Information about crossbows....
 

Here a few items that I've recieved from members of PBS and TBoF that were helpful in their fight against crossbow legislation....
July 6th, 2002

Ken Haddad, Executive Director
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600

Dear Mr. Haddad,

I am contacting you today on behalf of the Traditional Bowhunters of Florida (TBOF) regarding an apparent attempt by the Florida Hunting Coalition (FHC) to include the crossbow in Florida

Mr. Chairman and Commissioners:

The proposal to include crossbows in archery and/or muzzleloading gun seasons is a matter that greatly concerns the Traditional Bowhunters of Florida. When our Board of Directors first heard of this proposal our President and Vice President voiced the general opinion of TBOF and its members at the September Commission meeting in St. Petersburg. Our opinion has not changed. We feel that crossbows do not have a place in either the muzzleloader or archery seasons in the state of Florida for these reasons:

Stick Up, Stick Together
By Jay Strangis
Editor of Bowhunting Magazine
November 2006

Good Morning/Afternoon Commissioners and Executive Director,

My name is Scott Coulter and I am representing the Traditional Bowhunters of Florida. Our president, David Tetzlaff, who has worked closely with Nick Wiley on the crossbow proposal apologizes for not being at this important meeting in person. His business, the Naples Zoo, is being inspected for a national accreditation this week.

The Traditional Bowhunters of Florida is appreciative to the FWC for allowing us to comment upon and participate in discussions directly relating to the correct positioning of the crossbow in Florida

TBOF Crossbow Statement


The Traditional Bowhunters of Florida was founded in 1990 in order to bring together like- minded individuals to share in their enjoyment of shooting traditional archery equipment including longbows, recurves and self bows.

The Traditional Bowhunters of Florida believes a hunting bow, be it longbow, recurve or compound, should be defined by its ability to be hand held and hand drawn and does not have any device that will allow it to be locked at full or partial draw. The gun like nature of the crossbow does not meet the widely accepted definition of a hunting bow and should not be included in any bowhunting seasons or archery only hunting areas.

The Traditional Bowhunters of Florida respects the policies of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission which permits only the physically challenged hunter to use the crossbow during bow season but which permits any hunter to use the crossbow during the general gun season or seasons expressly created for crossbow use.

The Traditional Bowhunters of Florida is mindful that bowhunting, by its very nature, is an intimate and challenging sport. Bowhunting seasons were created as an opportunity for those hunters preferring the additional challenge presented by a short range weapon. Therefore, members of the Traditional Bowhunters of Florida oppose crossbow use in bow seasons or archery only hunting areas.

Adopted by TBOF Board of Directors, August 5th, 2005

Revised January 23, 2006