Really, it isn't just about the crossbow, and when we get into conversations and discussions like this one emotions run high, and it makes it hard to get out some of the needed points. Kevin, you have done a great job in your post, thank you.
Its not to far back that one has to go, maybe further for some, but I remember times when a guy could pull into his yard with a deer, and folks that knew him would come over to hear the story, and really marvel at the fact that this guy took this animal with such a simple hunting tool, a stick and string, and even in the early days of compounds, there was still a lot of that "awe" and respect, those days were limited or no sights, and a guy had to still get close, well inside the animals comfort range, draw the bow back and make the shot, doing all of this at the risk of being detected and having nothing to show for his efforts.
it is for this reason that decision makers, and public perspective has always been in agreement that bowhunters should have and can enjoy longer seasons. The amount of hours that we put in per animal harvest compared to gun hunting is/was vastly different.
Now lets fast forward to a time in the not so distant past, technology; treestands, range finders, trail cameras, lighted-light enhanced pins, electronics, the perception that we can shoot further, all these things in one extent or another has changed the public's view and the understanding of game managers that bowhunting is not really as hard as it once was, and that bowhunters no longer need the longer seasons. This coupled with other attitudes, as the I want it now, with no work involved, money, greed, etc. has the power to change what bowhunting was into something that, is well quite unacceptable to those of us that remember the "Good Old Days" .
There was a time when bowhunters who were successful, owned every part of that opportunity called bowhunting, and the ones that weren't knew they had things to learn, hence mentoring became one of the greatest things about bowhunting. Today, the majority of people that call themselves bowhunters, own very little of the opportunity, they have traded things like woodsmanship skills for trail cameras, and scent sealing clothes, the ability to judge distance for a piece of electronics, the list goes on.
The point to this though is, it isn't just the crossbow, or technology, its retaining ownership of something that is a very important part of many of our lives, it's realizing that as many in our ranks surrender that ownership, we will soon loose the chance to have this in our lives as something that is a part of us. It's about heritage, traditions, two things that I am willing to fight for.
Cold Weather,
Not meaning to poke at you, and am not trying to get in a peeing contest with you, but I find it hard to believe that you can say you have met Glenn St. Charles, and have such little respect for the things that he and many others fought so hard to preserve and protect.
Topic: PBS Involvement in State Level Crossbow in Archery Season Initiatives? (Read 6943 times)
