Special Limited Season For Crossbow Only.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by tinkering

We can all layout extreme comparisons. My opinion isn't extreme. I hope one day they change the rule. We won't agree. That's all. "Throw it in with the bow season and be done with it."

Well said.

Might see a spike in pressure for a year or two until people realize it’s not that easier as they expect to hit targets 100 yards and beyond effortlessly and take that to the field just to be disappointed as reality sets in that it’s hunting not flinging bolts at targets. No matter how you play it out the animal 99 percent of the time outsmarts you.
After the novelty wears off you will see a spike In used crossbow sales

I know a lot of bow hunters that started off with traditional tackle that went to compound just to make things easier or they thought.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by fatboyz

there used to be a muzzleloader season in the 100's along the east border. It was the last 2 weeks of October. You still needed your Antlered or Antlerless mule deer draw, not the OTC tag. This overlapped the archery season and bow hunters out with the OTC mule deer tags were hunting at the same time. I loved this season over by Consort.

So why was this season scrapped? Could it have been that the success rate was too high, and it started to effect the harvest too much?

[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by bloody arrow

I suspect crossbows will be the same, at first "everybody" will buy one, and they are not cheap!, and soon they will find out that they did not get hunting more, because we need to work more to make less these days.... and it is not as easy as they thought, and walking around with a crossbow is a pain in the a2s.... and 2-3 years later they will sell them or keep them collecting dust.
So for me it is, let crossbows in with archery, and just wait 2-3 years and it should be fine. and yes, a late archery season in January is a great idea!!!!

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Might see a spike in pressure for a year or two until people realize it’s not that easier as they expect to hit targets 100 yards and beyond effortlessly and take that to the field just to be disappointed as reality sets in that it’s hunting not flinging bolts at targets. No matter how you play it out the animal 99 percent of the time outsmarts you.
After the novelty wears off you will see a spike In used crossbow sales

I know a lot of bow hunters that started off with traditional tackle that went to compound just to make things easier or they thought.

That's my take on it as well.

I've had the opportunity to try out crossbows. There's quite a difference in being in the field (stalking/still hunting) versus using it at the range with a steady rest.

For hunting, I would say there is a significant advantage for the hunter if they are hunting from a blind, especially with a rest of some sort. But for walking around, the ergonomics are just not great.

Plus there's the whole question about whether you would want to be walking around with a cocked crossbow (there's a whole other conversation right there!) which means now you have to go through the whole cocking exercise while you are in range of the target animal.

So, it's not the "gimme" that many think it is.

So for me, I prefer a compound, because I can still use it. But I wouldn't frown on someone that wants to use a crossbow. And this year, with my torn triceps tendon, I have an better appreciation for those who need to use a crossbow.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by fatboyz

there used to be a muzzleloader season in the 100's along the east border. It was the last 2 weeks of October. You still needed your Antlered or Antlerless mule deer draw, not the OTC tag. This overlapped the archery season and bow hunters out with the OTC mule deer tags were hunting at the same time. I loved this season over by Consort.

IIRC this was also a shotgun zone as well.
I hunted there with a buddy , he shot a mule deer doe with his Martini 12 gauge.
Cat

[BergenHunter]

I support the idea of a crossbow only season. maybe right after the rifle season is complete. December 1-31

[tinkering]

Originally Posted by fatboyz

there used to be a muzzleloader season in the 100's along the east border. It was the last 2 weeks of October. You still needed your Antlered or Antlerless mule deer draw, not the OTC tag. This overlapped the archery season and bow hunters out with the OTC mule deer tags were hunting at the same time. I loved this season over by Consort.

That is cool. Our homesteads were out by Consort.
There is a simple logical way to make this bow/crossbow thing work. It's not complicated.

Just for the record I don't even own a crossbow; one day it would be cool to have one. I learned in grade school about some advantages and disadvantages between bows and crossbows. Crossbows are better in the brush but slower to reload while bows have a distance advantage. One comparison between compounds and cross bows, they both use sights; I think you can put a sight on any bow if you like. I have never felt the discrimination; they are all bows.

[tinkering]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Throw it into the bow season and be done with it.

I agree whole heartedly with both of your posts so far. Reality has way of making people think realistically 🦅

[tinkering]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Well said.

Might see a spike in pressure for a year or two until people realize it’s not that easier as they expect to hit targets 100 yards and beyond effortlessly and take that to the field just to be disappointed as reality sets in that it’s hunting not flinging bolts at targets. No matter how you play it out the animal 99 percent of the time outsmarts you.
After the novelty wears off you will see a spike In used crossbow sales

I know a lot of bow hunters that started off with traditional tackle that went to compound just to make things easier or they thought.

I agree whole heartedly with both of your posts so far. Reality has a way of making people think realistically 🤠

[tinkering]

What is reality, everything you know, everything you know and don't know, or everything none of us can fully comprehend in creation?

[tinkering]

Originally Posted by Stinky Buffalo

That's my take on it as well.

I've had the opportunity to try out crossbows. There's quite a difference in being in the field (stalking/still hunting) versus using it at the range with a steady rest.

For hunting, I would say there is a significant advantage for the hunter if they are hunting from a blind, especially with a rest of some sort. But for walking around, the ergonomics are just not great.

Plus there's the whole question about whether you would want to be walking around with a cocked crossbow (there's a whole other conversation right there!) which means now you have to go through the whole cocking exercise while you are in range of the target animal.

So, it's not the "gimme" that many think it is.

So for me, I prefer a compound, because I can still use it. But I wouldn't frown on someone that wants to use a crossbow. And this year, with my torn triceps tendon, I have an better appreciation for those who need to use a crossbow.

Maybe we should have a referendum on it.
That's another thing, Blinds give an advantage. Does that mean we outlaw blinds? I have never used one but I sure as heck say don't give them even the idea of considering it! AMEN
I like the point you make about buggered body parts. I destroyed my rotator cuff and the docs said, "Wow you really did a number on that!... No, we don't fix those anymore."
I have trouble with my 50lb recurve but I am working on it, and that is my legal go to. Maybe one day I will need to go to a CrossBOW. To me it's a selfish argument against one of the bow family.
This is a great discussion!
Thanks everybody for your input.
How does a guy start a motion to get things changed?

[tinkering]

Originally Posted by BergenHunter

I support the idea of a crossbow only season. maybe right after the rifle season is complete. December 1-31

I like the idea of a separate season but if it's after everybody else has shot up the area and whatever animals are left are emigrating to a foreign land. The solution is simpler and more logical than that.

We used to hunt NW of Bergen but Gary passed on and Betty couldn't run the ranch anymore. Now we don't have a place to hunt. Have you got a place where we could hunt? Feel free to send me a private message if you like.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by tinkering

I like the idea of a separate season but if it's after everybody else has shot up the area and whatever animals are left are emigrating to a foreign land. The solution is simpler and more logical than that.

We used to hunt NW of Bergen but Gary passed on and Betty couldn't run the ranch anymore. Now we don't have a place to hunt. Have you got a place where we could hunt? Feel free to send me a private message if you like.

So you not only want your own special season, but you want it before the general season. So the reality, is that it's all about what will benefit you, not what will benefit hunters in general.

[tinkering]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

So you not only want your own special season, but you want it before the general season. So the reality, is that it's all about what will benefit you, not what will benefit hunters in general.

We'll, that is just about as wrong of an evaluation of my stand than I could even come up with myself

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by tinkering

We'll, that is just about as wrong of an evaluation of my stand than I could even come up with myself

Does it often

Likes the back and forth.

[rem338win]

Originally Posted by tinkering

That's the frickin extreme for sure. It would be alot easier to just include the crossbow into the bow where it belongs; like other provinces and states do.

No. Then we won't have general tags in archery season because too much pressure, as already has happened with antlered mule deer and moose everywhere. This has been beaten to death and the reasons not to are good.

[tinkering]

Originally Posted by rem338win

No. Then we won't have general tags in archery season because too much pressure, as already has happened with antlered mule deer and moose everywhere. This has been beaten to death and the reasons not to are good.

More red tape. Why would general whitetail be affected by adding xBows to bowhunting? It doesn't spoil that in rifle season with xBows being locked up there. Things often get beaten to death because people won't budge and simple solutions can't be implemented

[walking buffalo]

Originally Posted by rem338win

No. Then we won't have general tags in archery season because too much pressure, as already has happened with antlered mule deer and moose everywhere. This has been beaten to death and the reasons not to are good.

And if we listened to the Elders years ago who tried to prevent compound bows from being included in the archery season, we would probably still have most of those general seasons.


Bring back the General Archery seasons, ban compound bows.

[tinkering]

It's been mentioned above a few times already too that allowing xbows in with the bow family isn't necessarily going to increase the number of bowhunters. You can't shoot both at the same time, and the reality will sift into the hunting mind that crossbow hunting is not really the wonderful advantage over all bows. Someone will budge, the rule will change, and everyone can go back to being happy hunters.

[tinkering]

Originally Posted by walking buffalo

And if we listened to the Elders years ago who tried to prevent compound bows from being included in the archery season, we would probably still have most of those general seasons.


Bring back the General Archery seasons, ban compound bows.

walking buffalo you have a valid point too. We are going out with recurves and longbows this year anyway but it would just be nice for us all to be able to choose a compound or xbow if we desired. There's too many rules and probably too many people. Let's simplify it logically and gracefully.
Bring back the buffalo!

[calgarychef]

Originally Posted by walking buffalo

And if we listened to the Elders years ago who tried to prevent compound bows from being included in the archery season, we would probably still have most of those general seasons.


Bring back the General Archery seasons, ban compound bows.

I’m all for that

[tinkering]

Originally Posted by calgarychef

I’m all for that

I think like the sounds of it too.
Let's divide it all up.
First season for traditional bows.
Second season for trad bows, xbows, and compounds.
General season for all.

... and bring back the buffalo!

[tinkering]

Someone said Indians and mets can use xbows anytime of the year. That doesn't make any sense. Oh well, I'm going to check the weather and get ready to go.

[Bushleague]

Originally Posted by pikergolf

Put crossbows in with muzzle loader, they have about the same range and in my mind pretty equal in difficulty.

I hunted with a traditional muzzle loader for quite a few seasons. At no point did I feel that I needed, or deserved, or would even be very much benefitted if an exclusive season were created to suite my tastes.

In roughly 1/3 of this huge province we can hunt with whatever we want for 3 whole months. In nearly another 1/4 of the province we can use whatever we want for roughly 10 friggin' weeks. I tend to feel that if folks cant be happy with the nearly unlimited opportunity's that already exist, they are likely the wrong sort of folks to be catering to.

[pikergolf]

Originally Posted by Bushleague

I hunted with a traditional muzzle loader for quite a few seasons. At no point did I feel that I needed, or deserved, or would even be very much benefitted if an exclusive season were created to suite my tastes.

In roughly 1/3 of this huge province we can hunt with whatever we want for 3 whole months. In nearly another 1/4 of the province we can use whatever we want for roughly 10 friggin' weeks. I tend to feel that if folks cant be happy with the nearly unlimited opportunity's that already exist, they are likely the wrong sort of folks to be catering to.

I think it really is dependent on where you live in this province. The folks in the south do not have near the opportunities the folks in the north do. And yes it is easy to say well just take a trip, but in this economy and especially for the guys just starting out and having a young family and mortgage etc. it is not the reality for lots in the south. Where I live other than ACA land there is zero places you can go hunt without permission for literally hundreds of miles.

[Bushleague]

Originally Posted by pikergolf

I think it really is dependent on where you live in this province. The folks in the south do not have near the opportunities the folks in the north do. And yes it is easy to say well just take a trip, but in this economy and especially for the guys just starting out and having a young family and mortgage etc. it is not the reality for lots in the south. Where I live other than ACA land there is zero places you can go hunt without permission for literally hundreds of miles.

Sounds like hell. I've asked for permission to hunt on private land exactly once, and it left a bad enough taste in my mouth that I just learned to hunt bush after that.

[calgarychef]

Originally Posted by rem338win

No. Then we won't have general tags in archery season because too much pressure, as already has happened with antlered mule deer and moose everywhere. This has been beaten to death and the reasons not to are good.

Yup.

[Lefty-Canuck]

My buddies 74 year old mother hunts with a compound bow… she says crossbows are for old women and sissy’s. I am not one to argue with her

People need to understand how “archery harvests” and the threshold value to allocation works in Alberta… until you understand that you might be all for inclusion, until that changes all inclusion does is ensure everything is on a draw in 2-3 years time.

Many archers use their trad and compounds alongside rifles during general season, how many crossbow hunters use those 100% of the time? I don’t know anyone…

LC

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

My buddies 74 year old mother hunts with a compound bow… she says crossbows are for old women and sissy’s. I am not one to argue with her

People need to understand how “archery harvests” and the threshold value to allocation works in Alberta… until you understand that you might be all for inclusion, until that changes all inclusion does is ensure everything is on a draw in 2-3 years time.

Many archers use their trad and compounds alongside rifles during general season, how many crossbow hunters use those 100% of the time? I don’t know anyone…

LC

There are many who simply use their crossbows all the time and there are a few on this site but some have moved on or just choose not to chime in.

[roy9525]

Originally Posted by BergenHunter

I support the idea of a crossbow only season. maybe right after the rifle season is complete. December 1-31

Crossbow in with regular bow and muzzleloader last two weeks of bow season

[Gun]

We moved back to Calgary area five years ago. I hunt strictly Trad. I had over 2000 acres of private land permission around the Edmonton Bowzone. Here I have about 350.

I have pretty much exclusive access (other than his immediate family) to a buddies 1,400 Ranch just outside the Bowzone but he has too many cows everywhere so I don't bother.

I contracted some weird nerve issues 6 years ago that crippled up my right hand. I learned lefty and shot a Bull Moose.

I did get most of the finger issues worked out w a lot of physio. Then I tore my right shoulder slipping on ice 4 yrs ago. My family doc asked if I wanted a note for a crossbow. I said NO.

While waiting a year for surgery and a year after while healing, I shot with a mouth tab. I shot three does the first season. The next year I killed another Bull Moose and my best Mulie buck.

I get er done and make no excuses. The crossbows HAVE affected seasons and numbers in the states. Make no mistake. Do some research.

People are just too lazy to put in the work for getting proficient and finding places to hunt. I have found a couple of spots in the bowzone most would not even consider.

The day comes when I can't hunt with my Recurve, well there's always fishing.