Some questions about crossbows

[dannmann801]

I bought a Horton Summit150 after gun season this year because I wanted to continue hunting (got the deer fever bad). I absolutely love it! I'd never had an interest in buying or using a long bow, and frankly I still don't. If a crossbow hadn't been recommended to me, I never would have become an archery hunter. So, here's my questions:
1) Do I have to worry about crossbow season being reduced or eliminated in Ohio? Why do other states heavily restrict the use of crossbows?
2) Are crossbow users looked upon as "second class citizens" in the archery community? (I'm sensing that they are...I see forums where people refer to "real" arrows and "real" bows.) Why?
3) What kind of smart-alec comeback can I give the guy at work who says I should get a "real" bow?

[coonskinner]

xbows are here to stay...go hunting,don't worry about it...:D

[hamilton]

i used to hunt with a compund bow and my old friend told me that he would only let me go hunt his property with a traditional bow?
I dont hunt there anymore.
I have since had several surgeries that limit my time in the field , how much i can carry, how far i can walk,etc.
Now, i have a crossbow, and love it. I can shoot again. I can hunt .
I dont care what other people think of me. I dont care what there opinion is...... as long as i can still go hunting.

[Hoytmania]

I started out with a Horton also. Have since made the transition to compound, and I personally love it. I hunted with the crossbow for a good 6 years before making the move. I don't view the crossbow as any less of an implement fo hunting than anything else. I personally believe that the people that carry around these types of attitudes and beliefs are people that just can't handle change. So I would say to take your crossbow and practice, practice, practice. Because opening day is only 231 days away. :D Welcome and enjoy the world of archery.

[buckslayer98]

Go out and enjoy the crossbow!! To me it doesn't matter if you use a crossbow or recurve, etc as long as you follow the odnr regs. However you are correct there are a lot of crossbow haters!!:rant: I have heard about every possible argument why crossbows should not be allowed but most of the guys complaining don't hesitate to go out and hunt with a gun in gun season.

[November Sunrise]

I bought a Horton Summit150 after gun season this year because I wanted to continue hunting (got the deer fever bad). I absolutely love it! I'd never had an interest in buying or using a long bow, and frankly I still don't. If a crossbow hadn't been recommended to me, I never would have become an archery hunter. So, here's my questions:
1) Do I have to worry about crossbow season being reduced or eliminated in Ohio? Why do other states heavily restrict the use of crossbows?
2) Are crossbow users looked upon as "second class citizens" in the archery community? (I'm sensing that they are...I see forums where people refer to "real" arrows and "real" bows.) Why?
3) What kind of smart-alec comeback can I give the guy at work who says I should get a "real" bow?

There is absolutely zero possibility of crossbow use being reduced or eliminated in Ohio. Ohio has done a great job of maintaining hunter numbers, while neighboring states have been hemmorhaging hunters. The crossbow has played an important role in that, as it is the predominant archery weapon of choice in Ohio for hunters under the age of 18 and over the age of 40. Anyone who thinks that crossbow use will be reduced in Ohio simply has no clue regarding the deer management philosophy of the Ohio DNR.

There certainly are some hunters who look down at crossbow users, just like some traditionalists look down their noses at compound bow users. Just the way it is.

My experience with the "real bow" yahoos is that a very high percentage of them shoot compound bows. A compound bow shooter pontificating about real bows has about as much credibility as a prostitute lecturing others on the benefits of chastity.

As the previous guy said, go out and enjoy your crossbow:).

[dannmann801]

I started out with a Horton also. Have since made the transition to compound, and I personally love it. I hunted with the crossbow for a good 6 years before making the move. I don't view the crossbow as any less of an implement fo hunting than anything else. I personally believe that the people that carry around these types of attitudes and beliefs are people that just can't handle change. So I would say to take your crossbow and practice, practice, practice. Because opening day is only 231 days away. :D Welcome and enjoy the world of archery.

Good answer, Hoyt - and practice practice practice is what I've been doing - my first shot on the deer I took was high and hit him in the spine. He dropped like a rock and couldn't move but it didn't kill him and I had to finish him off with my knife. I promised him as I did that I would practice so that wouldn't happen again.

231 days to practice...231 days to study...I'll be ready

[dannmann801]

[quote=November Sunrise;317050]There is absolutely zero possibility of crossbow use being reduced or eliminated in Ohio. Ohio has done a great job of maintaining hunter numbers, while neighboring states have been hemmorhaging hunters. The crossbow has played an important role in that, as it is the predominant archery weapon of choice in Ohio for hunters under the age of 18 and over the age of 40. Anyone who thinks that crossbow use will be reduced in Ohio simply has no clue regarding the deer management philosophy of the Ohio DNR.

Zero possibility - that's good to hear. I want as much season as I can get. One week a year gun season just won't get it.

I'm hemmorhaging arrows - I'm losing feathers to my practice target. Is repair an option, or do I have to buy new?

[coonskinner]

There is absolutely zero possibility of crossbow use being reduced or eliminated in Ohio. Ohio has done a great job of maintaining hunter numbers, while neighboring states have been hemmorhaging hunters. The crossbow has played an important role in that, as it is the predominant archery weapon of choice in Ohio for hunters under the age of 18 and over the age of 40. Anyone who thinks that crossbow use will be reduced in Ohio simply has no clue regarding the deer management philosophy of the Ohio DNR.

There certainly are some hunters who look down at crossbow users, just like some traditionalists look down their noses at compound bow users. Just the way it is.

My experience with the "real bow" yahoos is that a very high percentage of them shoot compound bows. A compound bow shooter pontificating about real bows has about as much credibility as a prostitute lecturing others on the benefits of chastity.

As the previous guy said, go out and enjoy your crossbow:).

not me,wendy tries to get me to shoot her compound,just can't bring myself to use the trigger device,if i do shoot one(cp) i'd have to use one from the 70's...:biggrin:...as for our neighboring states hunter numbers...hasn't michigan and pa. legalized the crossbow for the regular archery season for all hunters...:biggrin:

[geezer II]

not me,wendy tries to get me to shoot her compound,just can't bring myself to use the trigger device,if i do shoot one(cp) i'd have to use one from the 70's...:biggrin:...as for our neighboring states hunter numbers...hasn't michigan and pa. legalized the crossbow for the regular archery season for all hunters...:biggrin:

There are some modern cp's designed to wif yur fingers like the PSE Dakota :whistle::mischeif:

[coonskinner]

There are some modern cp's designed to wif yur fingers like the PSE Dakota :whistle::mischeif:

hmmm funny i go in an ask this at archery shops and they just close their lips up tight shaking their head no:biggrin:...it looks like this...:nono:

[geezer II]

hmmm funny i go in an ask this at archery shops and they just close their lips up tight shaking their head no:biggrin:...it looks like this...:nono:

Well ya must be going ta the wrong shops - i had one a PSE Dokata that was designed ta finger/release shoot - Milo & 1023 bought it for Matt as a wedding present or something - and i think he took 3 or 4 deer with it this year - dang coon - i guess there is some stuff ya doan know after all :whistle:

[coonskinner]

if the suckers wheels are no farther away than bout the distance of a yardstick it won't shoot...i need an old oneida eagle...now thats a fingers cp bow...whats the let off and wheel to wheel length...shoot never mind i'll check it out,got to be here in my computer someplace...(just like all this qdm stuff i been learning about)...:D

[Peppy]

hasn't michigan and pa. legalized the crossbow for the regular archery season for all hunters

Not sure about Michigan, but yes, PA has passed full inclusion for crossbows during the regular archery season a couple of months ago.

[Deer Camp Chick]

Not sure about Michigan, but yes, PA has passed full inclusion for crossbows during the regular archery season a couple of months ago.
http://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/index.ssf/2009/03/crossbows_legali
New crossbow regulations


• Licensed hunters 12 and older can use a crossbow in all gun and archery seasons in southern Michigan.
• Hunters 50 and older can use crossbows statewide in the November firearms deer season.
• Crossbow hunting stamps are free and available at all license sales outlets. Stamps will allow game officials to conduct surveys.
• Crossbows are limited to bolts fired at 350 feet per second or less.
• Deer hunters using crossbows, even in the bow season, must wear orange. The Department of Natural Resources could modify the rule, however.
• The DNR will evaluate the regulations after three years.
zed_this_year.html (http://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/index.ssf/2009/03/crossbows_legalized_this_year.html)

[coonskinner]

http://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/index.ssf/2009/03/crossbows_legali
New crossbow regulations


• Licensed hunters 12 and older can use a crossbow in all gun and archery seasons in southern Michigan.
• Hunters 50 and older can use crossbows statewide in the November firearms deer season.
• Crossbow hunting stamps are free and available at all license sales outlets. Stamps will allow game officials to conduct surveys.
• Crossbows are limited to bolts fired at 350 feet per second or less.
• Deer hunters using crossbows, even in the bow season, must wear orange. The Department of Natural Resources could modify the rule, however.
• The DNR will evaluate the regulations after three years.
zed_this_year.html (http://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/index.ssf/2009/03/crossbows_legalized_this_year.html)

first i'm glad to see that...but why a restriction on speed...i would think it should be the same for any bow...also why hunter orange???...in archery season...this is rediculous...seems like someone was grasping for anything to be able to claim some victory...and why just part of the state,maybe an experiment before opening it up statewide...but thats ok...:D
anyway as you can see it is getting legal in other states and is being accepted by more hunters every day no matter what they use...:biggrin: