Crossbows during bow season

So i was flipin threw the wildlife book this year and it just caught my attention that everyone is aloud to shoot crossbows during bow season this year. im not sure how everyone else feels about this but after talkin to some others about it i feel that, shooting a crossbow during bow season should only be for the handicap thats how i feel. if you young and healthy enough to bull a bow back i think that you should shoot a bow and not a cross bow. so i just wanted to know where everyone else stood on this subject.

Give it a rest already!

Thanks for your opinion on that Mrs. MatthewsDXT18.

Unfortunately, it doesn't matter what you think or how you feel because they are LEGAL!!!!!!!!!!!

Sucks to be you!

You know I shot a deer with mine this past weekend, and standing there looking down at it, and noticing the arrow wound, and it looked like so many times before when I shot one with my compound.

It was uncanny that this deer was shot at only 15 yards, about the same distance as the others I shot with my compound and it didn't die faster, or run a shorter distance, or even bleed more than those I shot before.

The deer didn't spook any more than when I fired the Horton than when I shot my PSE, and the mesquitos still bit me the same as in all those past seasons when hunting with my bow.

It in fact felt pretty much the same as when I hunted all those years before with my compound, and the result was pretty much the same.

The only real difference was I can't shoot my compound very well anymore due to a bad shoulder, but I could have maybe ignored the pain and still hunted with the compound as I've done in the last several years but I didn't, and it was my choice thanks to the law finally being changed.

The deer never knew it, or would even care for that matter, as it was now the main ingredients for sausage I'm going to make, and it could care less.

Yes the crossbow is an evil instrument, and deadly just like that compound in the right hands.

But don't let it bother you, because we won't laugh at you because you choose to be a purist, or have a flamming bias, and only believe in the primitive way, while buying the latest and fastest compound to appear on the bow racks.

mathewsdxt18, this subject has been beat,stomped,kicked,cussed and discussed on this forum!!! No one is going to change anybodies mind on this subject. I agree with you. Never mind DeerKilla he is just a bobble head doll with a big mouth that tries to stir the pot. Look at other post about crossbows and you will see what I mean! I noticed he put Mrs in front of your name. He screwed around with my name also on the other post on this forum. This comes from someone who didn't sign his post with his name. Don't let him bother you! Good hunting with your bow!! Craig

Im also with mathewsdxt18. Yes I know crossbows are legal. Im just putting in my

They are legal. They are effective. They are controversial. That's no reason to belittle by calling names and insulting folks. I personally think it's a better topic than indian corn though.

Being old school, I still think recurves and longbows are the real bows. The rest are like the inline muzzleloaders compared to flintlock and cap muzzleloaders. But they are all legal, and that is what matters.

Nuff said....

yep me too,it kinda "cheapens" bow season too me. Takes away alot of the challenge of bow hunting, but hey its legal and its a free country so good luck and be safe.

Hey O.K. I'll shake hands with all the crossbow hunters and admit they have the right to hunt with a crossbow as they please because its legal and they believe its a bow and I respect their opnion. They also need to respect our opnions and beliefs on the other side as well. I extend my hand! Craig

yep, im on the other side too. if you can no longer pull a bow, then by all means use the crossbow, but if you can pull it, you should challenge yourself and use the bow. the older guys i hunt with use crossbows out of blinds and thats fine but if your my age, stop being a pansy. the only thing that gets me is how much less movement it takes to shoot a crossbow and you can shoot out of the complete cover of a rifle blind which makes me agree that it does kinda cheapin bow season. i think im gonna stick it out with the bow into rifle season as a long as i can stand the cold. but im young and i enjoy everything about the hunt(cept not seeing anything) and some of you older guys are just there for the meat and if it just majicly appeared in the freezer, that would be "saving you a trip".

Definately no need for insults, times and laws have changed. We have to deal with it just like the AR's. Nothing will be accomplished by berating each other or having a pizzing contest.

You are correct! I've stooped to a low level! Hunt with what you will as long as its legal. If anyone wants to call me out on anything and you know who you are PM me. Craig

No you didn't stoop to a low level Craig. Everyone is entitled to an opinion right or wrong.

Cross bows? I won't use one it just is not my thing. But others like them and now that they are legal, well we can't beat them up for taking advantage of the new laws. It still requires some skill to be able to kill a deer with one, granted not as much as traditional archery but you still have to be somewhat stealth to be able to pull up and mount the bow to take the shot.

I just don't see how someone else using a crossbow would or should bother anyone, use what you want. But to say a crossbow is lazy or easy when shooting anything but a long bow or a recure is just silly.

HowgNutz,helomech I agree!

Me I do not care what you use as long as you are not shooting a real gun during archery season. We are all here to hunt and enjoy the great outdoors in my opinion.

This topic is like the high fence debate. I don't care if someone else chooses to hunt a high fence. I don't care if an able bodied person chooses to use a crossbow in archery season. If I see a deer that was shot with a crossbow or behind a high fence it just doesn't do anything for me. Couldn't care less. I don't have a problem with them being proud of their trophy or mounting it and hanging it on their wall. It just doesn't turn my crank.

Some men are homosexual and are attracted to other men. That is their right. It's not what I'm in to and not my thing though.......kinda like crossbows and high fence hunting.

for all the die hard bow hunters.........how many of you hunt with a recurve long bow, and how many with latest greatest compound?? When rifle season starts do you still use bow only?

Stop and think about it..... It comes down to what is a challenge/nessicity/hobby/lifestyle to each and every person individually.................. regaurdless or what Pres Obama says............its still MOSTLY a free country...but we better check our 6 ever chance we get

I also gotta agree with MatthewsDXT18 sentiments, and feel it definitely cheapens archery season. Its my opinion but I will continue to call someone using an xbow in october a cheater. Only way I wouldn't consider them a cheater is if they draw their crossbow in front of the the deer, LOL.

My take on the situation, coming from NY- you were not allowed to use a mechanism to hold the string back on a bow unless you are disabled in some way. That being said, where I come from crossbows are still illegal for use during all seasons unless you are disabled. Also, you are not allowed to have anything that illuminates your pins other than sunlight... I think they may have changed that since I left- but still agree with it. I have only one problem with crossbows: scopes. I know some fancy scopes adorn compound bows as well, so they are also on my list. To me, archery hunting itself is about the pursuit and not the means- I have a 65# wing presentation recurve, and an Oneida Black Eagle with 80% let-off. I scout the same, plan the same shots, wear the same camo and hunt from the same stands... Whether I shoot a deer with a recurve, compound, or even if I chose to use a crossbow doesn't really matter as much as the amount of time and patience I spent leading up to the kill. In my opinion only, legalizing crossbows for everyone to use during archery-only season may invite a great deal of hunters, who possibly don't put in as much time and effort/practice as a dyed in the wool bowhunter, into the woods which I don't believe is a good idea. What's next? Muzzleloaders during Early Season?

" In my opinion only, legalizing crossbows for everyone to use during archery-only season may invite a great deal of hunters, who possibly don't put in as much time and effort/practice as a dyed in the wool bowhunter, into the woods which I don't believe is a good idea. "

Why isn't it a good Idea? What does it hurt?

I know alot of the explanations are sincere and not expressed in a mean spirit. But! I just wish they could hear their explanations with a nonbow/crossbow hunter's ears. Crossbow hunters don't deserve to hunt, because it's too easy. They aren't as dedicated to practice as they are. It's way harder to draw while being watched by a deer. Soon they 'll let anybody hunt early.

To the untrained ear it sounds elitist.

It makes me giggle.

Being a Texan with a liscense isn't enough.
I paid my money, same as you. Why can't I use my crossbow?

Just having fun don't take this too serious!

Lost a deer tonight with my crossbow.......same as my compound. Dangit!

what happen? did you hit it? where did it hit? any blood. are you going to check in the morining for it?

Hit him in the shoulder(him being a creepy spike) found the arrow covered with blood. Let him rest 45 min before looking, tailed him 400 yards on spots and small pools of blood and lost him. He went to a fence and I didn't see any sign tracks or blood and he was gone. I'm sick about it but I guess it happens.

That's too bad but part of the game I guess. Get that little heal nipper out maybe he can pick up the trail for ya.

Funny you should say that, I put my FILs lab on the blood as a last resort. Nada