[. The people that have the power to legalize them have no clue about what's best management practices for the deer herd in their respective state

[. The people that have the power to legalize them have no clue about what's best management practices for the deer herd in their respective state

False

Our archery season is eleven weeks, 14 weeks if your in one of the special regulation areas.

Oh wait, as a purist archer you only hunt the six week rut season right? When bucks are all horny and stupid-acting chasing does at all hours of the day. When you have the absolute best chance of connecting with a buck all year.

Seems to me a hardcore, purist archer such as yourself would hunt all the seasons available to him. Heck, your bow is a legal weapon during ALL the deer seasons, including rifle, which would give you even more time afield. You could really extend your season if you took advantage of all that time.

Why don't you?

I’m not debating that crossbows are an evil tool or for the lazy.

I have simply a bad taste in my mouth about them from someone we know who continually takes less than desirable, long shots and fails to recover MULTIPLE deer each season. I single-handedly blame this person for the existence of our antler restrictions. He’s a friend of the family but one of the lousiest examples of a fair chase hunter I’ve ever encountered.

Considering that the crossbow has been around in rudimentary fashion since 200-400 years before Christ. And the compound bow has only been breathing since the mid 60's . I'd say the crossbow has earned a spot in the woods.

That said, the majority of compound shooters have their bows equipped with the latest and greatest gear known to man. Kisser button,peep sight or some other device to hit the same anchor point with every draw. Probably 99% or more compound bow shooters are using a mechanical release that is, you guessed it trigger activated. And have somewhere between 65 & 80% let off.

What I don't see very often is someone that shoots a compound bow that can shoot a bare compound bow or stick bow. But stick bow/bare bow shooters can typically pick up one of those tricked out compound bows and be shooting good in short order.

I shot a Pronghorn Longbow for 30+ years until my shoulders would no longer allow it.
Now I shoot a crossbow. Not the top of the line, maybe not even middle of the pack. It's sighted in for 20 thru 50 yards. I shoot no further than 30-40 yards max at an animal and hunt on the ground,which most compound shooters have no clue how to do. There's no need to shoot further. The funny thing is that I run into people now and again that shoot crossbows and never hear about them trying to launch an arrow at a deer 100 yards out. I hear about it a lot from compound shooters. I always ask them why. And always get the same stupid look from them as they reply with "well I did it at home last month". Gotta shine that ego up before firearms season when they take their 6.5 Needmore out and send bullets 800 yards down range at a deer.

The crossbow has absolutely nothing over a compound bow in f p.s., more effective range or any other advantages.
For most people that shoot a crossbow, they're just trying to fill the freezer. Unlike most compound shooters that trade up every couple years to the latest and greatest bow on the market that are only after bragging rights about how much they have tied up in their bow.

I will take a crossbow over a compound bow anytime.