"...with a trigger is a Gun."

Lots of mechanical string releases have triggers. Does using one make a bow more gun-like? If so, should not they be banned?

DZ

yes it makes it more "gun like" but it is a long way from a shoulder fired gun.

This gun fires arrows at about the same speed as a cross bow. Should it be legal? if not why?
http://www.buffsblackwidow.com/images/RIFLE1.jpg

:( I have to make a run to Katy to help with an LSBA event. DZaidle I thank you for posting and did not want you to think I just ran out on you.
Thanks again
Buff

Because as previously stated, a bow fires a projectile with energy stored in a bent limb via a string. This "arrow gun" obviously does not.

You seem very adamant about the "shoulder fired" factor. Is a crossbow "pistol" somehow more acceptable since it is not shoulder fired?

DZ

More than welcome. This is interesting, fun, and educational.

DZ

Welcome to the campfire!

TPWD defines archery equipment as hand held and hand drawn. Accordingly, crossbows are not archery equipment and thus, should not be used in archery season. LSBA does not oppose crossbows, but they need to be used in the General Season.

"TPWD defines archery equipment as hand held and hand drawn. Accordingly, crossbows are not archery equipment..."

For now, anyway. Expect that to change when the 81st Legislature convenes.


DZ

To some extint, yes. Its no secret here that I've argued the let-off thing. I caught a lot of flak over that one. ;) BUT, I can more readily accept a compound as being relative to a longbow, horsebow or recurve than I can a crossbow. Kind of difficult to climb up into your stand with a full drawn compound also, unless its fitted with a draw-loc which converts a compound into a vertical crossbow.

Again I ask: Why do you feel threatened by people hunting with crossbows during archery season? If you choose to use a a longbow, recurve, or whatever, that's fine, but why do you object so strongly to crossbows? Why do you want their use prohibited diring archery season? Who/what would be harmed?

With todays modern archery equipment, virtually anyone can buy a well made bow right off the shelf, set it up with accessories, tune it and be an excellent shot within minutes.

The difference comes when that person starts to hunt with it. Shooting at a static target is a whole different ball game from shooting at a whitetail deer that was born "wired"!

The skill of shooting is not near the issue of the skill of drawing a bow on a whitetail or other wild creature without being detected. Anyone that has bowhunted any time at all realizes that the hardest part of the process is getting the bow drawn undetected. And to that end, I feel the crossbow is a shortcut! And before you say it - I am also opposed to the use of draw lock devices in archery season.

Archery only season was created and set aside for those who dedicated the time to learn the skill of bowhunting as a reward for their efforts by allowing them time in the woods without competition from gun when game has not yet been spooked to the next county by gunfire.

I have no beef with crossbow shooters and think there is a place for them in the hunting world. I just don't believe that place is in the archery only season. If a person needs to shoot a crossbow due to physical limitations or disabilities - I'm fine with that and provisions are already in place for them to shoot a crossbow during archery season. For those that just want to shoot a crossbow, there are already provisions in place to allow this in the general season.

I see no reason to change the regulations to allow crossbows in archery only season.

Trailboss

Trailboss: "Archery only season was created and set aside for those who dedicated the time to learn the skill of bowhunting as a reward for their efforts by allowing them time in the woods without competition from gun when game has not yet been spooked to the next county by gunfire."

So, do you have a problem with a newbie hitting the woods with his brand new bow? He's unskilled, inexperienced, unpracticed, and maybe knows nothing about whitetail anatomy or shot placement. But is it okay for him to be in the woods hunting during archery season on the basis that he is using a "conventional" bow? And if you do object to him hunting without having "paid his dues" in practice and all that, how do you propose to identify him and keep him out?

DZ

If he's hunting with a bow he's under the same limitations as I am and requires the same skills to be effective.

Trailboss

This is my personal opinion only~

I believe in preserving and promoting bowhunting in Texas. Bowhunters before me fought hard to get a Special Archery Season. We've paid for the Special Season with an Archery Stamp since approximately 1974 and it is important that we preserve the tradition and pass on the heritage of bowhunting. I appreciate the efforts those bowhunters made and I believe that I owe it to them and future bowhunters to give back to the sport and to continue the rich heritage that they began. I don't believe that allowing other weapons to encroach on Archery Season benefits bowhunters or bowhunting.

Unfortunately, there will be some unskilled bowhunters that go into the field (just as there are gun hunters), but I don't think they will be in it for the long haul. One of the things that the LSBA does is promote Bowhunter Safety through the IBEP course. When a person becomes a member, they get a Bowhunters Education pamphlet to inform them about the course. Many of the EC members and others are dedicated IBEP Instructors who volunteer their time to teach bowhunting safety, responsibilty and ethics. Why? Because bowhunting and the safety of bowhunters is important to us!

With guns, muzzleloaders, crossbows, bows and knives already available with which to hunt, I seriously doubt that a large number of people will decide not to get into hunting because they cannot use a crossbow during archery season. However, if crossbows are allowed during archery season, I can see where some people will choose not to pick up a bow and that, my friend, will hurt bowhunting and its future. It is hard to pass on the heritage, if there is eventually no one to do it.

Trailboss: If he's hunting with a bow he's under the same limitations as I am and requires the same skills to be effective."

That still does not answer the questions: Is it okay for an unskilled, unpracticed, hunter to be in the woods hunting with a bow during archery season? And if not, how do you identify him and keep him out?

DZ

Hot4huntin: "...I seriously doubt that a large number of people will decide not to get into hunting because they cannot use a crossbow during archery season. However, if crossbows are allowed during archery season, I can see where some people will choose not to pick up a bow and that, my friend, will hurt bowhunting and its future. It is hard to pass on the heritage, if there is eventually no one to do it."

Put another way, some people will choose to pick up a crossbow and participate in hunting. That means more people who are hunters and therefore on "our side" at election time. That means more people buying archery stamps and putting money into bowhunting coffers. More people buying gear and accessories, thus swelling the Pittman-Robertson fund. More people with a reason to care about wildlife conservation. And if any of those people are youngsters, that means more kids accepting the hunting heritage and spending more time in the woods and less time playing video games or watching MTV.

DZ