Crossbows

[ajb]

I am wondering what everyones feelings are about crossbows in early archery season. They have been legal in Ohio for years, Michigan this year.

 

[Mrmonte]

I voted no, however think people with a physical disability should be able to get out and use a crossbow durring early archery.

 

[42769vette]

i dont like cross bows in any season. the most chalenging part of bow hunting is comming to full draw with a deer in range

 

[Jack Ryan]

I am wondering what everyones feelings are about crossbows in early archery season. They have been legal in Ohio for years, Michigan this year.

I vote no. They have been ILLEGAL in Indiana since the inception of archery season and are still illegal for archery season this year.

I hear they are legal in Michigan and Ohio, somethign people should consider if they want to hunt during archery season with a crossbow.

 

[blackoak]

I vote no. They have been ILLEGAL in Indiana since the inception of archery season and are still illegal for archery season this year.

I hear they are legal in Michigan and Ohio, somethign people should consider if they want to hunt during archery season with a crossbow.

Jack, are they not legal in the late archery season. If not I have been breaking the law in the past 2 years late archery seasons. Early archery season you can NOT use one(unless with a handicap permit) , but in late archery season you CAN (without a permit).

 

[42769vette]

Jack, are they not legal in the late archery season. If not I have been breaking the law in the past 2 years late archery seasons. Early archery season you can NOT use one(unless with a handicap permit) , but in late archery season you CAN (without a permit).

i think that you can hunt with them late season

 

[Leadeye]

I like shooting all forms of Archery from longbow to crossbow. They all have their good and bad points. Crossbows give you a steadier shot but can be tricky to manipulate in a tree stand due to limb direction as I have found out the hard way. I just stick to my limitations with whatever equipment I choose to hunt with.

My favorite example of that was passing on a Pope & Young animal that loitered at 50 yards away for 15-20 minutes one evening. Much as I wanted to take that shot I knew that my best was about a 2 foot circle with the bow I had at that distance, so I worked on getting the deer closer. My buddy got a much closer shot at about 20 yards a few minutes later and collected a great rack.

Would I have taken that shot with my crossbow? I would have considered it for sure as I could hit inside 6" with it at that distance. Archery is challenging regardless of your equipment, and always a lot of fun.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Jack, are they not legal in the late archery season. If not I have been breaking the law in the past 2 years late archery seasons. Early archery season you can NOT use one(unless with a handicap permit) , but in late archery season you CAN (without a permit).

Yes they are. I think you may even be able to use them in firearms season.

 

[dbd870]

I have no desire to use one but I'm OK with including them in early archery.

 

[Sailor]

I think it would just encourage more people to hunt with out practicing properly.

 

[dbd870]

Why? Are crossbow shooters mostly a bunch of slobs and vertical bowhunters consumate professionals? Kind of a broad brush there.

 

[Sailor]

No, I just think those that hunt with out taking the time to practice (like the guy at Gander the night before gun season opens) would be more likely to pick up a crossbow and try vs a vertical bow.

I could be wrong.

 

[Bosshoss]

This same argument went on when compound bows came out, it was going to destroy bowhunting. But it helped in my opinion it increased the number of hunters and made the bowhunting voice much more respected. I have no problem with crossbows in any season. Their are people who buy bows and guns and go hunting without any practice, all they do is sight in and go. This happens now and will happen with crossbows also.
Just because someone does it different than you do it doesn't make it wrong. Try to keep a open mind.

 

[Mrmonte]

Should we be allowed to hunt early archery with a 30-06 too?

 

[Bosshoss]

What does a 30-06 have to do with archery season? A crossbow has the range of a hand held bow a high power rifle has the range of several hundred yards. All I was saying was if we(hunters) argue within our own ranks we are giving the anti hunters fuel to use against us. If we think a crossbow is to easy or lethal or not lethal enough, how long will it be before a hand held bow becomes too lethal or not lethal enough the same words we use against the crossbow can be turned and used against bowhunting in general.
Just my .02

 

[clydesdale]

I dont think they should by allowed late season either without special permit.They should be allowed during firearms and muzzleloader though.They are very accurate and many have scope mounts

 

[emclean]

What does a 30-06 have to do with archery season?

I didn't think a 30-06 was legal to deer hunt with around here.

a crossbow seams to me to be closer to a firearm that archery.
even more so with one of these
PSE TAC 15 

 

[Mrmonte]

What does a 30-06 have to do with archery season?

The same thing as a crossbow in my humble opinion. You look down the scope and pull the trigger.

I am a early season bowhunter and happy the way things are. What will allowing the crossbow into early archery season improve? They are already legal in the late season. Its not a question of whether its capable of taking game or should be legal durring the appropriate season. Yes on both accounts. I guess the real question is, when is the proper time to use them? Its not a bow, so I say, not durring early archery season.

 

[greg]

Voted no...I say take the scopes off them also..

 

[ajb]

I voted no also

Comparing them to a rifle is a stretch, they are only accurate out to 40 maybe 50 yards then the heavy bolt drops off fast.

Also most of them I have seen don't have open sights, just a scope mount, We don't want people hunting with no sights, do we?