The need for regulations

Mike, there is certainly a lot of concern with some companies self-serving ads really getting bowhunters and others agitated. Then you look at the advancements in performance, it may result in some lost seasons or inclusion. That said, there will be bowhunters and others trying to shut down crossbows, even if all crossbows were 300 fps or less. Same thing for scopes. I could have killed every deer I've shot so far with the Excal Vixen I bought for my son 14 years ago. One buck may have taken a COC broadhead, or maybe I would have passed on the shot. I greatly prefer the stuff I have now, and I certainly don't have the latest and greatest like many forum members get every year. So far, I think Duke has it right. States want money. Allowing crossbows to be included into archery season was mostly a money deal. Not sure states are really going to pull back on that money just because some are crying sheep. Do you really want to give up that A4 and go back to a Matrix Grizzly? As far as a primitive sport, everyone would have to go back to all natural materials self bows and wooden arrows for it to be that. I want no parts of going back there either.

Hunting, in my lifetime, has never been better in my area. The Pa Game Commission has been proactive coming up with new seasons trying to retain or bringing in more hunters. Who knows, they try something like this. I for one, would be opposed to it. First off, is the Game Commission officer going to carry a chronograph with him? If they charge you for having to fast of a bow, how are they going to prove their chronograph is accurate and who certified it? The only one who wins here is the lawyers. Are you going to have an approved government mandated list of crossbows? If I have an unapproved bow, can I apply for a state subsidy for me to buy one on the list? I listen to crossbow haters at 3D shoots every weekend about how crossbows shouldn’t be at 3D shoots. All while they stand there holding a bow that shoots within 25 FPS as fast as my crossbow that has every bell and whistle know to man. I usually respond to them with: 1. Why are they not shooting a long bow or recurve? 2. And they are pretty freaking old and probably they will be faced with either shooting a 40 pound draw or switching to a crossbow in the next few years. Then 80% of them respond, well I already hunt with a crossbow, and how do you like that Scorpyd? I listen to the Joe Rogan podcast from time to time. He is a bow hunting fanatic. He thinks hunters need to stick together and we need to promote the sport. But then says crossbows aren’t real archery hunting and need to be moved to rifle season. The Nock On guy ( I cant remember his name) agreed. I see all this line of logic a slippery slope, and I do not understand pretzel logic.

Let's take a look back at the Advancements in deer hunting equipment in general. Keep in mind I'm speaking about the equipment that is legal for use in Ohio. I started deer hunting when I was about 13, I'm 53 now, so according to my math I've been doing it about 40 years.
I started out using a 12 ga shotgun with a smoothbore barrel, open sights and Remington Slugger 1 oz lead slugs. If you could hold a 3-4 inch group at 50 yards you were doing good. Then came the Rifled slug barrels with scopes and Sabot slugs. Decent groups at 100 yards were not difficult. The next advancement were the bolt action slug guns. I have a Savage 220 20 ga that I would be comfortable taking a 150 yard shot with. Now Ohio allows the use rifles with straight wall cartridges. This year I used a Ruger American 450 Bushmaster. That gun in the right conditions is easily capable of 200+ yard shots.
Muzzleloaders have gone from using a patch and round ball, black powder and a musket cap. Advanced to using sabot bullets, powders like Pyrodex, 777 and Blackhorn 209 and a 209 shotgun primers. To now using smokeless powder and magnum rifle primers. Those are some pretty significant improvements.
Ohio was one of the first states to include crossbows in the regular archery season.
So my question is, if archery equipment is limited to 300 fps, do we go back to smoothbore barrels shooting 1 oz lead slugs, Black powder and patched round balls...?
I feel very fortunate to live in a state that has been open minded about the improvements in hunting equipment. The Ohio Division of Wildlife, in my opinion, does a great job managing the deer heard. They do it by regulating the number of deer that can be taken in a certain zone and County. A few years ago the county I hunt was a four deer county. The past couple years it has been a two deer county and you can only get one buck statewide.

NDPronghorn said:

Hold at a threshold of 450FPS with a 400 grain arrow and 1x magnification. We just saw something like that in BC and know it exists in some states already. It will come even though I don’t like more regs. Technology in muzzleloading has grown even more so what will they do there?

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That will stink for hunters with poor eyesight. Will they outlaw binoculars too? They don’t fit with the primitive mindset? I think if they are going to do it, they need to go big or go home. You have to live in a buffalo hide period correct tent, and you are only allowed to bath in a stream and wipe your butt with pine cones for the whole archery season. You can only eat food that you foraged for in the wild for the season. You can only shoot a bow and arrow that you manufactured yourself. Binoculars, rangefinders, and and modern clothing are strictly prohibited. Actually, the first day you arrive in the woods with nothing but a loincloth, and you need fashion everything you need there including the buffalo hide teepee. Yes, I am being over the top. Now, back to reality. You would still need a State Approved chronograph. The other issue is most red dots on the market have a little magnification due the way the glass was cut. I have a Cmore rts2 that looks to be 1.5x. If they enforce this too the letter of the law, most will be in violation. I think the ultimate goal in Pa is to kill more deer. I hope my state doesn’t go down this rabbit hole. Rant over, back to work.