Colorado, no xbow in archery season
Elk
Contributors to this thread:
The CPW Commission unanimously voted to deny the Citizen's Petition to allow the xbow in the archery only big game seasons. This is the second time in the last 15 years the DOW/CPW has denied a similar request for the xbow use here in Colorado. Some hunters with a proven disability can use the xbow in the archery only big game seasons, see big game brochure. A xbow can be used in any small game or big game rife season. Thanks to those that contacted the CPW Commission with your opposition to this petition. my best, Paul
A hell of a lot better than what we have in WI. Great for bowhunters in Colorado.
Good for Colorado hunters and the wildlife resources.
X2 on Wisconsin. Thanks for everyone’s hard work and support
Excellent work by Colorado and the CBA.
Good for Colorado, I wish ALL States would follow what Colorado did with the Crossbow. Handicapped is alright, ( If really handicapped! ) and for the younger kids.
Kurt
Finally some good things in the news!
That’s fantastic! Congratulations to all bowhunters in CO!!!
surprising, but great news.
Always said it is better aligned with ML seasons.
HH~
Good deal. Maybe wildlife agencies should utilize an "ease of use" metric for different weapons rather than effective range when setting seasons. Think that would put xbows right in there with ML's, but clearly in a different category than hand held bows.
Good deal. Bet the X-Bow manufacturers don't like it.
Good news on the hunting front in Colorado!? Can't be.
As it should be, IMO. Thanks to all who helped shoot this petition down.
Matt
Thanks, without a voiced opposition it could have easily gone the other way.
We don't want them lumped in with MLs because that would crowd the woods even more in September. They are still restricted to rifle season (and limited rifle tags) which is fine.
Good job Colorado! You’ve done well!
I'm so glad they did that right after they banned predator contest and are getting ready to shut down trapping
Great news, we fought it for years in KS and got defeated because one of the producers of Ten Point had a father that lived in Hays and was retired and paid to camp out in Topeka to promote it. Glad CO can still find the resources to keep it out. Wish you all luck and due dilligence.
I guess the money from the manufacturers is not flowing fast enough. They bought their way in everywhere else. Good for Colorado.
Good news but I'm really surprised.
Great news, but I suspect there will be more attempts to allow them. Stay vigilant.
The NRA must have been sleeping at the wheel during this. They typically have a full court press when opportunities like this are on the table. Good for Colorado.
Great news for CO and any of you folks that had a hand in it. YZF is right, big money usually works against us on these issues.
"The NRA must have been sleeping at the wheel during this. They typically have a full court press when opportunities like this are on the table. Good for Colorado."
Yup. They were instrumental in getting xbows legalized in PA in 2009. We now face increased pressure from the rifle hunters because we're killing too many of "their" buck.
In Wisconsin, the WBH was fine with crossbow inclusion during archery seasons, as long as the licenses were kept separate. Same season, separate licenses. Guess what the result is?
Way to fight the good fight guys!
A Colorado Commission made a ruling against a petition to allow crossbows in archery season. OK - I can understand folks being happy about keeping the competition for scarce archery tags limited to Bowhunters. I get that.
But using this to bash the NRA? Come on.
Actually, in many areas of the US deer herds have exploded and wildlife agencies are hard pressed to keep populations under control. There’s no competition for tags, so they expand seasons and bag limits, allow crossbows, etc. Personally, see no reason to not allow crossbows where there’s no demonstrable negative impact on existing bowhunters.
Are point creeps, quota seasons and limited drawings negatives? This happens on elk, moose, western deer, lions, western, northern, and eastern bears, turkeys, sheep, goats, etc, etc.
Anything we do to make hunting and harvesting easier and more efficient... will have an impact.
Kudos, Wi has really did a disservice to bowhunting future, the easier it is the more acceptable it is.
Mn. is still holding tight to allowing x-gun to the general public and still not allowing baiting.
This I like!
Stay strong CO Bowhunters, they will come at you hard every year...and yes, one of the biggest proponents is the NRA
Wisconsin and Michigan bow and arrow hunters are now the minority during archery seasons. And, bow and arrow hunters have declined every year since scoped crossbows became legal for all hunters.
Looking at this objectively and at possible unintended consequences.....if crossbow hunters in CO stop hunting, is that a good thing for hunting in general?
The N R A got x bows in Wis.
Crossbow hunters in Colorado hunt rifle season. They will not stop hunting. What we don't need is rifle hunters buying a crossbow and hunting during archery season.
There was no logic to jamming more hunters into an already crowded September deer & elk season. Colorado is a pick-your weapon state for the most part. Even if having more total deer & elk hunters in Colorado was desirable (it's not), this wouldn't have done it. It'd just move the same hunters into different seasons. Nothing to be gained for the CPW Commission to go for this. In the case of limited tags, they already have dozens to hundreds of people vying for every tag as it is.
What is really inconsistent throughout many western states is their stance on crossbows vs muzzleloaders. Some states outlaw x-bows during archery seasons for fear there will be too big a harvest, yet those same states (ex AZ & UT) have separate “muzzleloader” seasons that allow in-lines with pelletized synthetic powder, sabots, scopes, shotgun primers, etc. Just sayin!
We're talking about Colorado though, not AZ or UT. In addition to the long-standing crossbow and draw-lock prohibition, muzzleloaders in their own season must use iron sights, no sabots, no pelletized powder nor smokeless powder. The notion being to stay at least somewhat consistent with the original intent of being "primitive" seasons.
This thread has already been all over the place = CO, MI, MN, WI, KS, PA, even the NRA. Agree that CO sticks to the same principles throughout “primitive” weapons for hunting. Just pointing out that many western states that prohibit x-bows don’t. I’ve been a bowhunter most of my life and still am - just don’t have anything against using crossbows.
Your actual mileage may vary.
Ground hunter
What is that assessment based on. What you heard on the bowsite or other imperial evidence?
Spiral Horn, it's not the crossbow so much as the added competition for archery tags when point creep is already accelerating. Then theres the added crowding in a month when we are already spilling over the rim of the cup from all the different competing groups with rifles, muzzleloaders an bows, plus all the nonhunting recreationalists.
Ground. Perfect
Compelling evidence and we will see what happens
This issue wasn't raised by a concerned group of few hundred or a few thousand crossbow hunters who currently hunt Colorado and wanted to expand their opportunities. Because that group doesn't exist. Most of us in CO have never seen anyone hunt with a crossbow here even though they are legal in many seasons spanning from Sept - January for 10 big game species, small game and turkeys spring and fall.
Thats because those seasons allow firearms as well. This wasn't about getting current Colorado crossbow hunters something new. They are as rare as hen's teeth.
Great job CO Bowhunters!!! Glad to see you kept the archery seasons we fought long and hard to get and maintain the past 50 years. Congratulations!
Congrats to Colorado, you cannot believe the headaches you have avoided. Good for everyone that helped to kill this poison.....Mike
q d m nailed it about Wisconsin. Glad Colorado didn't cave in.
Yep crossguns ruined Indiana & are well on their way to doing the same in Illinois. The only midwest state to hold off the corrupt politicians & special interest groups is Iowa. Good to hear a glimmer of hope coming out of Colorado.
X3 on the Wisconsin fiasco. Congrats Colorado.
Great decision.Refreshing.
Just asking, would this have been much of a problem if they did allow it? I have very limited mountain hunting experience, but many of you have stated aluminum bows are too heavy and so save a pound buying the much more expensive carbons. The crossbows I have held are fairly heavy and clunky and I would not use one for tree stand hunting so I just am curious if a lot of guys would have carried these at elevations that were challenging enough?
Too bad the DNR from Michigan couldn't do the same.
Yep, put em in Rifle season then. We got them in regular Archery season in Tenn. They cant use them on Post but state land and private they can.
HH~
Now let’s work at bringing back a real primitive season.
Bow seasons and Muzzle loaders started as primitive endeavors.
If we broke seasons into recurves, longbows, and flintlocks, Matchlocks and earlier technology type rifles,
And compounds into another.
There goes the point problem.
If you want to hunt more. Pick up a primitive weapon.
And I like my Mathews Vertix.
But I love my stick bows.
"Mark my word,,,,if no hunting ever comes to this country, Colorado will be the first state to implement it......"
I bet that it would be California.
New England, California,
Then the states that the California exodus is ruining
Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Oregon.
I guess the money from the manufacturers is not flowing fast enough. They bought their way in everywhere else. Good for Colorado.
I'm still mad that compounds were allowed into the mix. But times change and one either lives through the changes or dies
For you in the west, most hunters in the east were indifferent to the issues.. and very, very, very quickly embraced the scoped and cocked crossbow. Bow and arrow hunting in the Midwest and east is continuing to decline and represents less than half of those hunting in archery seasons.
Big money does not buy the weapon, hunters do. Nobody to blame but the hunters. Manufacturers only produce what people are likely to purchase. There is a whole generation hunting now who will not effectively know how to draw and shoot a bow and arrow with confidence. Perhaps that will reduce pressure in the west. I know some of you have experienced such a revolution before.
You know the phrase... " Ethically, I owe it to the animal to hunt with the most accurate weapon I have confidence in ". I have read that phrase all over this forum, and for many years. During archery seasons in the east, that most ethical weapon would be the ultra modern scoped and cocked crossbow, firing high speed bolts, not arrows.
“ You know the phrase... ‘ Ethically, I owe it to the animal to hunt with the most accurate weapon I have confidence in.’”
Yeah, not buyin’ it.
Xguns turned most of the midwest states into a mess and the NRA was there to support xgun inclusion. Defend them if you wish but they did vertical bowhunters a great disservice. I suspect if you follow the money you would find out why.
I hope you realize I am not defending crossbows or their users.
Crossbows have done none of what they are blamed for. But it is hilarious to read posts from people that think they (crossbows) are the great Satan
I love the posts from Zim. The Indiana and Illinois expert. Those are priceless
Now if Zim was giving a tutorial on internet dating we should all pay attention
Good on colorado. If that is what the majority wanted.
"Crossbows have done none of what they are blamed for"
Mindless.
I like the fact that this was a unanimous vote. Despite all the criticism thrown at the CPW (including by me) on this site they actually have done a pretty good job limiting technology on our "primitive" weapons. Skip the compound debate, that ship sailed a long time ago, but they have resisted scopes on muzzleloaders, electronics on bows, and now this, so I think we give a little credit where it's due. Also thanks to all who fought for this.
Simple reading comprehension Kiebler, I can't help you...ask the other elves
@Mobreaks - I get you; that’s just one of those tired old excuses that I’m sick of hearing. Plenty of incredibly lousy shots out there carrying scoped rifles which would print well inside an inch, given a capable shooter.
“ Skip the compound debate, that ship sailed a long time ago...”
No offense, Bud, but I trust that you understand how an honest skeptic might find that just a little too convenient, coming from a compound shooter. Not that I recall your preferred set-up, which could be a selfie with sinew string and flint points for all I know.
But high-tech archery is like suburban sprawl; it’s all good ‘til some jackass puts up a subdivision in YOUR back yard. To anyone who is pro x-bow, the difference between horizontal and vertical is no more than horizontal vs. vertical. But a compound shooter complaining about the impact of x-bows in Archery season sounds a little silly and hollow to a one-string shooter.
Yep. SitO. That's what I thought
Just as it was really meant to be! Congrats CO, wish we can have more states follow in their footsteps.
Ya know.... it would be really nice if someone from Co. would forward this thread to the CPW commissioners to let them know of the overwhelming support by a bunch of serious bowhunters for the votes they cast to keep crossbows out of archery seasons....Mike
GF. I understand your point. There is no question that trad hunting is more difficult and that compounds have changed the landscape of archery. I shoot both a compound and a recurve by the way. When I said "that ship has already sailed" I merely meant that I see no way after all this time that we could possibly go back to all trad hunting, but we still have the means to prevent further technological edge. While it is certain that compounds are an advantage over traditional setups, in my view the essence of bowhunting is physically drawing the bow in the presence of the animal. I have hunted with both hand drawn types of bows, and I have guided several X-bow hunters. I personally believe the difference between a cocked x-bow that can be shot from any position, at any angle, with no movement is a much bigger advantage than the advantage between a compound and a traditional setup. This debate will probably never end, but I personally believe this was a great move by the state of Colorado.
I don’t think we need to pose it as compounds against traditional.
Most think there are too many bow hunters in Colorado
I know it will never happen but a traditional archery season for 2 weeks and a 2 week compound Season.
Or dip into the rifle seasons and extend bow season.
And have late rifle and bow season to get the numbers to objective. Where and when needed
More than likely the 2 week compound would go all draw.
Which by the way will eventually need to happen any way.
Or start with all Non resident hunts are draw
I never owned a crossbow and maybe shot a buddy's once years ago. This is from an observer's point of view reading this thread. Alot of group-think going on about how bad crossbows are to bowhunting. Is it to the point where crossbow shooters are not welcome on Bowsite? To me, that is the environment being portrayed to some potential member who happens to read this thread. Just a thought....
Paul thanks for posting and the CBA and you guys done good!
Good post by ground hunter.
Congrats to Colorado and some very interesting posts and thoughts on here I would have to disagree about a xbow being better than a shotgun but everyone is entitled to their opinion.Stay safe and good luck Lewis
GH.....I hunt with everything but a crossbow. Nothing against them...just still able to hunt with a compound. From a Bowsite perspective, I'm thinking it would be a smart business move to be inclusive versus sending crossbow hunters someplace else. As you mention there is Crossbow Nation, plus Archerytalk, Bowhunting.com and a host of other competing archery related sites. I think the purist idea for Bowsite turns folks off, especially prospective members looking for something fresh and different than the other competing sites. In the bigger picture....turning off (or turning away) hunters of any stripes isn't healthy in the long term for hunting. Again...just my useless two cents as a non-crossbow user.
Crossbow shots (when fired) do not disrupt the surrounding areas like a shotgun blast may. This fact would also make crossbows good elk medicine in small parcel areas such as with farmland elk.
We should not turn away crossbow hunters? Well then we should not turn away muzzle loader hunters, or rifle hunter either.
JL nailed it. To that end - Crossbow Nation has a vertical bow forum where the moderator has a warning posted that the forum is to share information and they do not allow the bashing of vertical bows.
It’s dirt simple, fellas....
Crossguns are appropriate wherever the harvest level is consistently and appreciably below a sound management objective; they have NO place in an Archery season where hunter density is above desirable levels or where there are more hunters than there are tags to go around.
I don’t LIKE having a bunch more hunters in the woods during bow season; I don’t like baiting, either. But management objectives don’t give a rat’s ass what I want,
JMO, though, CO owes it to the spirit of the law (back when archery season was authorized) to continue to offer unlimited tags to those using equipment which is the functional equivalent of that used when the law was passed until such time that restricted participation becomes necessary for the well-being of the resource. If anyone is going to have to go through a draw, it should be those using the equipment which paved the way for the mass participation which has caused the overcrowding that made the restrictions necessary. Fair’s Fair.