9 replies to this topic

[Neverhome]

I spoke with State Representative John Tuttle of Sanford, Maine last week concerning allowing the use of CBs during the normal archery season instead of just during the gun season.  Turns out Representative Tuttle is both a conventional and crossbow hunter.  He said he doubted the legislature would approve CB's state wide as the deer herd in the Northern part of the state has been decimated by a string of severe winters and could not sustain a cross bow hunt.  He believes they are more deadly than a conventional bow and would help wipe out the herd up North.  However, he did say he would consider submitting a bill allowing the use of crossbows during the normal archery season for several counties in the Southern part of the state. It is a start in the right direction.  I urge anyone who wants to hunt with a CB in the traditional archery season to contact Representative Tuttle and voice your support.  His e mail address is RepJohn.Tuttle@legislature.maine.gov.

Neverhome

[Tim50]

Neverhome, on 26 April 2011 - 07:25 PM, said:

  He believes they are more deadly than a conventional bow and would help wipe out the herd up North.  However, he did say he would consider submitting a bill allowing the use of crossbows during the normal archery season for several counties in the Southern part of the state. It is a start in the right direction.  I urge anyone who wants to hunt with a CB in the traditional archery season to contact Representative Tuttle and voice your support.  His e mail address is RepJohn.Tuttle@legislature.maine.gov.

Neverhome

You have to start somewhere & it seems like this fellow will help out. He does need to read up a little more on the comparisions between crossbows  & vert bows. Crossbows are not more deadly & they will not "wipe the herd out"....Good luck & I hope things work out for you....

[Neverhome]

Tim50, on 27 April 2011 - 04:10 PM, said:

You have to start somewhere & it seems like this fellow will help out. He does need to read up a little more on the comparisions between crossbows  & vert bows. Crossbows are not more deadly & they will not "wipe the herd out"....Good luck & I hope things work out for you....

Thanks Tim.  As the children's song goes "put one foot in front of the other and soon you will be on your way". A while back, someone on this forum posted a great article  on the comparison of compounds to crossbows, as well as why they should be legal in all states.  If anyone remembers where it was posted I will send it to Rep. Tuttle.

Jim

Edited by Neverhome, 27 April 2011 - 08:29 PM.

[buckeye dan]

Quote

He said he doubted the legislature would approve CB's state wide as the  deer herd in the Northern part of the state has been decimated by a  string of severe winters and could not sustain a cross bow hunt.

This is one of the most severe problems in the face of crossbows. This  is either poor management, poor understanding of the process or a misquote in the original content.

To say the deer "could not sustain a cross bow hunt" can only mean the  deer could not sustain a hunt of any kind. They could not sustain a vertical archery hunt or a gun hunt either. Obviously if that is what  was meant then there is nothing more to be said on the subject. The herd  is so fragile that a culling/hunt of any kind would be detrimental to  the herd. Mother nature just didn't leave a share for humans to enjoy.

What I suspect was meant from this context is a whole different thing. The deer will still be hunted by humans with weapons of some sort but the crossbow doesn't have a enough vested interest to participate. In other words we are managing the weapons that are allowed to harvest from a burdened herd based on the best financial interests that suits us.

An effective management plan would assess the number of animals left for harvest by humans then issue the proper number of tags to harvest the proper number of animals. The method of harvest is only as important as the money vested to do it. Maybe someday crossbows will have enough of a share to get 3%-5% of the available tags.

[Neverhome]

buckeye dan, on 28 April 2011 - 01:36 AM, said:

This is one of the most severe problems in the face of crossbows. This  is either poor management, poor understanding of the process or a misquote in the original content.

To say the deer "could not sustain a cross bow hunt" can only mean the  deer could not sustain a hunt of any kind. They could not sustain a vertical archery hunt or a gun hunt either. Obviously if that is what  was meant then there is nothing more to be said on the subject. The herd  is so fragile that a culling/hunt of any kind would be detrimental to  the herd. Mother nature just didn't leave a share for humans to enjoy.

What I suspect was meant from this context is a whole different thing. The deer will still be hunted by humans with weapons of some sort but the crossbow doesn't have a enough vested interest to participate. In other words we are managing the weapons that are allowed to harvest from a burdened herd based on the best financial interests that suits us.



Buckeye,

I have no doubt that he meant that crossbows are so deadly that a much larger number of deer would be taken if they were allowed to be used during the regular archery season.  That really doesn't hold too much water as unless you have a second deer tag for an expanded archery season, which is mostly in the southern part of the state, once you take a deer you are done for the season.  Take one with a bow and you cannot hunt during the regular firearms season. It just goes to show how much people have to learn about the corssbow as it compares to the compound or longbow.  That being said, I am grateful he is willing to look at allowing CBs during the archery season in the Southern part of the state.  At least it would be a foot in the door and more people could take a closer look at the sport.

Neverhome

An effective management plan would assess the number of animals left for harvest by humans then issue the proper number of tags to harvest the proper number of animals. The method of harvest is only as important as the money vested to do it. Maybe someday crossbows will have enough of a share to get 3%-5% of the available tags.

[Assassin]

i would like to see a crossbow season in Maine............the southern part of the state has lots of deer for sure.....

[Neverhome]

Assassin, on 26 May 2011 - 08:11 PM, said:

i would like to see a crossbow season in Maine............the southern part of the state has lots of deer for sure.....

Unfortunately, the legislature shot the bill down at the urging of the Fish and Game Department.  Apparently, according to my State Legislator, the reasons were too much opposition from the traditional and compound hunter lobbies and the small herd due to the severe weather.  We will try again next year.

Neverhome

[xranger]

This is an interesting consideration for Main. I know a ton of people there and have passed this onto them so that they can get involved in this matter. THanks for the heads up on this.

[topfueler1]

At least you can hunt bear with a crossbow during the whole bear season. If I'm correct it's your choice what to use during bear season. Modern firearm, muzzleloader, crossbow or verticle bow.

[Tim50]

Neverhome, on 29 July 2011 - 10:35 PM, said:

Unfortunately, the legislature shot the bill down at the urging of the Fish and Game Department.  Apparently, according to my State Legislator, the reasons were too much opposition from the traditional and compound hunter lobbies and the small herd due to the severe weather.  We will try again next year.

Neverhome

Don't give up. Pressure from these usually very small special interest groups is nothing new. Education is the key....get facts & figures in front of your legislature and the Fish & Game. You have taken the first step don't stop now.

Xranger, Rancid Crabtree, Retch Sweeny or is it just Ron today. You & your type of elitest are what the crossbow community has to fight. The good news is your lies & misinformation are not stopping as many states as they once did! The truth about the crossbow, its performance & effect on the herd is now out there for all to see. Check Pennsylvania, Texas, NJ, Va, Ohio Michigan and you & your type will see the sky is not falling it is opening up to fellow hunters! I know the idea for fellow hunters in YOUR woods does not sit well but you will just have to deal with it! Why don't you "man up" & quit hiding behind another of your alias's. Quit hiding stand up for your belief's don't hide in the shadows!!!It does not become you!!