oldtimer
03-09-2005, 12:51 PM
I am going to make some points in reference to this crossbow issue. Just as a matter of reference I will mention that I spent 33 years selling archery equipment for many of the major archery manufactures and I was headquarted in Ohio in the mid 70’s when the crossbow issue came up there so believe me everything that either side has mentioned on this site and others has been said before, over and over. It was however a different world then in regards to hunting and bow hunting in particular but the issues about crossbows were really the same and the same reasoning that made Ohio approve them is what made the state of Kentucky approve them. It was a forgone conclusion before the poll and the meeting.
Crossbows will not add major influxes of new bow hunters. Most of the deer killed by the crossbow users will be killed by bow hunters that have taken up the crossbow for many reasons. There will be some people that never bow hunted that will give it a try but most of these will soon find out that it is not any easier to kill a deer with a crossbow than with a compound, it is still a very short range weapon and kills the deer with a broadhead tipped arrow. ( few deer will drop dead immediately after being hit by a crossbow bolt) They will not have the patience to hunt in that manner or to keep their equipment in shape. People that always wanted to try bow hunting but were never willing to put the effort into truly learning how will soon find out that the crossbow is not the answer to “easy” bow hunting. Good crossbows, ones that will do the job are really very expensive, more than a really good muzzleloader. Hunters that don’t have the patience and talent to wait for a killing shot and then place the arrow or bolt in the kill zone should not bow hunt or crossbow hunt. I have heard it said that crossbows will give youngsters the ability to go “bow hunting”, this is not necessarily true. Youth hunters that are not ready for hunting with a compound are also not ready for hunting with a crossbow, the issue is not being able to shoot either one but being able to do all that is necessary to make the kill in an efficient manner. A parent that would consider this is barking up the wrong tree, even if your youngster can shoot the bow reasonably well you will be looking for many wounded deer if they are not ready.
To all my fellow bow hunters out there who understand the true thrill of the hunt the crossbows are not a bad thing, just a horizontal bow. It just is not a problem, go hunting and forget about it. There has been a full season for crossbows at the Pioneer Weapons area for many years and it has never been covered up with the crossbow hunters. I will also say that the fellows that put their compounds down to hunt with the crossbow simply have made a choice, the fact is that they are probably better off with the crossbow.
Remember, that most of the crossbow hunters you will see are people that bow hunt already and have made a decision to try a crossbow. What you eventually will have is about half of the bow hunters choosing to hunt with compounds, recurve longbows etc. and the other half with crossbows. The actual real increase in bow hunter numbers over time, will be small if any at all.
Crossbows will not add major influxes of new bow hunters. Most of the deer killed by the crossbow users will be killed by bow hunters that have taken up the crossbow for many reasons. There will be some people that never bow hunted that will give it a try but most of these will soon find out that it is not any easier to kill a deer with a crossbow than with a compound, it is still a very short range weapon and kills the deer with a broadhead tipped arrow. ( few deer will drop dead immediately after being hit by a crossbow bolt) They will not have the patience to hunt in that manner or to keep their equipment in shape. People that always wanted to try bow hunting but were never willing to put the effort into truly learning how will soon find out that the crossbow is not the answer to “easy” bow hunting. Good crossbows, ones that will do the job are really very expensive, more than a really good muzzleloader. Hunters that don’t have the patience and talent to wait for a killing shot and then place the arrow or bolt in the kill zone should not bow hunt or crossbow hunt. I have heard it said that crossbows will give youngsters the ability to go “bow hunting”, this is not necessarily true. Youth hunters that are not ready for hunting with a compound are also not ready for hunting with a crossbow, the issue is not being able to shoot either one but being able to do all that is necessary to make the kill in an efficient manner. A parent that would consider this is barking up the wrong tree, even if your youngster can shoot the bow reasonably well you will be looking for many wounded deer if they are not ready.
To all my fellow bow hunters out there who understand the true thrill of the hunt the crossbows are not a bad thing, just a horizontal bow. It just is not a problem, go hunting and forget about it. There has been a full season for crossbows at the Pioneer Weapons area for many years and it has never been covered up with the crossbow hunters. I will also say that the fellows that put their compounds down to hunt with the crossbow simply have made a choice, the fact is that they are probably better off with the crossbow.
Remember, that most of the crossbow hunters you will see are people that bow hunt already and have made a decision to try a crossbow. What you eventually will have is about half of the bow hunters choosing to hunt with compounds, recurve longbows etc. and the other half with crossbows. The actual real increase in bow hunter numbers over time, will be small if any at all.