if a person could throw them 150yds, then I wouldn't mind.

My neighbor hunts with his xbow. We both have private property and they are less than 20 acres. I hunt only traditional and it used to worry me about the affect of having a crossbow hunter next door (and his buddies hunt with their as well). Now keep in mind its small properties with lots of hunting pressure next door. It was a gift to me and it took me two seasons to figure this out. The xbow hunters do not comply with hunting tactics that bow hunter use. There fore they scare all the game off this property to mine! I am very careful about scent, camo and movement. The newbies do not have a ful understanding of this and gun hunters may think they know, but seldom do. I tag the biggest bucks in my back yard every year with a longbow. The guys next door my kill a few young deer, its not a problem..

Imagine that!

Hey just go hunting... Dont worry about what others say, just go hunt. There are some that think their way is the only way but this is just not true. If you want to take a hog with a spear and it is legal do it, if you want to hunt with a crossbow "DO IT"....

Just hunt as long as it is a legal way to take game "JUST HUNT"...

That's the way I see it too. As long as it's legal go for it!

what I find odd is you rarely hear ppl making comments about those that tee off on deer w/ rifles on opening weekend of archery season.

To quote from your question, "that many frown upon crossbow". I wanted to add. That is not what I have experienced during ftf conversations in the woods and off the internet.

I was against them allowing them during the archery season. I feel that crossbows are for folks that are handicapped physically or by age (no problem with them hunting with a crossbow in any legal season). I don't think they should be allowed in archery season by folks who don't want to take the time to learn how to use a bow. Call me whatever names you like but I feel that it takes skill to learn to shoot a bow consistently and accurately. I have always viewed the early/archery season as a reward for those who are willing to put out the time and effort to become proficient with archery tackle. It doesn't take time or effort to become proficient with a cross-bow. It takes enough cash to purchase a crossbow and about 10 minutes to sight it in.

As for it bringing new people into the sport......I call B.S. I would venture to say that the allowance of crossbows in archery season will not bring one single person to the sport that wasn't already headed that way. People are going to get into hunting or not. The addition of a specific type of weapon (that was already legal for use during the general season) for an additional 5 weeks out of the year won't bring new people in. If somebody says otherwise then they are full of it and they know it. It just doesn't make sense. The logic doesn't run true.

I agree!!

It's all hunting and it's all legal. I bet when compound bows first came out with all their advantages over recurves, the recurve hunters took offense too. I think we should just chill out and as long as it's legal, hunt and let hunt. So what if crossbows take less "skill" than "conventional" bow hunting. Is it really that big of a deal? Recurve vs. compound vs. crossbow....black powder vs. center fire rifles. Even black powder rifles are so advanced now a days. You hunt your way, I'll hunt mine....as long as Mr. TP&W says it's legal, it's all good. Those that fuss over the "skill level" of hunting could be considered a little on the arrogant side anyway. IMO, just sayin'.

Did the guy who started this belong to PETA?

X2

Arrogant? Nah. Just because you don't like the facts doesn't make me arrogant.

Traditional shooters still look at compound bow hunting as cheating! I take both when I hunt and when I have a long bow in my hand and cut the kill zone over 50 percent, I see why compound hunters are wimps! I haven't made the plunge over completely to traditional yet, but when I do I'm going to see compound shooters the way we are looking at X bows.
Funny how we become critics of others when don't do as we do. I make my own long bows build my own string and hunting knives. It brings me personal satisfaction to harvest and process an animal with tools that I made with my own hands.

So when you think you're at a more proficient level than someone else, look around and look at what kinds of whistles and bells you've adorned your COMPOUND BOW with!

I think they should outlaw gun hunting!

bjankowski you hit the nail on the head. Most traditionalist do feel that way about wheeled bows. They do not see shooting compounds as true bow hunting. I switched to a Matthews many years ago when they first came out. I was very succesful, too successful! I sold it after a few years and only hunt with my longbows and recurves. I will confess one more thing. I was injured in Iraq and had limited shoulder movement. My wife got me a x-bow, I huted with it for a season and it was a blast! But I found it unchallenging. I make my own bows now, my family and some of my buddies hunt with my bows. It dont get better than that. My only problem with compounds is please dont call them stick or string, their NOT! You want a challenge get a longbow. I will never turn my nose up to another mans hunting preferance. I love my traditional archery and its who and what I am...Have fun hunten guys

When I win the Lottery tonight I'm buying everyone a Cross bow. This topic started good but has been hijacked by one who loves to stir the pot. How can someone who has less than 6 months experience shooting a bow have such strong feelings about cross bows and those who use them. I've asked around at Academy and cabela's about cross bow sales. They said not that many people buy them. Since the law change there has not been some mass flood to buy cross bows. Sales have gone up but not like some would suggest. If you want to hunt with one I say go for it. Ignore the naysayers.

Are grown men really arguing over what other grown men are doing that is perfectly legal? Well Im going to take my xbow with some expandable broadheads and shoot through the net of my blind while I smoke a cigarette in my underware at a nubbin buck in a high fence at 65 yards and not go look for a bloodtrail cause Im pretty sure I missed and there aint nothing anybody can do about it cause its all legal. Or I may just take my boy out with any weapon he wants and enjoy ever damn minute of the woods I can while I can cause thats what really matters to me and should matter to you and there aint nothing you can do about that either. Happy Hunting people we'er on the same team here.

If you like hunten in your underwear with corssbow, I say go for it. I shot a deer out my kitchen window with a smoke pole while eating breakfast!

That is what these type of topics turn into. Give us something to laugh about.

That would be too much like outlawing guns period.

That's blasphemy!

TPWD is looking for any way to increase revenue. By allowing x-bows during Archery season, they will sell more Archery stamps. It always about the money...

"Increase hunting opportunities"??? Whatever. More $$$ for TPWD...

Let there be no doubt......this thing was pushed through by the crossbow manufacturers. They were behind it.

I don't know why anyone would frown upon a crossbow hunter. From my experiences feeling sorry for them is more in order. When I want to fling arrows I usually hunt with a recurve, but after having some elbow problems I picked up a crossbow and while it might be great for a stand hunter, or from a blind, it an absolute nightmare to try and stalk about with in the woods. It is not really heavy, but it is so bulky that it snags on everything. There is no good way to carry one either. It turns what is usually a nice walk in the woods into a serious trek. Usually I am scanning the scenery looking for game, but with the crossbow in tow I have to focus on what is immediately around me so that I don't get hung up.

That said the first day with the xbow I had to replace one shaft and re-fletch several others, because it groups tighter at 40 yards than I ever have at 20 with my recurve. When you practice with one, never shoot to the same POA unless you just love arrow/bolt work...

As far as hunting with whatever tool in whatever season, maybe they should rename bow/archery season to "quiet season" or maybe "the silent season". I really don't care who is using what tool when. Just get out in the woods and take a kid with you. My "kid" this year will be my 15yo nephew who does not seem to have any gift for shooting bare bow. He can use the xbow this year and maybe Santa will find a compound for him.

-w