delaware crossbows proposals

[Chris Shelton]

#59857

Maryland has been that way for at least a year now, well for the entire archery season, the past like 5 or 6 years they have had sanctioned dates when they can be used. I dont like it, I dont see as much deer now, but I think that was the point:roll:, I dont think you should be able to use a gun during bow season. Unless you are disabled

[MontanaFord]

#59895

Anything representing a “gun” (firearm or crossbow) should not be allowed at all during an archery ONLY season. For people that cannot draw and/or hold a bow due to health reasons, there are devices that can be attached to the weapon to do it for the shooter. I’ve known a couple people that had such devices on their compounds. One guy had his draw arm (right arm, I believe) amputated at the shoulder, and his release mechanism was activated by a certain jaw movement on his part. Another fellow, probably in his late 20’s or early 30’s, had had several surgeries on both shoulders, and could not draw his bow without an aide. He had a device that he stood on, used both arms to pull the bow upward, and it locked when it hit draw. I believe he was shooting 55 or 60 lb. Either way, there are options for people with disabilities that want to participate in archery only seasons. There is no need to include firearm-style weapons.

Michael

[lssa]

#59925

seems to me that quite a few of the people who support are younger that are perfectly capable of shooting a trad or compound bow but would rather go the easiest and quickest route to kill deer less worried about the hunt just hurry get there shoot and get out

[SteveMcD]

#60156

This door was opened long ago, when the compound came on the scene. Too late to go crying over spilt milk now. I sit on the fence on this one. But I am for it, if it gets more young people into the outdoors. The fact that I shoot by choice, a longbow during archery, gun and muzzleloader seasons is a freedom I enjoy and is my business. If it is legal and done in a fair chase manner, who am I to deny anyone else their preference. Personally from what I see and read of it, the crossbow hunter is more handicapped than the compound bowhunter.

JMO.. I know it is unpopular.

[Treetopflier]

#60224

Steve — the last thing I want is to see this thread turn into an argument among tradbow friends, so I honor your “fence straddling” position here. My own view is that almsot everything wrong with hunting today can be attributed to an attitude of quantity over quality. I don’t know about where you and others here hunt, but it would be a dream come true if we had LESS hunters everywhere I got. Every year it gets worse with the quality of the hunting going down as the quantity of hunters increases and the junk thay pack, and in the case of ATVs the junk that packs them, increasing. I’ve always believe that the “we need more younger hunters!” call to arms is largely something we’ve been too willingly indoctrinated into by the industry. As another member here likes to say, “We don’t need more hunters, we need more better hunters.” So far as cross-guns, it’s no accident that NRA is pushing hard to have them legalized in previously archery-only seasons. It’s the first step to oblivion. If a young person has the heat to hunt, he or she will find a way. I had no help whatsoever, yet I did it. To the extent we can help young folks get into REAL hunting, quality over quantity, I’m all for it even though there are too many of us for what’s left of happy hunting grounds already. But what’s the gain to anyone — us, them, the deer, the habitat, the future of real hunting in America — if new hunters must be bought at the expense of traditional values and ethics. I hope this doesn’t start a war here or we’ll all be in trouble with our moderators :lol:, and I’ve tried to be polite while being honest, but the cross-gun, along with the ATV, has become a symbol of everything that’s working against traditional hunting values and futures today. My two-bits. Snuffy

[SteveMcD]

#60247

Snuffy.. No worries. Actually for the most part we are in agreement. We need better hunters, quality hunters. Those who care deeply about the animals, the environment, the experience of the hunt, use of the quads that God gave them, the preservation of values, the public image of hunters and the spirit of fair chase. If that is what is in their heart, I won’t judge what they carry in their hands.

I would rather get along and compromise. Because sportsman fighting sportsman is just crazy.

Times change and many times we can’t prevent that. As long as I can preserve what I and we do. Than I (we) haven’t lost.

Traditional Archery will always be my passion because it is a way of life and of ideals for me. I believe in propagating traditional archery passionately and passing it on to the next generation. But to those who hear a different drummer – whatever rows their boat.

[Hiram]

#60262

They are NOT, A BOW!

[Barry Lyons]

#60414

There won’t be a big argument. Everybody already values traditional concepts or they wouldn’t be here. But from what i’ve seen there isn’t much differance in performance between a modern compound setup and a crossbow. Really special seasons have been ruined by the industry. Look at muzzleloaders. It started with flintlocks and has moved to scoped inlines.When I’d run into a buckskin clad hunter in the early 90’s I thought it was really cool. Now it’s just a single shot high powered rife. Special archery seasons are on the same path.

[1armarcher]

#14046

Ok, I don’t know what everyone elses physical limitations are… but, I am missing my right arm above the elbow and right leg above the knee. I have shot crossbows, compounds, and recurves. There is a myth out there that they are far more acurate than compounds, and that you can shoot them twice as far. Both those are false. For my copmpound I shoot a pse x-force and practice at 60 yards. i can hit a tennis ball that far but will never shoot at game that far, my crossbow is horton 150 hunter and wouldn’t shoot past 30 yards w/ it. the crossbow is super loud, cumbersome, and bulky. my compound is also far faster.
I know there are devises that can be purchased to retrofit a bow to assist. But why should the disabled pay extra money to participate???? now, having said that, i don’t like shooting my crossbow as much as i like my compound or recurve. I am actually considering selling my compound and just going w/ the recurve. just my opinion

[heydeerman]

#21145

I live in Ohio fellas this is old news. As you can see states are crumbling one by one. IMO the battle has been lost. Crossbows coming to a state near you.

[M]

#21203

I think the weapon you use is a personal choice and if you choose a crossbow then I am fine with it. I live in Ohio and I cant site one example of how a crossbow has degraded my bow hunting experience. I can site many examples of people screwing things up but they carried all kinds of weapons.

[Bert]

#21291

Yes, here in Washington state. the new, red letter paragraph allowing crossbows in firearm restricted areas only- for now and we’ll see how long that lasts. I mean I don’t have a ‘quarrel’ with them and in fact quite like the William Tell story- is there anyway we could have a modern version with the apple being held by a politician- in their mouth! ZZZZIIIPPPP! Next!
Along with width, minimum draw weight and bolt length and weight, one cannot hunt with a crossbow over 15#- what’s up with that? Who, in their right mind, would want to pack an over 15 pound bow, much less a rifle, unless you were shooting elephants with a 600 Rigby?
Well, we can always hope that when they pull the trigger on their horizontal-portable-nautilus-machine the whole thing discombobulates into a twisted maze of string and cables and the intended ‘victim’ bounds away, unscathed and snickering.
I remain with ‘A longbow and a strong bow….’-Bert

/

[Brian Dennis]

#22832

I think Steve McD is as near the truth as anyone. 1armarcher is correct also, in that a xbow is not near as lethal as everyone would have us believe. I can’t imagine using one from a climbing treestand, either.
I have two ideas about xbow hunters. I think the majority of them are 1) at least partially handicapped, some severely handicapped to the extent that they can’t manuver back into the deep woods or swamps where you’ll have the best luck
or 2)typically hope that the overkill on equipment will make up for lack of woodsmanship, i.e. they’re unwilling to try to penetrate the deep woods also. Xbow shooters in either category really have minimal impact on a hard-core hunter. I don’t mean to insult any xbow users. I just think a lot of energy gets wasted talking about xbows in archery season.

[Author]

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