and so will all the other states. ALL of us will suffer if you deer hunt and the herd will suffer too.


We have to get the politics out of the DNR.

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

sounds like some of the same stuff i'm hearing in ga. budget cuts closing down state funded wma's.reducing the number of conservation officers.meanwhile the dnr has drastically lowered the number of deer statewide with higher bag limits and we don't even tag deer here anymore.i wonder how many other states are going through the same thing.the insurance lobby is responsible in ga.

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

If that's true then they just priced themselves out of this non-res' pockets , too much for me . I can hunt two states for that price , pity Illinois won't be one of them . [&o]

RE: Illinois - Crossbows
 

yeah Kevin thats what some of the guys i hunt with are saying to.but i'm definately going a couple of time this year then i may look into Ohio next year i may have a couple of contacts up there.