Case in Point for Laziness

Let me first say that I am not taking anything away from this deer, as it is a great animal, but the following is a statement taken directly from the "North American Whitetail " magazine this month. The guy that shot this deer is proficient with a compound bow and has hunted many "Booner" states for deer but this statement makes me ill. "Had Pisarchick been hunting from a treestand, he would have carried his compound bow, but since he was going to be in a ground blind he took his Excalibur Vortex crossbow". This deer was shot during the first ever PA x-bow allowed season last yr and is now entered into the record book at 170 5/8th's net typical "BOW" kill. I'm sorry but to make a decision to use a x-bow when hunting from a ground blind is just rediculous. If your blind is the problem when using a reg bow, change it.  If you are proficient with a reg bow, treestand or ground blind should make no diff. Shooting from a ground blind is no diff, other than sitting, than shooting at the range. If this hunter had been handicaped in any way and was forced to use a x-bow to hunt to stay in the woods, I'd be the first to pat him on the back for a very nice deer, but to blatently make that statement, he the hunter himself gets a thumbs down from me. MPO

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

Gary:
 
You already know how I feel about this.  I want to throw up every time I listen to a hunting celebrity proclaim that "we need to stick together no matter what weapon is being used... blah... blah... blah". 
 
The ONLY reason those words are being uttered in the first place is due to the money that is being deposited in said hunting celebrity's bank account from the crossbow manufacturers; it has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with "sticking together" as hunters.  It's all about M-O-N-E-Y.
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve

My thoughts exactly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's all BS and all of these shows out now days, that's all it is. They used to be good and informative to watch. Now it's all about showing up, shooting a big buck and going on to the next overpriced celeb hunt. There is no info anymore from any of them. No tips, tricks or nothing. Show up, shoot and move on. I have quit watching them with the exception of the off the beat ones that are avg. everyday Joe's, getting out there, making their sets and shooting a descent buck or doe or whatever. Those to me are real life situations and not someone else doing all of your scouting, setting of stands and the celeb shows up. JMO, take it or leave it.

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

Not all, but the vast majority of the hunting shows that are jamming up the airwaves today are downright STUPID.  There is no respect for the animals any more.  It's "Look at me!! ...  Look at me!!"  or "Watch me do something stupid, that 'I' -- the mug in front of the camera '' think is funny."
 
There is roughly 3 to 5 minutes of actual animal footage -- if that, which includes the hero shot with the dead animal -- and the rest is a cluster fudge of food plot products, the latest "dump-it-on-the-ground-and-the-deer-will-come-running" product or some "hunting" celeb acting a fool. 
 
I wonder: Has hunting come down to the T and A, SMACKDOWN mentality of "professional wrestling"?  It sure seems like there is no shame or no limit to what I call "selling out" these days. 
 
That is sad.
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Gary:
 
I just read the article in NAW.  Not only did he use a crossbow, but in the Gearing Up section it notes that he used a Primos Trigger Stick -- shooting aid -- as well. 
 
The shot: 20 yards with a crossbow AND a shooting aid.  That seems very strange. 
 
Maybe the guy has an injury that prevents him from holding steady or something?
 
Strange... Very strange.
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve

I have used one when sighting in my wifes because of the shortness of the x-bow and the weight issue. Because of the shortness of them, you don't get that balance that you get when using a long gun. I have shot it freehanded before a couple of times and have had to use my elbow locked into my stomach, to steady it. I don't think it was because of an injury, but we can only speculate on that. Reading the rest of the article and the way it was written, I highly doubt it.  Whatever the reason, it irritates me.  LOL

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

Why don't you guys tell us how you really feel, LOL!  This year I got to the same point you two did as far as the deer hunting shows go.  I'll bet I didn't watch 10% of what I used to because of what was mentioned and a lot of that was sweet little Tiffany, hehe!  As far as saying it was a "Bow" kill, that's just outright BS!!!  I do still enjoy watching the turkey hunting because there is a lot more interaction and generally more footage of the birds gobbling, strutting, etc.   Basically though, all these friggin shows are anymore is one big infomercial for everything they are wearing, spraying on, shooting, etc, and it gets old after a while!!!

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

Not trying to dredge up old arguements but,
I couldn't agree more about the hunting shopping channel, I mean hunting shows now. The one that irritates me the most is the Bone collector edition of EVERYTHING. I think there is even bone collector edition underwear now. I used to watch Waddell and his crew quite a bit, but not anymore.
As for the X-bows...... I'm not against them, but I feel they should definately be seperate from any vertical bow season(or restricted use in bowseason) or record book. I repeat I AM NOT AGAINST CROSSBOWS.

Kraig Osborne
Hunter since birth, NAHCLM, USN

Me neither Craig, my wife has one and so does my dad. Heck, I have bought them both for them, but they have their place and they are for hunters that really need them and not used as an excuse.  I do not believe that any animal taken with them should be allowed to be entered into "ANY" contest or record book as an archery kill. I can shoot my bow at 50 yds and have reasonable success in grouping them in a pie plate, but my wifes can group them in a 2in circle at 50 yds with a good rest. We as verticle bow hunters could not do that. JMO

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

I agree 100%, the playing field is very unbalanced if crossbows and vertical bows are viewed as equals.

Kraig Osborne
Hunter since birth, NAHCLM, USN