bronko22000

Last post for me on this. crossBOW hunting is bowhunting. Not because of the draw and holding factor but the fact that you still have to get within 40 yard of your quarry for an ethical shot. And closer is even better.
As I stated earlier any advantage the crossbow has at ranges beyond that are negated by both the noise of the crossbow and the reaction time of the deer.
I do acknowledge your use of traditional equipment of 45# and 48#. Now THAT is truly bowhunting if you're basing it solely on the physical ability to bring the weapon to full draw and holding it there. Up until a couple years ago I use a 50# Jeffery take down recurve.

DIY_guy

No. Crossbow hunting is crossbow hunting. Because its crossbow hunting is isnt also bowhunting just because of the distance and just because you want it to be.

Bowhutning is bowhunting because it is human powered, crossbow hunting is crossbow hunting because it is a stored energy/cocked machine. They are close but not the same. As such they carry a different name. Both are good. One is just bowhunting and the other is not. If distance was the key then spear hunting would be bowhunting too.

super_hunt54

Hey now, don't start knocking spear hunting! Done it with deer several times years ago, don't think it's legal anymore but I still do it on occasion with me hogs and dogs! When I spearhunt hogs I don't use my catch dogs, just my bay hounds! And yes I still keep my .45LC or .500 S&W 4 inch unsnapped. I'm old, I'm a bit crazy, but I aint stupid

LittleChief

The great thing about opinions is that you can have yours, I can have mine, they can differ and we could both be right or we could both be wrong. In the overall scheme of things it just doesn't matter.

Using your logic, traditional bowhunting should be "bowhunting", using compound bows should be called "compound bowhunting" and then, as you say, we would have "crossbow hunting".

Also, if you want to split hairs, crossbows are "human powered" also. A human has to draw the string back, right? Yes it's "stored energy", but all bows operate on a stored energy principle.

It seems that your sole argument against a crossbow being considered a bow is that it's locked in the drawn position until ready to fire. I get that. So, if I install a "draw lock" on my compound bow, does it then cease to be a "bow"? What would it be called then?

Meh, none of this matters at all. It's all semantics. Oh, and yes, that's just my opinion.

DIY_guy

Almost. recurves, longbows and compounds are all human powered and drawn and held at the time of the attempt on game and as such are bowhunting. Crossbows, not so much. I cock the crossbow for my 80 year old father. My Brother cocks the crossbow for my 12 year old niece. Parcker has a cO2 powered cocking device that allows push-button mechanized cocking eliminating even the human involved cocking that would have taken place before hunting takes place.


It becomes a crossbow. Thats how my state correctly defines it by statute. Locked, cocked and preloaded in advance of the attempt on game (regardless if the limbs are vert or horizontal) makes it a crossbow.

Bocajnala

I'm so confused... I have hunted and taken deer with both..... I'm so confused.... I think I'll get a camera for this year... or maybe one of them fancy golf ball launching spud guns.... I'm so confused....
-Jake

Bocajnala

Oh, Wait, I remember now... I'm a hunter... I hunt with pistols, shotguns, rifle, recurves, compounds, crossbows, muzzleloaders, frog giggs, and anything else legal that I can afford....
-Jake

DIY_guy

Yup. A hunter. That is the high level and most generic term for guys killing animals or using a camera for the same or looking for mushrooms. Then as you break it down (as states do) you cant use that generic term to take your 30-06 out during the archery deer season and say “im a hunter” Then you have to refine it to be a “bowhunter” or a crossbow hunter. Aside from states and municipalities (and hunters) having definitions of what type of hunter . Orgs do likewise. Try telling Pope and young that you want them to record your harvest that was made with a 12 ga. Slug or an xbow.

You are a hunter. Were are all hunters and then as you dig deeper and define the “Type” of hunter, things become a bit more clear. Now get out there with a shotgun loaded with a turkey load and go kill you some deer during the archery deer season under the guise of “hunting” as a “hunter” and then tell the fish cop it doesn’t matter cause your hunting.

brucelanthier

Perhaps I will take a crossbow out and go kill me some deer during archery deer season under the guise of "bowhunting" as a "bowhunter" and then tell the fish cop it doesn't matter cause I'm bowhunting.