Good advice. I will make some changes.

says the guy with a compound in his signature...

i think bow season should be long bow and recurve
black powder should be conventional no scopes no inline.
but that isnt the way the laws are written so ill continue to use my compound i see very little gain in using a cross bow and if it gets more people involved in the sport then ok with me

+1

Ideally this would be the case for public lands only, as I feel the land owner should have final say how game is harvested so long as the "seasons" for the species in question is adhered to.

I hunt with both a recurve and a crossbow during deer archery season. If my elbow is not bothering me too much I take my recurve as I MUCH rather carry it into the woods. I keep my yardage the same regardless as getting close is what gets my heart pumping. The tool used for dispatch is almost meaningless, though the endless hours I have put into being a decent shot with my recurve makes it quite gratifying when I get the job done with it.

I think we all know a person or two that picks up a new weapon shortly before a hunt and takes it to the field with no real skills with it. This is true for firearms, bows, crossbows, what have you. Technology makes it easy to be "good enough". I don't know how many clays I had to kill before I could go bird hunting, or how many tin cans I shot to pieces before I got to shoot squirrels, but it was a bunch.

To me I don't care what tool a person hunts with so long as they know how to use it to hunt. A newbie paying big money for the latest compound with all the goodies, having someone else tune it, having the guy at the shop hold his hand while sighting it in, and then shooting it a couple of times in the back yard does not make a newbie compound archer any better or more skilled than a newbie with a crossbow, and both can probably shoot tighter groups at any yardage than I do with my recurve and are probably still more likely to wound an animal in the field. Same goes for rifles, but inside a hundred yards there are a hell of a lot less variables with a rifle, particularly a scoped one. I don't know about you guys, but once I get proficient with a new toy the worst part of my obsession begins, the tiny tweaks, the new gizmos, trying to get that group a hair smaller... I think that is why I don't shoot a compound, because I would go both mad and broke trying to make the tool better rather than just myself. Going mad is bad enough.

OK, I will stop ranting. Just learn whatever tool you prefer to hunt with. Practice, practice, practice, and then go have fun in the woods. And take a kid with you.

-ww

I personally believe if its legal USE IT.

I don't want anymore restrictions on Hunting.

There are people during archery season believe you should only use a long bow, some thing compound bows, some thing crossbows are cheating. My opinion is, its still a primitive style weapon and it should be allowed. Its all about expanding hunting not restricting it.

Its like the baiting vers the non-baiting debates. If you don't like it, don't use it.

Again, I do not want Texas to turn to Taxachuttes or any of the North Eastern States on their hunting laws. So support all hunters in Texas, if its legal, let them use it. If you don't like it, don't use it.

This year I'm proud to say I'm using a Crossbow. It allows me to get to go archery hunting whereas I would not be able to go if it wasn't allowed. (I guess I could go to a doctor and get them to write me a note, but I find that degrading). I've had both shoulders surgically repaired.

First of all...Sorry I haven't posted in a while....actually I'm not. I just haven't posted cuz i've been busy.....believe it or not, I haven't been sitting back while some take an honest question personal.

I'm not a "POT STIRRER" check all my post, the proof is in the pudding.

Second.....I thing my question was totally appropriate. Read my question! Do you think more crossbow hunters will be hunting during ARCHERY season? Sounds like a yes/no/maybe question to me?

I asked the question because I (bow) hunt and often don't see many hunters. I hunt public land and am curious if/how I will be affected.

FYI, I bow hunt...once rifle opens I use it, if muzzle is open I use it. Now when/if they open slingshot season, I'll use it. I love to hunt.

So before you slam me for stirring the pot, check my posting history, I think it speaks for itself.

Have a great day/night/morning and....


HAPPY HUNTING (whichever tool tickles you pink)

finally someone answered.. 6473.5, you don't by chance have a county brake down do you?

and,

no worries I won't ask that question again.

The guys that gripe about crossbows are shooting compound bows. Shooting a compound aint much different. I only shoot traditional, I guess I should start whining about the compound shooters. If its legal, its up to the individual hunter to make a ethical shot. Your crying about crossbows shooting 80 yards dont fly. Ive seen plenty guys on hunting shows shoot their compunds way out of ethical shooting distance. The result was a poor hit. Hunt with what you are comfortable with and hunt ethicaly...

We live in way to unstable of a country right now, to be dictating to each other (one hunter to another hunter) how he or she can and cant hunt! I say if the opportunity is there, then great and more power to the person who is wiling to take advantage of it! IMO you need to look at this as a chance to add more hunters to the field, let the sport as a whole grow = GOOD FOR ALL!

To answer Kilt it's question, I will not be taking advantage of crossbow because I dont own one, and I'm at least one more year away from my next hunting purchase, according to my live in money manager.... I will be with stick and string though!! Can't wait!

Hell I'll be blunt and not worry about what people think.

I bought my first bow this year and only reason is to get out there a month earlier. I shoot it regularly and am okay with taking a deer with it. I will prob bust a pig first just for the feeling of shooting at a live target but other than that, I will be picking up the rifle come November 6th. Maybe after that first bow kill I will become "hooked" as some say. I hope not cause this chit is not cheap.

And as far as traditional achery, that's in the past. To the OP I hope a lot of people that in the past that were able to hunt in October will be able to do so again with crossbows.... If they can afford it.

i absolutely agree. crossbows and all the modern gadgets for bows...thats not bowhunting in my personal opinion.

I am ok with crossbows for the handicapped though, and i have no problem with people hunting the way they want...as long as its legal and ethical. I try not to judge others because everyone has their own reasons for hunting and thats respectable. Its just my personal opinion and i will never hunt with a crossbow or compound. I will only hunt my own primitive bows during archery season. There is no reward for me with compounds and crossbows. I enjoy the challenge of primitive archery. Hunting was getting boring because it was too easy for me until i took up primitive...now i love it.

i'm with born2hunt. to the guy that started this topic we easily forget that long ago there was only long bows and crossbows that were hand made and that was the only way man could put food on the table. so don't get so damn technical about hunting ,it is just that hunting, and there is several ways to enjoy it. thats whats wrong with country now TO MANY RULES AND LAWS. WAKE THE HELL UP

If the law mandated that you could only bowhunt with a traditional bow during bow season I would be all for it. I have been practicing with my recurve for the past few months and am improving quite a bit. I would love to see some of you crossbow shooters pick up a traditional bow and try to hit something (how's that for stirring the pot)

hey Bigtuna whatcha cooking cause what ever you are stirring in that pot sure smells good!!!!!!!

yea im pretty sure they got a cross bow out now shootin at dang near 100 yards.

I got one for Christmas last year. I will be one of them.

curly do you have a disability?
if not what made you want a cross bow?
just tryin figure this whole thing out

I believe any archery weapon, whether it be compound, recurve, or crossbow should be allowed. In this day and age, there will always be something bigger and better out every year. Just use what feels good and ethical to you. Any of these weapons still takes some degree of skill and practice to make the shot count!

I am going to get a crossbow to do some spot and stalk Mule Deer in West Texas. I have done compound and recurve in the past fpr whitetails and wish I had more time to do them still. One thing that all 3 require is that you be a good hunter..with out getting yourself into a position to make the shot is makes no difference if you are going to throw rocks to kill them if you have not done your homework. The weapon of your choice is what is going to make the hunt end like you want it. All three have a limitation on range and the compound in my mind will take game further out than a crossbow due to the noise factor. I am for what ever keeps hunters hunting. Just my opinion.

Bigtuna just curious do you use a feeder? And the law allows crossbows that is why i will try one this year.

I hunt with everything because I am a hunter. If it becomes legal to use a sling shot I will hunt with that. I wonder if the state would entertain a early velvet blow gun only season ? The only question I will have is what grain Nosler Dart will I be shooting. Who cares what you use as long as you have fun and spend your money in Texas. When I get to old or flat out lazy or injury requires me to shoot a crossbow I will. IF I get a wild hair and buy one tomorrow so be it. IF you have a negative opinion about something someone else is legally doing great. That is your right. Just as I will excercise my right to hunt with a crossbow someday. I hope we are all teaching the next generation of hunters to be open minded and help and hunt with each other as it seems this generation cannot figure it out. The State tells us how and when we can do anything. We just got a right (Crossbow Hunting) back. We need to Unite for less regulation and more common sense management. Arguing about a topic as insignificant as this is rediculous. Whatever you do to take the edge off of everyday life as long at it is legal you had better enjoy it. The United Stated of Socialist America may not allow it 50 yrs. from now. IF we don't clean our act up and unite it will be SOONER!!!!!!

Amen TXhuntingguide.

YUP! Well put!

Regardless of what weapon you use we are all HUNTER's and love the sport. We should be supporting each other not arguing about compound,recurve,cross, or what ever. United we stand, Divided we fall. Just my 2 cent's