Michigan Crossbow regulations

[Bob Barber]

What do you think about the new legislation regarding crossbows in Michigan?

I'm still kinda on the fence....................

[Dave]

Hey there Bob.

I for one hope everyone can look at this from a purity of the sport of hunting issue. Cross bow use gives Michigan the opportunity to bring more people into the world of the outdoors! After all the sport of hunting should always be about keeping the heritage and passing it on to our future generations. Cross bow use provides one more tool to bring new outdoorsmen and women into the sport where they may not have been inclined to do so otherwise.

One more comment on cross bow use. As so many of the hunters who did their utmost to mentor each and everyone of us on this great sport of bow hunting grow into their elder years, many move from the treestands to the ground and retire the bows and memories of bowhunting. The ability to use cross bows now gives back to those stewards by keeping their bow hunting spirit alive and well for even a few more years...even if it is not in the traditional sense. It makes very good sense to me.

[Justin O]

If it gets the bowhunters who don't fit into the 80% immobility a chance to get back out in to the woods again.....I'm for it. I'm just afraid perfectly able people are going to use this for their gain. Which I think is wrong. They should of lowered the handicap regs, instead of just open the season.

[Bud Lawson]

I am all for it ,I don't think I will kill anymore deer with the crossbow than I did with my reg. bow .Bud

[BOWMEN7 PROSTAFF (LRP)(TTV)]

I think it's just another way to take the hunt out of hunting, the only ones to gain, are the people that never bowhunted because it took to much time to get good with a bow and the DNR for the money and killing more MI deer. Instead of coming up with a way that would help manage are deer they come up with a way to kill more deer. It just shows how the DNR is more into killing then manageing. You want more hunters give them a place to hunt not more seasons. The people that are for it are only thinking about themselves not about the impact it is going to have on are deer herd. as far as getting more people in the woods, tell the bowhunters that will lose their hunting spots because now the gun hunters will be in the woods during bow season. It's time the deer was managed for the awlsome animal it is not like a pest.

[Curt Williams]

I do not think it is a bad as you think. Most people wont go out and spend $500.00 + on a cross bow and not only that I feel that if they were not a bow hunter they will not even care about this. Some like bows, some guns, and me I like it all but I perfer bow hunting the most.

BOWMEN7 said:

I think it's just another way to take the hunt out of hunting, the only ones to gain, are the people that never bowhunted because it took to much time to get good with a bow and the DNR for the money and killing more MI deer. Instead of coming up with a way that would help manage are deer they come up with a way to kill more deer. It just shows how the DNR is more into killing then manageing. You want more hunters give them a place to hunt not more seasons. The people that are for it are only thinking about themselves not about the impact it is going to have on are deer herd. as far as getting more people in the woods, tell the bowhunters that will lose their hunting spots because now the gun hunters will be in the woods during bow season. It's time the deer was managed for the awlsome animal it is not like a pest.

[David Rykert]

I for one am for it , my prefered weapon is a bow , though i am not old , i am aging ... have had several sergeries on my right arm and have since limmited my use (and unfortunatly practice) of my bow .... this will help me to regain the pleasure of getting out in the woods, and with the limited range of the crossbow (40 to 50 yards max) do not think that the long range weekend hunters from the firearm season will invade the bow season .I am however fortunate to hunt private property and do not have to scope out new areas (we manage our local herds ).

[BOWMEN7 PROSTAFF (LRP)(TTV)]

Any body that shoots a bow in MI should never take a 40 or 50 yard shot with a compound 30 and under should be the rule, now we are going to have people out there taking long shots and wounding more animals, bowhunting is all about getting close and what your saying is not close. Most guys that I know that shoot a Xbow could shoot a compound but it is easier to shoot the Xbow no practice and they were never any good with a compound any way, but now they kill a deer every year and wound one every year, it's not the weapon that has me upset it's the kind of people that it will put in the woods during the one good season we had left.

[Bill Olshelfske]

I am a bow hunter, but shoulder surgery earlier in the year kept me from practicing. So the xbow will save my season this year.

[David Rykert]

I for one agrea with dave . I have had probblems (and had sergery) on my right elbow , and subsaquently found that i am not practicing as much as i would like (or need too) do the the lingering pain from the draw and release . I have purchased a crossbow , and it is still hunting , i still scout, i still sit in the tree in the rain ,snow ,sleet , whatever the weather is . the only thing that has changed is the lingth of the arrow and the way i shoot it .

[David Rykert]

i never said i would take a 40 to 50 yard shot that would be rediculas ...... mearly that it wouldnt be long enough for the pure rifle hunters to want to work to get the deer that close .


BOWMEN7 PROSTAFF (LRP) said:

Any body that shoots a bow in MI should never take a 40 or 50 yard shot with a compound 30 and under should be the rule, now we are going to have people out there taking long shots and wounding more animals, bowhunting is all about getting close and what your saying is not close. Most guys that I know that shoot a Xbow could shoot a compound but it is easier to shoot the Xbow no practice and they were never any good with a compound any way, but now they kill a deer every year and wound one every year, it's not the weapon that has me upset it's the kind of people that it will put in the woods during the one good season we had left.

[ronnie willis]

i think its fair and right other states has had it for years

[ronnie willis]

Dave said:

Hey there Bob.

I for one hope everyone can look at this from a purity of the sport of hunting issue. Cross bow use gives Michigan the opportunity to bring more people into the world of the outdoors! After all the sport of hunting should always be about keeping the heritage and passing it on to our future generations. Cross bow use provides one more tool to bring new outdoorsmen and women into the sport where they may not have been inclined to do so otherwise.

One more comment on cross bow use. As so many of the hunters who did their utmost to mentor each and everyone of us on this great sport of bow hunting grow into their elder years, many move from the treestands to the ground and retire the bows and memories of bowhunting. The ability to use cross bows now gives back to those stewards by keeping their bow hunting spirit alive and well for even a few more years...even if it is not in the traditional sense. It makes very good sense to me.