Doc

If I were going to shoot competitively in a mandatory off-hand fashion, I would much rather use the compound. Take away my crossbow bipod, or log benchrest, and I'm sure the heavy awkward crossbow would be an ugly thing to control compared to any kind of bow. I never have been all that good at off-hand shooting even with a gun. On the other hand, hunting is not competitive shooting. In a hunting scenario, I can use anything that a rifle shooter can use to make the thing rock-solid. Heck, I can even shoot prone or kneeling and braced off my knee. As I said, "anything that a rifle shooter can use to make the thing rock-solid". That is when the crossbow works out to have huge benefits. Using super-regulated and restricted competitive rules and then trying to compare the results to hunting situations is ridiculous.

What the heck .... You have 5 guys trying to break into your home with at least one of them armed? What are you supposed to do wait until they shoot you before you are allowed to respond with deadly force? I agree with others here. There has to be more to the story. Otherwise prosecution is ridiculous.

I have seen wild crabapples in both bright red color and also yellow. Also, there is something we call thornapples that have little apples on them. Unlike the trees pictured here, the thorn apples have huge nasty thorns that can do some significant damage to people ... lol. But, I'm sure everybody has seen those ugly critters and remember them well after coming in contact with them.

John- Here is the argument that you will get. The NYS bow season lost its "primitive" status when we all knuckled under and accepted the compound bow as a legitimate bow season weapon. I know that a compound is still basically a bow that involves the very same shooting disciplines and methods that even the ancient bows required. But the fact remains that things have gone exactly the way that the old-timers who argued against the compound put forth. It has served as the "missing link" that provides the precedent for the inclusion of just about anything. Those guys were right. I must admit that even though I argued vigorously against them, when they opposed the introduction of compounds, there was a new precedent set that now has morphed into the introduction of the crossbow. We can't deny it. The genie was let out of the bottle with the compound. It now is followed by the crossbow, and I believe that it is simply a matter of time before some version of muzzleloader will take place inside of bow season. That is what the youth rifle season timing was all about. It simply was a test case to show that archery equipment and firearms can coexist. So everything is flowing predictably in a direction to dilute a true bow season. The fact is that the seasons that the bowhunters have carved out is constantly being jealously viewed by all hunters with all weapons. And the will of the hunters as a total group will rule. Those who think that certain qualities of challenge will be honored are simply not recognizing the fact that we are in the minority, and most hunters have no sympathy or respect for the notion that bow season was designed initially as a season of personal challenge. They all see that even bowhunters themselves are more and more involved in eliminating that challenge through technology, and they view the bow season as simply a waste of opportunity. It is truly just a matter of time before bow season will have very little to do with bows. The majority of hunters always prevail, and bowhunters are a true minority. So while it is great to keep up the good fight, it is also a cause that has the odds stacked impossibly against the bowhunter. The crossbow is a done deal, it is only a matter of time. At this point it is important to recognize defeat and try to heal up the rift that was thrust on us.

I am of the opinion that the DEC is not interested in things that have to do with a smaller deer harvest (buck or doe). Any moves in the direction of restricting harvests only come as a result of severe political pressure, or severe deer mortality. Otherwise, everything that I have seen them push are items that make deer hunting more efficient at reducing population. I honestly think they may fear a time when hunting can no longer handle population surges and are constantly looking for more ways to get more deer with fewer hunters regardless of what season. I'm thinking that a one buck rule would be met with the same lack of DEC enthusiasm as AR has been.......Just a theory based on DEC policy statements, proposals, and actions.

Basically, the tape over the sights works very well. The whole thing is about going for precision and the fear of the sight coming off the target at impact. It's a mental pressure that we put on ourselves that forces involuntary panic reactions. Covering the sight takes away that pressure for precision to the point where you can simply relax and feel the proper form and release. My target panic took a different form. I would get where if a shot didn't go off in a reasonable time, I would just have this super-exaggerated giant "flinch". It could be so violent that it would throw the shot right off the butt. Covering the sight would stop it. Just removing that pressure to hit the center of the center, would put my mind straight. It's an ugly thing, but there are remedies. However, it is never permanently beat, and can re-occur at any time. The funny thing is that I have never had it happen on a deer. I think that's because there are other things going on at the time that interrupts any brain-spasm from happening.

I suspect that he is not quite done with law on this incident. In my judgment, he had other options. I would guess that would be the criteria as to whether charges would be lodged.

I would purchase a gun safe, and that should take care of that concern.

Here's what I had in mind, and of course the thinking is customized to our house layout. Our bedroom is at the end of a narrow hallway (about 30 feet long). What I was thinking was a heavy-duty spotlight mounted above the door looking down the hall. Pointed away from the bedroom doorway so it is not blinding me, but blinding anyone coming down the hallway. So the scenario is that I can see him, he cannot see me or anything else for that matter. If its a "friendly", I can clearly see them. If it is an intruder, I can see him and do what's necessary. A strobe might work, but I am concerned about the intermittent flashback and how that might effect my ability to see as well. The switch for the light would be inside the bedroom so that I don't have to step out. Also, what the heck, hook up a loud alarm to that switch also just to warn others in the house to stay put, and also add to the confusion factor of the intruder. But not so loud that he can't hear the action on my 12 ga. Ithaca....lol. I would think all that would be an intruder's worst nightmare. I doubt that I would even have to fire a shot.

I think a lot of the AR goals would be automatically achieved with the increased selectivity of the hunters.

I have one more recommendation that you might want to consider. Ask your bow shop guy if there are any archery clubs in the area. It sure does make the practice sessions more fun when you have someone to shoot with. Also, judging by the pictures of your initial results, there may be a natural talent for competitive shooting. Plus it's just a lot of fun to have other bowhunters to talk to and throw around different ideas on tackle and techniques. It's just a suggestion that you might want to think about.

You know, even today I often walk through a stretch of woods at the end of the day and spot something that brings back memories of 20, 30, 40 years or more ago. It may not have anything to do with a kill, just a recollection of a time long ago that I walked the same trail out. It is weird, just kind of a flash-back to a younger age. Of course I have lived and hunted this same valley since I was 11 years old, so there are a lot of memories here. But great memories in the woods are not always linked to a kill. There is an old beech tree that never fails to bring back great memories when I see it. About 55 years ago, I carved the initials of my wife and myself in that old tree. That was long before we were even married. They are still there. It is amazing, something in the woods that can instantly take me back to age 15 everytime I stumble across it while hunting.

I think the gun range thing is the best idea if you can talk her into trying it. She just may get hooked. Another direction of attack would be to bombard her with mental images of home invasions, and robberies gone bad, and some of the twisted brains of the wacked-out druggies out there, and just generally trying to convince her that there is a need for effective home defense. If she is concerned about the dangers of being armed, you need to show her the dangers of being unarmed.

Flashlights are good, but don't they provide an aiming spot for the bad-guy?

I would suggest to both of you that you try to find an archery club and join up. Perhaps you will find it fun to get into a bit of competitive shooting (they usually have people of all kinds of abilities to shoot with. It is interesting to see all the different kinds of shooting gear, and have a little tech-talk with other members. And the big benefit is that you come in contact with other bowhunters who can point you in directions toward hunting grounds. Can't find a archery club? .... check with local sporting goods stores.

I'm not sure that any one study ever proves anything. It would be nice to have others do similar studies so that some kind of consensus could be evaluated. And who knows? ..... Maybe there are others that we just aren't aware of.

Pretty simple .....eh? Buy your general big game hunting license. Have one buck tag issued that covers all seasons. go for your antlerless draw(s). And away you go. what could be simpler. And on top of that, look at the paperwork and unique databases you could scrap. Sounds good to me. Not only that, but if you want hunters to be more selective with their harvests, what better way than having them make their one and only buck tag count.

It appears to me that you did a proper job of selection. Good for you. Now you might want to go to a 4 or 5 spot target face with one shot per spot ..... just to save your arrows and a pile of money.

I really am wondering if every buck that we see messing with a doe after normal breeding months really is having any success. I mean it might look like he's doing the job, but is he really? It may be a case of wishful thinking on his part ... lol.

Somehow it seems like we have pretty much come a full circle with the draw length fiasco. I will go back to my original statement that when buying a new bow, a bow-shop pro can do you the best service by taking a bow that is set up with exactly the equipment you will be using (that incudes a D-loop if you intend to use one). Using your best form, or even perhaps some changes that the pro may recommend, pull back the bow to where you have what feels like the most repeatable and consistent anchor. Have that pro measure the resultant draw length (Your personal draw length), and order a bow that has a compatible bow length. That is the recommendation that I initially answered this topic with many pages ago, and I have yet to see any objection to any part of that procedure that has any merit. No one should be modifying anchors or form or accessories to accommodate an ill-fitting bow. Measure properly and order properly.

I'm thinking that part of the home defense system should be a light switch in the bedroom that turns on a hallway light. In fact it might even be useful to have a rather high powered spotlight that shines down the hallway, screwing up the view of any approaching intruder. Such a system would not only blind the intruder, but would also illuminate the hallway for target identification, and target acquisition. Such a system might even be as important as caliber or gauge selection. There might even be other electrical solutions that use motion sensors and such. Things to ponder.

Hi Paul- Welcome aboard. So how do you intend to start? Small game, varmints, deer? Are you looking at beginning with a bow, gun, both? Do you own any guns or archery equipment? Do you have places for target practice? Are you at all familiar or experienced with hunting equipment? Do you have convenient places to hunt? Have you read any books or hunting magazines? Do you have any acquaintances that are into hunting?

Damned moose have no sense of humor!

LOL .... That is something that I have always thought. Imagine hearing that sound of a pump shotgun being racked in the pitch black of the night. I suspect that the next sound you would hear would be the frantic retreat and then someone bailing out through a window, open or not (even if you are on the second story of the house). Likely no shots would ever be fired.

It is amazing how the cost of archery can grow way beyond the price of the bow. So when it comes to accessories, your approach will reflect your own personal buying philosophy. Some guys will simply throw a lot of money at their purchases thinking that if it's expensive it must be the best and necessary. If you can afford that approach, why not? If you can't you have to take a more fundamental approach. When you get past the bow and start getting involved in accessories, it may make sense for a beginner to stay as basic as possible until you experience a need later on. Salesmen have a vested interest in selling you all the bells and whistles possible, and also all the most expensive models of these things. And this is where it gets real difficult because generally there is always some story that goes along with each additional dollar spent, and generally there is some truth and science behind it. The guy may not be lying to you, but what is important to him may never be all that important to you. But at the very beginning, you have no idea what exactly you require. My approach was always to go with the basics and let the other trinkets and gadgets grow on you as you experience a need. Of course that merely reflects my penny-pinching, cheap-skate nature .... ha-ha. But in the end it really winds up to be the choice of the purchaser. Just something to think about before getting bombarded with all the sales pitch.