Jim,the mentality of able bodied hunters that want to use crossbows actually disgusts me.regardless,I don't think crossbow inclusion willhave a big impact and I'm not that upset about it anymore.Here's why.This was eventually going to happen.Several legislators have been pushing for this for a long time.They most likely would have changed the language,dictating what a bow was.I'd rather the legislature stay out completely.At this point,it's all speculation about what's going to happen.Will it attract some hunters that many of us wouldn't want to be out there shooting bolts at deer?No doubt.However,crossbow costs are fairly significant and these won'tmakedeer hunting any easier for many of these people.The way I look at it,if many of these people didn't have the enthusiasm and drive to become proficient with a bow,they probably aren't much of a hunter.I doubt they'll be much of a threat on local game populations.Also,deer populations are still largely controlled by allocations.If that doe doesn't get killed with a bow or crossbow,chances are it will die from lead poisoning.

I also find it amusing that optics with magnification won't be legal.Many of those pushing for full inclusion already hunted with crossbows and now they kind of bit their noses off to spite their face.It sucks for them that they have to go through the hassle and expense to downgrade their sighting system now.

"One thing in our favor.....a first time xbow hunter still needs to learn technique, understanding wind, scent control, stand placement...things that take years to master, that lead to success at close range"

I agree. Thanks to the influx of idiots, many would be well advised to start learning to hunt "escape routes" and bottle necks as opposed to feeding areas early season.

".Here's why.This was eventually going to happen.Several legislators have been pushing for this for a long time.They most likely would have changed the language,dictating what a bow was."

They were unsuccessful all along, and they didnt pass this. There is no reason to believe they would have been anymore successful now than in the past.

"I'd rather the legislature stay out completely."

Well thats too bad for you. What you say makes zero sense. Its ok that pgc passed it because it prevented the legislators from doing the same exact thing first? Gee thats swell![:'(] Also having the governor and others pick the antideer commissioners who go against every thing the majority of hunters speak out on, which you apparently support isnt exactly better than having a few meddling reps. In fact its 10X worse!

"I doubt they'll be much of a threat on local game populations."

Coming from you that is little comfortDoug. Your antideer views are well known. And to youNOTHING is a threat to populations even in areas of the state where there are single digit dd! Not antideer commissioners...Not too many tags...Nada.

"Also,deer populations are still largely controlled by allocations.If that doe doesn't get killed with a bow or crossbow,chances are it will die from lead poisoning."

With the current number of doetags. I agree.

"Many of those pushing for full inclusion already hunted with crossbows and now they kind of bit their noses off to spite their face."

Ha ha ha. Yeah. pgc really showed them! (LOL) what a crock!!

I don't have a dog in this hunt, one way or the other. What perplexes me is; why remove an aide { scope ] that clearly would help with accuracy of the weapon?

Heres what that antideer windbag Schleiden had to say about inclusion of xguns and added tag sales, from an interviewback in June:

"“I do know that sales of those additional licenses will help this agency,” he said."


All about killing more deer and more funding sources to circumvent the system so they can continue killing more deer. Thats what its all about with these ecoclowns.

Crokit, it was a meaningless gesture of nothingness by the pgc clowns to attempt to act like they were tossing crumbs to the anti-crossbow majority whom they just finished bending over.

WTF ???

Do any of you see this as a breaking point between hunters and the commission.

Its like a line drawn in the sand or maybe just trying to prove a point that as long as theres no license increase than anything is on the table. Its clear to me that the wishes of hunters ,is very close to the barrels bottom when decision are made.

Cash is king in their mind.

Well, it's over. The fat lady has sung. As I said before I was basically neutral but leaning slightly against because we couldn't be sure it wouldn't have an adverse effect on the bow season. The one thing I can say is that I'm glad they put a sunset clause in there. If the crossbow has a profound effect on the archery harvest, we have a way to seperate them from vertical bows legally in the future. If that becomes necessary, we can expect a much bigger battle than the one that just took place though.

I look at the sun set law just like the H.R. and W.M.U. adjustments it just plan won't happen, until maybe hell freezes over and if hell is any where near Meadville its damn close .