Does this bother you?

I was an opponent of the X-bow inclusion, however I had not really seen that much effect in my area in the first couple years and was beginning to believe that maybe thi8ngs weren't so bad.

Last week as I was sitting in my stand, I saw 3 hunters start across the field toward me all three were half camo and half blaze orange and each was carrying a x-bow and a white 5 gallon bucket to sit on. Is this really what we want our archery season to be about?

On a higher note.  Have you seen pics of all the kids shooting does with crossbows this year.  With the antlerless transfer regulation and the addition of crossbows, some great things are happening.  Have seen quite a few bucks hitting the ground for the youngsters as well. 

I'll have to agree, slobs are slobs and goofy hunters are just that regardless of weapon or season. I could spend the rest of the day relating my experiences with them over the course of 57 years of hunting.

On the junior crossbows item. I'am not sure what it says for the skill level necessary when I see five and six year olds in the paper doing the hero shot with their deer and crossbow.

Mixed feelings. I was initially against it and fought it hard but now, I just ignore it and really don't care. Only thing I am truly concerned about right now is a possible reduction in the length of the archery season if too many deer are harvested.

I am affected by it though. I never used to have guys pushing the woodlots I hunt in archery season doing organized drives but now, with crossbows in hand, I have seen it on more than one occassion.

I have done slow "bumps" back in the day with one or two other archers that have come real close to working but these were slow pushes just to get the deer moving slowly out in front or using the wind to blow your scent through a bedding area and making them exit where the "standers" were. We NEVER did the branch busting, shouting drives these guys were doing. Slobs are slobs, I just think there are a few more of them partaking in the archery season now with the inclusion of crossbows.

I have learned to move my spots to avoid these guys now.

Doc, they didn't interfere with my hunt that night directly. However I am willing to bet that all the deer bedded downwind of the edge tney hunted got an education. So they did directly effect my future hunts on that property.

As far as who shot a deer and who didn't, I am offended that you believe that I am a low enough class person to be upset because someone shot a deer. I am excited for everyone who is lucky enough to legally harvest a deer.

What I am not happy about is making a primitive weapons season that is already more difficult than rifle hunting, much more difficult, because now there will be many more slob hunters in the woods than there were in the past. I enjoyed archery the way it was because I didn't have to deal with nearly as many of those morons as I see in rifle season. Now every Tom, Dave and Harry believes they can buy a crossbow and become an archery hunter, and I am sorry, but archery is not that simple if you take it seriously. Are all crossbow shooters like the three I observed last week? No, but if they are not then they were probably already hunting archery prior to inclusion.

If you have to ask what is wrong with sitting on a white bucket in archery, well then I think I am fairly certain which side of the field you belong on.

A crossbow, IMO, is not "ARCHERY". a long bow or compound, in my book, are archery hunting tools/methods. I personally wish it were still like it was, if you get a special doctor's permit - use the crossbow. I knew this sort of thing would start popping up.

You can use a crossbow in archery season, but we can't hunt Sundays......LOL ONLY in PA!

ORIGINAL: eyesandgillz

Mixed feelings. I was initially against it and fought it hard but now, I just ignore it and really don't care. Only thing I am truly concerned about right now is a possible reduction in the length of the archery season if too many deer are harvested.

If the first two seasons are any indication, don't think that is a concern.  Archery license sales have already plateaued as well.  

There is concern among some that too many bucks may be harvested pre-rut.  As long as archers keep shooting does, not much changes as far a b/d ratios.  Also, the concern is being raised about archers now taking about 30% of the total harvest.  This upward trend began before crossbows and does follow a national trend.  The PGC manages game based off of total harvest and not specific seasons anyway.

Honestly, I think the downfall started with the advent of the compound bow. How about we start the season off with a 3 week recurve only season, then finish out with the compound and x-bows.

Having recently purchased an x-bow for my son to start hunting with, I can see the good and the bad with them. My son has been lectured about shot placement enough that I think he gets it. I'm more comfortable with him making a good shot and he's gaining a love for archery season and looking forward to using a compound when the time is right.

Hard to believe guys are using gun tactics with them, there'll be a lot of wounded deer out there...

quote:

Archery used to be a season for most skilled hunters to test themselves at close range with weapons that are more primitive than rifles.

I think that is still true. Both weapons have similar performance. Just the crossbow is easier to master.

quote:

They had to change the definition of a bow in order to legally fit crossbows into the archery season. Also, explain what a red dot scope has to do with pimitive.

I'd have to say that I have been annoyed more times by people talking loudly on walkie talkies in the woods than crossbow hunters. Especially those radios that let out a loud beep at end of every transmission. But, although they are annoying, who am I to bit*h about them making noise. I don't own the woods. I just find better places to hunt that don't have as much interference.

Archery used to be a season for most skilled hunters to test themselves at close range with weapons that are more primitive than rifles.

I'd have to say that crossbows are still more primitive than any rifle and are best only at close range so I have no complaints there in calling them a form of primitive weapon....

as for slobs.. I agree they are out there in EVERY season... even small game...and still I hunt and enjoy it.. Sure I have had hunts ruined, but I try not to blame others or group folks together just because of the weapon they choose to use...

just like I could care less if a guy throws flies, worms, lures, or what ever is LEGAL... he has a right (he bought his license just like me) and can enjoy his sport the way he chooses to enjoy it...


but I have also had other things not go just as I planned.. it's all a part of life and something we have to live with in the USA where we have so much freedom to do as we please and not have to try to do as others choose to do....

I don't think these were additions for added hunter opportunity

I'd have to disagree..

The junior hunt allowed young hunters the opportunity to harvest a deer in warmer weather and a chance at deer that have been pressured less with a choice of three weapons.. bow, crossbow, rifle.. how can that be a bad thing ???

The senior hunt allowed the same thing = choice of weapons, less pressured deer and warmer weather.

The crossbows allowed more folks an opportunity to hunt warmer weather, less pressured deer and the opportunity to hunt with a weapon less primitive than a rifle, but did not require as much time in learning to master as a truly primitive bow like the recurve or longbow...

Also, explain what a red dot scope has to do with primitive.

Remember.. folks said the same things about compounds ===

Are compounds really "PRIMITVE" === wheels, pulleys, peep sights, lighted sights, pendulum sights, let-offs, etc what do they have to do with "primitive" when it was just long and re-curve archery season...

Also look at what most archers use today that would make archery hunting being seen as truly primitive a joke === trial cameras, scent blockers, grunt calls, rattling antlers, mock scrapes, tree stands, ladder stands, blinds...

NOTHING against any of this, but to complain about archery season no longer being primitive because of added opportunties and crossbows just makes me laugh .....

Hunting in any sense is no longer what I would call primtive....

even muzzleloader hunting has progressed past the stage of being truly primitive in many ways..... and what were/are the results.. more folks taking advantage of those seasons too....

=== All good in my book ===

The same "fear" that season is going to be cut was the cry when compounds were introduced.. and what happened.. the season actually got LONGER - more opportunities to hunt in the fall (warmer weather)were added and archery still accounts for 30% of the harvest...

and folks think that is a bad thing ?????


a question.. do you think that guys using compounds are less of a hunter and lazy and thus should not be a part of archery season just because they chose compounds rather than take the time to master a recurve or longbow ??????

a question.. do you think that guys using compounds are less of a hunter and lazy and thus should not be a part of archery season just because they chose compounds rather than take the time to master a recurve or longbow ??????

There is no doubt that a guy or gal can be less of a hunter with the compound than the one with a recurve and still be successful.
There is no doubt a hunter can be lazier with a compound than a recurve and still be successful.

That is the problem, the compounds made killing a deer much easier than with the way bow hunting started and the crossbows made it so much easier than with the compounds that a five or six year old can kill a deer.

It did increase the kill which is what it was all about anyway.

MuskyMastr, just wondering if these crossbow hunters sitting on a white bucket is interferring with your hunt?

Do you hunt with a compound?  What about your 80%+ letoff, trigger release, peep site and everything else that makes compound bow hunting much easier that traditional bowhunting.

If you really want to argue about skilled bowhunting, then boot your compound bow and all of its helpful gizmos and gadgets and hunt with a traditional bow or recurve.  Then you have a legit argument.

What is the let-off on your crossgun?  What about the trigger function?  Scope? 

My guess is that they are the same as they are for my Winchester .270

I can kinda see what Musky is saying. I own and shoot a traditional bow, compound bow and crossbow. I prefer to hunt with the compound. Not as challenging as the traditional but much more challenging than the crossbow. When using all three one must get close to the game hunted. With a traditional or compound "drawing" on a animal at close range is what it all about for me. Ground blinds conceal this but one must still practice proper woodsman-ship to get close to an animal. As new equipment arises one can now pick what fits them best. I really think the PGC is trying sell more license in general and more archery stamps thus making the crossbow legal. The ease of using the crossbow has no doubt brought more into the sport. Some are experienced hunters and some are not. This happens with any sport. If the bucket crossbow sitters are bothering such,one must move on to better hunting grounds. Only thing one can hope for is that the bucket crossbow hunters will learn more as they spend more time in the field. I really don't discredit anyone for using any weapon, everyone has a preferance and skill level. BTW anybody see that 9 year old girl that shot a buck last year and this year with a crossbow ? That should surely put a smile on any crossbow haters face.