A compromise?

Allow crossbows during any seasons when muzzleloaders are allowed and for any species legal to shoot with a muzzleloader.  Thus, early season inlines does only, rifle season, and second season deer (after christmas).  Camo rules apply from archers, but seasons and bags apply from muzzleloaders.
 
Special regs areas to stay the same.
 
Do that for 3 years and require the possession of a free crossbow permit in addition to a paid muzzleloader or archery permit for hunting in the appropriate seasons.  Alternatively create a paid crossbow permit the same as an archery or muzzleloader permit.
 
Over the three years monitor the kill rates for each weapon for each season and compare across the board against number of license sold for each type.  Then you can get a better estimation of impact of each weapon on the herd.
 
thanks,
rick

True Story... I met a guy last week who took up archery hunting this past year.  His weapon of choice was a crossbow.  He had been a gun hunter (not to categorize) for several years, or so I gathered.  Anyway, this yahoo reports to me (for reasons unknown) that he shot 5 deer with his crossbow this year and recovered one.  It has always been my fear that many gun hunting mentality types will take marginal or poorly offered shot opportunities given the chance if they are allowed to use crossbows.  Now, I am not against them at all but I would like to see them used responsibly.  Perhaps a complete Crossbow training and proficiency course should be mandatory for any individual that wihes to hunt with a crossbow.  Upon completion of the course, you would be given a stamp and/or registration number which would need to be on you at all times when hunting.   

How about, 3 weeks of recurve and longbow only, then 3 weeks of compound/crossbow. The only technological advance you get through the first 3 weeks is that you dont have to widdle your own arrows and chip flints for arrowheads.

Danesdad,

That is my idea for cost also. The free crossbow permit would only be a tracking number. They would still need an archery stamp or muzzle loader stamp to hunt in those seasons. The alternative would be to create a crossbow permit that costs the same as the archery or muzzle loader permit costs. I think the freebie would be better since the other permits are already in place and the crossbow permit would be like a registration number.

Thanks
Rick

Danes,
 
I talked to one commissioner at length about this idea.  A free crossbow permit.  A crossbow user would need to purchase an existing archery stamp and then secure a free crossbow permit.  Being free it would encourage true participation that added cost might taint.  Would not need legislative approval as well, plus the PGC would realize some added revenue from archery stamps.
 
I can assure you that those I talked to on this board do not want to go to the legislature for a crossbow stamp.  The free permit would circumvent that process and still have the desired results.
 
Now, where to go from here.  This "idea" needs to be presented by a commissioner in "committee" and would need the support of the other commissioners in attendence.  From there it moves forward to possibly being placed on the agenda for a upcoming meeting.  How long does this process take?  Much longer than we have been discussing this issue.
 
Yes, it is an idea that I support and if this proposal does not pass next week I will be pushing for either expanding crossbow legal WMU or the crossbow permit.
 
Right now, I support expanding crossbow legal WMU to areas of the state where deer numbers are still fair to good.  Monitor the impact and report back. 
 
Good idea though and maybe we will be bringing it up again depending on the vote.
 
 

Griffon,
 
It is fair to say that the SRA were crossbows are already legal are as suburban as one could get?  I agree with you that with more hunters comes more hunter/landowner conflict.  If the crossbow legal WMU were expanded, that would be into more rural areas around the surburban areas where deer numbers are still relatively good and access better.
 
Also, the free permit would not really be free as one would still have to purchase the existing archery license(new participants).  If you required crossbow users to purchase a crossbow stamp, would be a wash.  If you required crossbow user to purchase a archery stamp and a crossbow permit, that may minimize true participation somewhat because of the added cost and could be a factor in the data.
 
 

ORIGINAL: tippecanoe

I am certain that the crossbow producers are already in most of the game commissioners pockets. 

 
Not so sure about that one tippe.  Wouldn't surprise me if an offer from the xbow manufacturers was made.  These commissioners are good people.  The only question to me that arises from a monetary gain perspective, is Isabella.  That said, I haven't been to his store and I'm not sure how much affect this decision would have on him (even if he does sell crossbows, some say no) since crossbows are already legal in his area.