Do Crossbows "ruin" archery seasons?

hoytcanon said:
I personally know of a number of gun hunters who have had their crossbows set-up in an outdoor store and have gone hunting without ever having actually released a bolt from one.
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There are lots of gun hunters who have their rifles bore sighted at the gun store and never fire a shot, or at best, take a couple of shots at a tree 30 yards away and think they're good for 300. The attitude is the problem, not the tool.
 
Aries- said:
About the same as muzzle loader/ shotgun season. The muzzle loaders and sabot slugs these days are far above what were originaly intended. Both are faster than an average 45-70 theae days.

I have no problem with crossbows they really arent any easier or harder to use than a compound bow.
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IMO they are easier to use, but only slightly. You need less practice to shoot them well, but you don't escape the requirements to range your targets and know how your arrow will drop.

I'll add that I don't bow hunt with a crossbow, I have a longbow and a compound bow.
 
I would like to see cross bows used during bow season. I broke my shoulder years ago and surgeries and can't use a bow at all and it would be nice if I could get that extra hunting time in. The hunt with either one is the same, close yardage stealth hunting.
 
Splitting the ranks is a sure way destroy the sport.Stand united or hang separately.....because you personally don't crossbows as laws get passed,you say nothing next it's compound bows,you say nothing,then ban any bows that use sights,you say nothing,then the handful of traditional archers left have their sport shut down as it is too primitive to be humane. ..all hypothetical BS created by not supporting one another IMO...........like some fly fisherman looking down on anyone that uses another style to catch fish. Harold
 
In addition to the educated and positive remarks on the use of a crossbow during archery season is that it is another option/ tool to use for a given scenario. I own a cabin on 215 acres of private natural forest with no man made food plot. It is by choice I want my property to be gun free and as quiet as possible. Yes I have on hand my 12G shotgun, a .22cal rifle and a .44mag Mare Legs by my side for just in case but I'll use either my Hoyt CS30 or Excalibur Micro for hunting. I'm into the quiet aspect of hunting especially during turkey season. Take a SG to a turkey and you've ruined any immediate chances for your hunting partner.
 
galamb said:
We have had crossbow hunting in Ontario for a good number of years now (more than I can remember).

Our Early Bow runs from the 1st of October (regardless of what day that falls on every year) until the Gun Hunt. You can use any bow, traditional, compound or crossbow.

You can also use any bow during the gun hunt (generally the first two weeks of November) and then the late bow starts right after the gun season and save one week of blackpowder in December, you can bow hunt until New Years Eve.

Myth - a crossbow gives you some great advantage over other bows.

While it takes "less time" to get "huntable" with a crossbow it doesn't extend your range or killing power etc. It is no more effective than compound bows with their peep sights, fiber optic pins, overdraws, stablizers, carbon fiber limbs and risers some with range finder attachments.

The jump from a modern compound to a crossbow is "far less of any perceived advantage" than going from instinctively shooting a longbow or a recurve to a compound.

I shoot a recurve and a crossbow, I skipped over the compounds all together.

If you can't shoot your crossbow in the "bow season" then it has "no advantage" unless you are hunting maybe in urban areas where firearms would not be permitted.

So I do have an issue when the "high-tech" compound shooters have a problem with crossbow hunters. If they think crossbows are "unfair" then maybe the season should be made for "primitive bow only" - no sights etc.

And at least here in Ontario, contrary to what some might believe, very few guys with 350 bucks went out and bought crossbows and flooded the woods shooting everything in sight. It still takes practice - it's still only effective at "normal" bow range (35 yards is still a long shot - yes, some guys will shoot 50 or more, but the "guy" who buys a bargain basement bow and equips it with accessories from Walmart will have trouble consistently hitting a target at 30 much less taking down a deer).

I spent more on my crossbow, getting it kitted out, than I did for most of my rifles and took thousands of shots trying different bolts with different broadheads getting it tweaked right in.

The myth that you go to Wally World, spend $299 on a bargain basement Barnett - buy a pack of $10 broadheads and with "no work or practice" go out and shoot a deer is just non-sense.

The only thing it has in common with a "gun" is the trigger - other than that it's "just a bow".
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I am not even a bow hunter and that was well stated!! :rockOn:
 
galamb said:
We have had crossbow hunting in Ontario for a good number of years now (more than I can remember).

Our Early Bow runs from the 1st of October (regardless of what day that falls on every year) until the Gun Hunt. You can use any bow, traditional, compound or crossbow.

You can also use any bow during the gun hunt (generally the first two weeks of November) and then the late bow starts right after the gun season and save one week of blackpowder in December, you can bow hunt until New Years Eve.

Myth - a crossbow gives you some great advantage over other bows.

While it takes "less time" to get "huntable" with a crossbow it doesn't extend your range or killing power etc. It is no more effective than compound bows with their peep sights, fiber optic pins, overdraws, stablizers, carbon fiber limbs and risers some with range finder attachments.

The jump from a modern compound to a crossbow is "far less of any perceived advantage" than going from instinctively shooting a longbow or a recurve to a compound.

I shoot a recurve and a crossbow, I skipped over the compounds all together.

If you can't shoot your crossbow in the "bow season" then it has "no advantage" unless you are hunting maybe in urban areas where firearms would not be permitted.

So I do have an issue when the "high-tech" compound shooters have a problem with crossbow hunters. If they think crossbows are "unfair" then maybe the season should be made for "primitive bow only" - no sights etc.

And at least here in Ontario, contrary to what some might believe, very few guys with 350 bucks went out and bought crossbows and flooded the woods shooting everything in sight. It still takes practice - it's still only effective at "normal" bow range (35 yards is still a long shot - yes, some guys will shoot 50 or more, but the "guy" who buys a bargain basement bow and equips it with accessories from Walmart will have trouble consistently hitting a target at 30 much less taking down a deer).

I spent more on my crossbow, getting it kitted out, than I did for most of my rifles and took thousands of shots trying different bolts with different broadheads getting it tweaked right in.

The myth that you go to Wally World, spend $299 on a bargain basement Barnett - buy a pack of $10 broadheads and with "no work or practice" go out and shoot a deer is just non-sense.

The only thing it has in common with a "gun" is the trigger - other than that it's "just a bow".
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To this I would add that crossbow bolts have poorer aerodynamics than arrows.
 
mbogo3 said:
Splitting the ranks is a sure way destroy the sport.Stand united or hang separately.....because you personally don't crossbows as laws get passed,you say nothing next it's compound bows,you say nothing,then ban any bows that use sights,you say nothing,then the handful of traditional archers left have their sport shut down as it is too primitive to be humane. ..all hypothetical BS created by not supporting one another IMO...........like some fly fisherman looking down on anyone that uses another style to catch fish. Harold
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this is my take on it. we need to stick together and promote all shooting sports, hunting, etc.
 
Anyone who thinks crossbows are the same for hunting as compounds or traditional bows are out to lunch. Have you ever tried to draw a bow after sitting in a tree for 5 hours at minus 20 degrees, or tried to get to full draw with at animal at 10 yards.
A crossbow is a point and shoot same as a gun. 50 yards is about maximum range with a crossbow for someone who has been shooting one for 1 hour.
Flintlocks are closer to a modern Inline then a compound will ever be to a crossbow.

personally I don't care what happens I will not affect the way I hunt, They are not the same. Just my 2 cents.
 
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Sorry but any id10t can hunt with a cross bow. There is much more patience and practice involved with
Archery gear. Just my 2 cents but then again im a bow guy.
 
I guess I should ask if your complaining about a crossbow. I will assume you are using a old fashion straight bow (not a recurve) and not a compound bow that lets off 50%+
 
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