My View

I agree with the record book arguement. Crossbows should NOT be counted as archery kills. It's hard enough putting one in the books with a regular bow without having to compete with a crossbow. Luckily P&Y currently are very blunt with the no crossbow rule. But they were blunt with no more than 65% let-off as well. Now that so many people (including me) shoots bows with a higher let-off, they put a little astericks next to your  name. We gotta watch the crossbows, if everyone starts shooting them they will be considered a bow eventually.

Kraig Osborne
Hunter since birth, NAHCLM, USN

Twelch,
 Those were some good suggestions. I just have one change to your 2 week thing. Put them at the front of the season instead of the back. As we all know that the rut comes in a bit later. I have no problem with that at all. I agree also that whatever it takes in this day and age to keep people in the outdoors is key to ALL of our success as hunters in general.

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

Not a problem when you want to put them. I know here for years the ML season overlapped the bow season for deer. The ML hunters went in at the end of the bow hunt not to disturb the mulies too much at the beginning for the bow hunters. I always felt bad because I figured the bow hunters should have the season to themselves, apparently G&F agreed because now we have a ML to ourselves, the only thing lost was killing velvet bucks with a ML. I figure we should all respect other hunters and share the woods. I would not be real happy with rifle hunters in the woods during ML season so can just imagine how the bow hunters felt about having ML in the woods at the same time.

"It is better to rule than serve"

txbhunter1-   it's obvious you hate x-bow users,( exept your wife ) and deviding up the seasons sure won't work, making them shorter for some, what i don't get is are you against all who use x-bows? and why do you think you should deserve the last two weeks  during the rut? just because you use a compound , recrve or long bow. i've been hunting since i was 16 now i'm 55 , used recurve, compound, flintlock, percussion,inline and everytime they allowed something different to hunt with people complained, but they did it anyways. now i have to use a x-bow due to a shoulder and arm injury,i've paid my dues so your propposing that i should'nt be able to hunt  along side hunters with compuonds during the prime times of the archery season? a person is not put on this earth just to sit on the sidelines because of an injury and just watch! they adapt and do what they have to do to enjoy what they like .your not here for ever, so you have to have the best time you can while your here! do i like having to use a x-bow? NO  do i want to use one?NO should i quit archery season?NO!!----tom

encore,
 Slow down big fella. I am not against them at all. Those who need to use them, by all means have at it. I'll hunt with anyone of them. My dad is one of them, but they have a place and time and a specific use for those that are not able to do the long, recurve or compound anymore. I would never take away anything that someone loves to do. Hell, I may, at sometime have to use one myself if my shoulder keeps going the way it is now. My gripe is that to many that CAN use a reg DON'T, because of the ease in using a crossbow vs a compound or whatever. It does not give them any more time in the woods that if they were using a reg bow. The lack of prep and conditoning prior to bow season does not have to happen when using a x-bow. Those that CAN and DON'T and want their names in books under archery kills is what tee's me off the most. And then there is the bragging of the bow kills that makes me sick.  MPO  
 

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

I can understand your view Gary, especially the "Book" thing.  I really wish they didn't have any of these record books because I think it takes away from the hunting aspect and makes it "the Industry".  Some say that it's to honor the animal and to that I say BS, it's to make somebodies ego a little bit bigger!!!

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

I know the one thing I always think of before I pull the trigger is where it will go in "the book"....NOT

"It is better to rule than serve"

Me also. I could careless about the book, personally. My animals taken with either bow or BP gun are trophys. Once you squeeze the trigger, you should consider it a trophy. You made that decision to do so. Some of these shows show the last hr, last min shots on animals that were far inferior to ones they had passed earlier just so they could get a kill shot on camera. Whatever guys. No respect for the animals. Industry is right. All about the money. As far as the subject here. I will stand firm on my beliefs. MPO and no one has to accept it nor agree with it. To ea his own.

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

ORIGINAL: Topgun 3006

Gary---I really think that it's a mistake to look at it the way you are.  It isn't causing you to work harder or do anything different than you have been.  As long as your season doesn't suffer in length and the deer herd stays in good shape  physically and numerically, what have they hurt?  They can put as much or little time into their craft as the gun hunters or compound bow hunters do, so when you really look hard at it you will be fine.  It's rather weird that I'm writing this because for quite some time I was staunchly against crossbows until I really sat down and thought about it.  I came up with what I am posting here and life goes on with no real negative ramifications and maybe a few more people will enjoy God's creations that wouldn't have otherwise.  I think it is sort of selfish of us if we do or think otherwise!

I'm with ya on this one, Pard....

Old Cowboys never die, they just keep riding the Range.