Optics on archery equipment
Pennsylvania
Contributors to this thread:
Well I'm wondering how everyone feels about Optics being used on archery equipment for hunting. I'm not for it. I feel that with optics we will never see any expansion of archery seasons. We are just going to hear,,, We are killing to many deer to expand your season. Years back Colorado used to let inline users have scopes. Then after a few years they changed it to open sites only. Optics could easily be installed on flintlocks, but u must use open sights. Ed
I’m not in favor of optics being use on bows or crossbows.
We just talked about this yesterday as we went around the course at the Strictly Sticks traditional 3-D shoot. Obviously, we are a segment of bowhunting that has already shunned most modern advancements in archery equipment.
What I take out of this is "what's it matter?". Optics on bows and X-guns is a non issue.
Let's get real here. Scopes are finally the last straw? This is your line in the sand?!!!
Just have at it and do your own thing, as I will continue to do my own thing.
Good luck and good hunting.
What Red said. It went too far and I quit caring about that garbage a long time ago. They can put lasers on their 'bows' or heat seeking broadheads on the arrows for all I care. Now? Now they want to draw a line? In front of an optic? Now we should worry about season expansion? Pfff. Lol. Whatever. Drew my own line long ago. Don't care what their bowhunting looks like. Do it. Who cares.
Yes it is my line. Scopes are coming preset so you sight in at 30 yds and you will soon to be able to range you deer and put the 100 yd dot on them and shoot. What's next the 150yd dot? Ed
Has there been talk of PA not allowing the new Garmin sights?
No scopes on crossbows or muzzleloaders solves a lot.
Huntinelk, I hope not. With that sight once sighted in. For those that dont know. It auto ranges your game and you just put the dot on your game. One dot 20 yds or 80. Ed
What about us old guys who are weak and half blind but still want to bow hunt? Ya all sayen the hell with us?
I'm saying wear glasses like I do. :)
You compound guys, all yunzs want is more more and more...
I have a buddy at work who would probably use a flame thrower or a bazooka for deer if it was allowed. Optics on his X-gun would be great.
I asked if he ever wished to make bowhunting harder or more challenging. The rewards are so much greater. "Nope, I just want to kill them. If I don't, the next guy will."
We are on different ends of the spectrum.
Now RC everyone on Bowsite knows your special.. But what I what is less. How did you guys do it back in the 20's well before archery go popular ?? :)
RC used real bows and arrows then, he uses real bows and arrows now.
Ed, first time I met you at the UBP campout, I thought you was a ham radio operator and ya was carrying your antenna around wif ya:) Then I learnt it wuz yer bow...
Ed- I hate to break it to you but guys are using those Garmin sights in Pa! ??
If its legal then go for it. Draw your own line and stand behind it.
That said becareful judging others whose line is in a different spot. 10 yrs from now you may very well have a different attitude.
String guns, Draw locks, lasers, scopes, who cares. Go your own path and dont worry about that of others.
RC: I find your comment about Ham Radio Operators and Archery...well, typical Ropy stuff!! I've only once had a portable radio with me on an Archery Shoot. Well, maybe more than once. The antenna looked more like an Easton Eagle 1816... !!!! Signed, HARRY CARRY, aka WB3EKR-Ham Operator! (Merry Christmas, my Friend!)
For those of you that is for scopes on archery equipment, what's your home management unit?
I'm not for it Ed, but I'd like to see the rifles out first. Alot of shooting around here that week, probably equal or more that this past season.
All those wheel guys have sights on their bows..
That's cheating.
I shoot stick bows and wear bifocal glasses. That's cheating.
I have a verifier peep. Am I in the club???
Correct me if I'm wrong, but haven't they been legal for a long time?
Water over the dam....move on.
Bill I was not talking about devices that clear up your PINs. I was talking about devices that make a deer that's at 60 yds look like it's at 10. Also optic devices that will Auto Range your Quarry and then auto adjust your sight aim for the trajectory.
This to me all started in the fall when I was at a archery shop and a couple to guys was talking about long range archery hunting.. With the right setup and optics, their saying 125 to 150 yds. Kinda like the long range gun hunters shooting 800, 900, 1000 plus yds. Will ten years from now mean 200 yds plus archery hunting???? Ed
For those that are ok with optics being used. Are you hunting in WMU that are open fro. middle of September to right up to rifle?
I know Ed. I was just kidding!
Use whatever you want, but, don't get upset with those who may believe how you do it ain't bowhunting. Oh, and don't give excueses, cloaked as reasons, as to why you're using what you're using.
I wouldn’t worry about it Ed. Ain’t too many places in NEPA where you can get a hundred yard shot at a deer let alone 125 or 150! ;-)
Ya don't worry about it, Ed. If ya wanna put a scope on your compound bow go right ahead. Ya fricken sissy pants:)
RC, where can I get one of those fancy optics for my longbow?
Pretty sure Ed has a couple extra ones.
I have a 2x extended eye relief scope and a roll of duct tape. Pretty sure there's way to get it on a longbow.
^^^^trouble maker^^^^ Roy can you straighten him out??
So now that some states are considering changes to archery seasons because of the much higher takes, no one cares. I do see that folks that have a season that start in mid September and goes right up to gun dont really care. Will you care if your season gets cut?
I'm pessimistic about them be able to obtain the harvest ratios with declining hunter numbers and increasing posted property. So do they have a choice? The first archery season had far more vehicles parked along the roads than 'rifle' season and this late season combined. Not saying it's like that all over the state but sure has change around here. 2B already has a pretty long season and the deer herd is increasing quickly. That said not seeing many big bucks or large rubs through out the seasons in areas I have access to. And I don't understand that.
I'm pessimistic about them be able to obtain the harvest ratios with declining hunter numbers and increasing posted property. So do they have a choice?
I agree.
Bc173, are u saying theres more killed than reported or deer killed by other means and reported as a archery kill??
My guess is that this years archery take is the highest ever.. And because of that, archery in the north will never see and more expanded opportunities, like you guys are seeing in some areas.
Years ago, before the crossbow was permitted in archery season, I recall some discussion at the PGC about the number of bucks being killed by bowhunters . Obviously that percentage has increased over the recent years. I believe the concern was over bucks left to do the breeding and I also don't recall any final resolution to the discussion.
If that is still a valid concern by the biologists then I wouldn't expect any additions to bow season. Maybe there's an opportunity to extend the chance for antlerless deer. And all of that is dependent on the number of deer being killed by gun hunters. If gun kills decrease and the number of deer starts to dramatically increase I would hope that bow season is extended.
Simply not enough glory in today's world shooting does. We have created a culture of big antler hunting. I believe that is also the reason for so little 'rifle' season activity and late season. If you can't see and hunt a monster buck not much sense hunting.
Ed.... looks like my original post was deleted. What I am saying is that in some states, archery kill totals are out numbering gun/shotgun kills, in their respective seasons. According to reports I’ve read, something will need to be done. According to these same reports, the main reason for this was the inclusion of scoped crossbows in the regular archery season, allowing hunters to shoot upwards of 70, 80 yards and further. This is not hearsay. This is hard factual evidence, and published for all to see. That’s what I was trying to convey in my earlier post without stepping on any toes. And yes, I am one of the many that don’t believe scoped (any weapon) )should be allowed in the regular archery season. However, that horse has done left the barn, and ain’t coming back anytime soon. I also believe that, if we don’t start policing ourselves, others will. And probably to the dis-satisfaction of many.