I do remember when P@Y was set at nothing more then 65% let off for years and also when they didn't allow the release. I voted against the use of both being I was a member, money and big companies forced the P@Y to allow these things into the new world of bow hunting. Do I like it? No, but its something I'm going to have to except weather I like it or not! Its the new way now of bow hunting, I just hope it doesn't go any further then it has.

Archer...One who uses Bow and Arrow also referd to as a Bowman......Back in the 70's you had a Elite group(recurve/longbow shooters) going after a not so elite group(i will call em compound shooters)after time most attitudes changed so now we have a Elite group of Archers(one who uses bow & arrow and get along).Now we have another group of Elite people(i will call them crossbowers) trying to fit in to the 1st groupof Elite people and its hard for them to except it, but thru time most will..But there will still be a Elite Minority group that wont except the fact that if you use a BOW and ARROW you are a ARCHER no matter how you look at it.....Thus bringing you the Elitist attitude....These Elitist attitudes are the ones who willdo more harm then good to our sport of ARCHERY....

is there any indication it won't keep going ?

Schultzyit seems that what bowhunting and archery was, was replaced by compounds, and then the tag "traditional" was assigned to what once was bowhunting and archery.


ranger56528 What if crossbows in 10 years are allowed in all states, and they become the #1 choice of bowhunters. What if, in 10 years, bowhunting IS crossbows, and those shooting compounds have been renamed ? What if this happens, and droves of rifle hunters storm archery season, where once compounds roamed now the hills teem with crossbow bowhunters ?

Thats what happened and by your last post, its okay, fine and dandy. We're all united, right ? Except those staunch compound shooters that hate crossbows will have become elitists ...

I've been hoping that for the past 20 years and my hopes have been dashed on pretty much an annual basis every year since. It's well beyond the point of no return and itwill go further. Further, at least, until technology takes archery gear so far that the speed and range of high tech equipment will no longer allow it to be used in special 'safety zone' units, or untilhunter success ratios get so high the seasons start being cut back or eliminated, andwe get lumped in with gun seasons.

Ifbows are lumped in with gun seasons, then that will be the end of the big archery companies. Nobody but the few diehards and wierdos will hunt with bows, or crossbows either for that matter,when they could be using rifles instead. If they won't hunt with them, they won't be buying them. No customers, no business.The big companies must know this, I think, but apparently they're either extremely short sighted about the future or areless concerned for the future of the sport than they are in making the most money possible, RIGHT NOW.

On the positive side, most of those diehard and wierdo bowhunters left overwill be US, the traditional and primitive archers. And, eventually, we'll get together and go back to the game commissions and begin the long process of getting special archery seasons set up for traditional equipment. Maybe next time we can do it right and keep it that way.

Actually, with hunter numbers going down each year and with that trend picking up speed, elitists in any weapon category should not have to worry to much about having their precious hunting season impinged on by non-elitists. Think about that while you are trying to prevent hunting by hunters.

Hey Big D, what do you think would be a good situation for all those who shoot a sharp tipped shaft powered by a string? Much of what you say has good merit and I'd like to know what your Utopia is? Personally mine is that everyone stays within the laws and everyone else shuts the heck up.

Art, you pretty much covered my concerns. I don't care what weapon an ethical, legal hunter uses--but I don't want to loose the archery season. It's a quieter and less stressful time to be in the hunting woods.

BD, I'm not wrong at all. My perspective is from a hunting and legal viewpoint: in most states, crossbows are legal for primitive weapons season, but not for archery only seasons or areas. From that perspective, a crossbow is a primitive weapon but not archery equipment--same as a muzzleloader.

No doubt the crossbow is an ancient weapon, very much "primitive" in it's roots, but IMO it's not archery equipment. If it is, then a spear, javalin, slingshot, sling and stone, atlatl,etc. etc. etc. could about as easily be included, as well as the 10/.22 that is converted to shoot bolts. I've even seen a slingshot type weapon used for propelling bowfishing arrows--that, in my eyes, doesn't change the slingshot into a bow. Primitive does not equal archery. Having an arrow as a projective does not equal archery. Being propelled by theenergy of the user does not equal archery. Etc., etc., etc.

That's my opinion, take it for what it's worth. That and a buck will get you a cup of coffee in some places.

Chad

Wow, that was a lot of reading, or skimming.The ole "DIVIDED WE FALL" is coming to mind.We all follow are own paths,I don't have to approve of yours anymore than you approve of mine.To some it's a numbers game others say size matters.It will always just be the "hunt" for me no matter what weapon I choose,it's my path.

Bow is defined as a weapon that is made of a flexable material with a cord conected to both ends and holds the strip bent and is used to propel an arrow.
So now we have a delema....
When I read this it is my understanding that a longbow,recurve and recurve crossbow fall under this definition......

Anyway a bow is a bow in my book ...