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Crossbows as we age....
- Thread starter 356
- Start date
H20fwler
5 year old buck +
I remember how trad bow hunters went spastic when compounds got popular.
Now the compound archers are spaz over crossbows.
Who cares.
Ohio legalized crossbows in the early 80’s, same arguments about them being rifles and you could shoot a deer at 100yds and they will ruin hunting.
It didn’t, and today Ohio is one of the top five trophy states in country with more deer killed during archery than gun season and more archery deer killed with crossbows than compounds.
What it comes down to is hunters thinking they own the deer in their areas and they are spiteful. I’m guilty of it myself.
Now the compound archers are spaz over crossbows.
Who cares.
Ohio legalized crossbows in the early 80’s, same arguments about them being rifles and you could shoot a deer at 100yds and they will ruin hunting.
It didn’t, and today Ohio is one of the top five trophy states in country with more deer killed during archery than gun season and more archery deer killed with crossbows than compounds.
What it comes down to is hunters thinking they own the deer in their areas and they are spiteful. I’m guilty of it myself.
In AR, the crossbow harvest still has not exceeded the vertical bow harvest. Crossbow harvest is basically insignificant - about 5% of total harvest. It seems the states with the longer gun seasons have a lower percentage of archery harvest - including crossbows. In the states with the shorter gun seasons, hunters find a way and will hunt much more with other methods.
bigboreblr
5 year old buck +
Think the success rate is higher with a crossbow. Harvest vs wound. With crossbows being legal in NY for a few years, I hear less I cant find what I shot stories.
We also get less free time as we get older to practice too.
Many people go into the woods with rifles that can shoot well at 600 yards, many of them come out empty handed.
I was going to wake up a older post about using iron sighted rifles / muzzleloaders as we get older. Same kinda topic. Especially muzzleloaders. States have different limitations. flintlock vs caplock vs sabots vs scope vs open sights vs peep sights.
I debate how many more years I will enter the woods with a flintlock vs having to use a scope. Always have fun at the range with iron sights. But, I don't want the animal to suffer because of a self imposed limitation.
We also get less free time as we get older to practice too.
Many people go into the woods with rifles that can shoot well at 600 yards, many of them come out empty handed.
I was going to wake up a older post about using iron sighted rifles / muzzleloaders as we get older. Same kinda topic. Especially muzzleloaders. States have different limitations. flintlock vs caplock vs sabots vs scope vs open sights vs peep sights.
I debate how many more years I will enter the woods with a flintlock vs having to use a scope. Always have fun at the range with iron sights. But, I don't want the animal to suffer because of a self imposed limitation.
Howboutthemdawgs
5 year old buck +
So admittedly it’s easier to shoot (and absolutely easier to hunt with) a crossgun than a bow. Thus eliminating one of, if not the greatest barrier to entry to hunt in archery season. Practicing and effort. Therefore, reducing the point of having weapon differentiation between seasons. So my argument all along has been if the weapon doesn’t matter why do we bother with seasons? Open it up at a specific starting point and a designated ending point and just let it be a free for all, the only limiter would be the limit. The gap between archery with crossbows and guns is getting so small it’s almost pointless at this juncture to worry with different seasons.
In my opinion of course
bigboreblr
5 year old buck +
So, my brother in law has thousands of acres to farm. I am the only one allowed to hunt a property about 2 hours away from my farm. Just me every weekend of bow / crossbow season. First 3 weeks of rifle I see half the town there........... Kind of layed off hunting rifle there past year or two. Rut is on at that point. Then 3rd weekend of rifle to the end, just me again......
There are a lot of guys who just rifle hunt.
On a side note, some of my best fishing has been during hunting season. They get hungry and cold. Makes them more predictable to fish.
I hate seeing wounded deer..... Probably got only 1 or 2 deer I wound until I won't hunt with a certain implement or at all. I have stopped hunting a season after wounding one before. The job is harvest, I take it seriously. I limit myself if I don't practice that much that year, both rifle and bow. 30 if I practice well, 20 if I don't. 200 if I practice rifle, 150 IF I don't much. 150 with muzzleloader, 100 if I don't practice much. Still get plenty of chances. Seen many real nice ones many couldn't say no to, just farther than I want to gamble. Practice 250 sometimes 400 with the rifle, and 40 or 50 with bow/crossbow.
There are a lot of guys who just rifle hunt.
On a side note, some of my best fishing has been during hunting season. They get hungry and cold. Makes them more predictable to fish.
I hate seeing wounded deer..... Probably got only 1 or 2 deer I wound until I won't hunt with a certain implement or at all. I have stopped hunting a season after wounding one before. The job is harvest, I take it seriously. I limit myself if I don't practice that much that year, both rifle and bow. 30 if I practice well, 20 if I don't. 200 if I practice rifle, 150 IF I don't much. 150 with muzzleloader, 100 if I don't practice much. Still get plenty of chances. Seen many real nice ones many couldn't say no to, just farther than I want to gamble. Practice 250 sometimes 400 with the rifle, and 40 or 50 with bow/crossbow.
