Arrowtrade has long seen the potential crossbows had to introduce non-archers to bowhunting and enable older bowhunters to keep in the field. Now, after attending the April ATA Board of Directors meeting, I will admit some reservations.
At that meeting, some board members were concerned that powerful new crossbows were far outpacing vertical bows in performance and would be difficult to consider as primitive weapons entitled to long seasons. The surprising data from the 2017 Wisconsin hunting season, during which crossbow hunters tagged more deer than vertical bow hunters for the first time in history, also drew a lot of attention from the board. Crossbows were just legalized for all Wisconsin deer hunters in 2014 and that is pretty dramatic evidence that modern, high-performance crossbows are easy to use and highly effective.
Comments from retailers and a distributor on the board also indicated anecdotal evidence that crossbows are not serving as a gateway to other forms of archery. Since little practice is needed to stay proficient with them, that can hurt sales of arrows, releases, sights, and many other accessories that retailers depend on to stay profitable.
The board voted 15-2 to study whether the ATA position statement on crossbows, adopted back in 2008, should now be revised. The existing statement reads, in part, "The ATA believes that crossbows are viable shooting and hunting equipment that provide opportunity for a segment of America's hunters and recreational shooters...The ATA leaves the seasons and regulation governing the use of crossbows for hunting to each state wildlife agency. ATA believes that when populations of wildlife, like deer, are overabundant, state agencies should make use of every type of hunting equipment to help control and manage those populations." A study group consisting of staff and board members has formed, has met once and is in the process of gathering data, Arrowtrade was told by the ATA early in June.
In the meantime, I would suggest major crossbow manufacturers declare a halt to the speed race. Speeds in excess of 400 fps and advertisements claiming the accuracy potential at 100 yards and beyond are only going to draw more negative attention from game departments. Nobody in the bowhunting industry will benefit if archery seasons are reduced as a result of the perception that crossbows are morphing into crossguns.
Major sports typically set equipment limitations, from the characteristics of golf balls to the types of engines used in NASCAR. The eight major manufacturers that sponsor the North American Crossbow Federation could consider a 400 fps limit: nothing to be advertised or warranted beyond that. Existing models that exceed that could be packaged with heavier arrows to fit within the new guidelines. With the speed limit in place, manufacturers could still innovate in ways to improve accuracy, comfort, reliability, and ease of use.
Setting these voluntary limits on crossbows would help them be viewed by the public and state game agencies as equipment that is not radically different in performance from a compound bow
-Arrowtrade, July 2018
From: Missouribreaks
Arrowtrade article = ATA opinion = a big oopps - our compound mfgr's are taking offense to the crossbow favoritism. Sales are down. Still about the money.
My archery guy sells lots of compounds, till July, than crossbows for the most part prior to the season. He also sells a lot of recurves, (high end) non hunter competition style bows for field archery, which is popular with the younger crowd
Its all cyclic. as far as the issues, some guys get upset with what others shoot. I have trad friends, who just get all worked up over compounds,,,, I have no idea why they do,,,,,, I shoot it all, its all fun
My hunting set up is a 43llb Black Hunter long bow tribute Easton aluminum arrows and 125 grains coc heads, DRT's
like I said what do you shoot? Really I do not care what you shoot or anyone else.....
When I get to where I can no longer shoot my beloved sticks...I'm hanging it up.
Wes Wallace, pretty hard bow to beat, hand one in my hands once, the guy almost sold it to me.....
Buck Jabber what is your set up?
Has the crossbow season not been reduced yet? I thought I heard that was going to happen some year?
Doesn't the DNR first have to decide too many deer are being harvested before the crossbow season would be reduced? I keep hearing/reading especially from DNR types that most areas still have piles and piles of deer, forests are being demolished, a tree can not grow, standing room only for deer in lots of places (elbow to elbow) causing CWD to pass like there is no tomorrow, and CWD is terrible, it will kill all the deer, so we must kill more deer before CWD kills them...we all know the story. ;-)
Anyway, I wonder when the DNR will decide too many deer are being harvested and reduce the crossbow season? Any ideas?
I don't hunt as hard or as often as in my younger days, but I still hunt the same way...exception being tree stands. They weren't around then. Truth be told, considering some of the stupid stuff we did back then...I'm seriously impressed I'm still alive! Lol.
Today's new hunters also have a wealth of knowledge at their fingertips. I had one GPS, fish finder, and encyclopedia all rolled into one unit called, dad. :^)
I'm continuously reading the doom & gloom on these forums. I ain't buying it. One piece of advice I gave my kids is relevant here...stop worrying so much about things you have no control over, and concern yourself with things you do.
Life's short...start living while you're able.
Hey Captain,
Nice to hear from you as always. How's the Greasers fishing?
Let me remind you, that like me, you too are not a real bowhunter because we both shoot compounds and not trad gear. It is that simple. I admit it. You know it but won't admit it. But, one thing that does differentiate us is that when the going gets tough, I stick with my compound because it is not all about the kill. You on the other hand switch to a gun to get 'er done. At least you have admitted to that. But, doesn't that make you a lazy vermin gun hunter as you stated? You can add that to your title as being a pro-crossbow voter/enabler willing to take payoffs for your stance. #nailedit
Hey Captain Crossbow. That actually has a nice ring to it. Can I just call you CC for short? Wow, you should not type when you are angry. It is kind of pathetic.
It's OK to be a compound hunter. Just admit you are not a real bowhunter which we all know anyway given how to switch over to guns when the going gets tough. It's OK to be a gun hunter too but it is weird to call them lazy vermin when you are one unless that description fits you too. Seeing how you took the easy way out when the going got tough and switched to a gun to kill your turkey, that might apply to you. It is a tad hypocritical though.
As for my son. He and I have our own ethical rules that we both follow. If we hit one and lose it, we burn that tag for the year. 100% our choices. My son has been quite successful since then. But thanks for asking. Now, if you were simply bashing my son for losing a deer, let me remind you how your daughter hit a bear that you could not find and it was eventually found and eaten by wolves. Want to continue to play tit for tat CC?
So what will your price be from the Crossbow Federation when they ask for a single season? I know you have a price. Luckily for you, NDAs are a think of beauty unless you are Stormy Daniels of course.
Hey CC. Welcome back! No charters today? You only talk to me when you are bored? You must be bored often because you answer every retort every time I respond to one of your shots over my bow.
Don't feel sorry for me and my son. We have our ethics and those are our choices, not just mine. They follow similar principals that happen in Alaska and with many outfitters. You hit one, you lose it, you burn that tag. We are proud to voluntarily follow that mantra. Your opinion (or anyone else's) on that means nothing to us. It is our choice. In my son's last (and only) case, he chose to not shoot another doe but he still did have a buck tag. Remember that? Oh, BTW, when you recovered the wolf eaten bear your daughter lost (kudos to her for using her bow and not copping out with a gun like you do), did you tag it by chance? I bet not but I expect you to lie as you often do here.
Curiously, do you and your daughter only buy a bear license in sone (sic) emotional attempt to keep them from the hands of another who is much more of a threat to the bear? Lol! Your words, not mine, but tit for tat CC - tit for tat.
I hope you have your rifle in Africa to sit in those below ground moats waiting for an animal to come bury their head in a water hole for the PH to tell you if you can shoot it. I'd hate to see you struggle with your compound, so a gun should be your weapon of choice. After all, you are a self-admitted lazy vermin gun hunter (your words - not mine) #amirite.
Have a great trip CC. Be safe. Please do send some pictures. We'll chat again when you get back and am bored.
Very true!
Just one guy's opinion from across the border. Like i said in a different thread, you Sconnies have a much more active forum and i get more out of yours. I rarely post but read all of your threads.
Was up North with my nine year old. Did some scouting, shooting (compound bows) and camping. It was great. There were some fun conversations about future hunts together.
My 14 year old has transferred to a new residency high school. A formal complaint was lodged with Mom that the dorm room needs some sort of personalized decoration. My wife texted a suggestion with a picture of one of my elk butt decoys that has seen better days. It was well received. Cracks me up.
Worried about the future of bowhunting? Introduce some kids to bow hunting. If your powers of persuasion are lacking, chase the wife around the house and make a new one from scratch.
I've got a few that I think will keep things going just fine.
Spend some time with a kid who's chomping at the bit for the future chance of being in the field with a bow and see that enthusiasm in your own eyes.
Share something positive. Make something better. Have fun. Attract some more people to bowhunting. Try not to sound like old ladies swinging purses.
Missouribreaks's Link
