Five Seasons

congrats on getting back in the woods. Nobody I have met was against the handicapped being able to use a crossbow. And while I would never expect anyone to do this, it's not impossible to hunt with handicaps http://www.hlntv.com/video/2012/06/14/warrior-games-mark-obrien-salute-troops

I think it's more habitat than winter temps. When they plowed under the grape vineyard in favor of corn near me, it was never the same.

totally agree. the aregument is with the decision to not only take a picture, but to post it for the world to criticize. I took a picture of smiths packing during deer season with deer piled. I sent it to a few hunting buddies that would not be offended.

i do not disagree, but if you ignore the hunter looking for even the 130 class buck, he might just quit or go else where. So my point is that the DEC essentially gets money from hunters to help us control the population. It's not just a free service we provide them, but we actually pay to do it. If we have less hunters, they then have to pay snipers to do the controlling for them. There's a balance.

enter the resident mod with his tough love attitude. I noticed you were quite for a while after you were called out last time. Didn't take time for that to cool off did it?

it's sad that the dec do not care about those that pay their salary. While I believe the inclusion of crossbows will not force any hunters to quit, I wonder what it does for the sport in years to come. When all we're concerned about is numbers, at some point hunters quit because they never see a nice buck. Or they go out of state. So if you lose the interest of those that pay to help control the herd, you might end up with snipers in all of the state. I know it's extreme, but I just feel that sometimes people forget the license sales are what pay for the hatcheries, the parks, the trails and the land maintenance. And just like anti-gun laws, at what point does it end? when do they just allow guns all the time to increase harvest numbers? How many on this forum would be ok with that too? because I imagine a lot of you who say "who cares what other hunters use" would be ok with guns too.

then you don't get our water either

reminds me of a buck commander episode where an NFL player dressed up as santa and shot a doe with his bow.

those deer are hung and not piled up, which insinuates they're going to be butchered. Yes at some point they'll be on the ground and if you take a picture of that it'd look a lot worse. Those yotes might be dumped or they might be skinned. it's the time in the process that the pic was taken that sends the wrong message. the pic you posted is a 2 hunters posing nicely next to some deer with no visible disrespect for the deer.

good catch. I heard youth hunt was up in the air this year?

Probably not the right event to push gun agendas. Sad event. The anti's however, will point to the sad fact and truth that a gun would have probably caused more injury and death. The supporters will point to the fact that people are messed up no matter what. There are no winners. Just losers with these things.

bow is allowed during regular. so is mz. Essenitally any legal hunting implement. It's why it's called regular season in the books and not "gun season". I know guys who hunt small properties who continue to bow hunt in areas where guns aren't safe. My dad takes his MZ out because of the extended range in shotgun only areas. It just doesn't go both ways, you can't use a gun during bow. for now. until populations continue to rise and more hunters complain that hunting is too hard. Up until last year you used to be legally allowed to use an xbow during regular... should have left it that way

certainly archery equipment. how is it not?

agree. And I think we've talked this topic before, but how serious or how inclined are you to keep hunting if the only weapon you will use is a crossbow? Heck i think most of us started with guns and moved to archery because we just love hunting.

I think "trick shots" and challenging distances are great for the practice range with your buddies. They should not be a goal for the field. For every great hard shot you make; how many get wounded? I would rather have a deer come broadside at 15 yards and put him or her down then to have to thread the needle or compensate for wind.

I guess you're not seeing my question. As papist mentioned, I'm not sure making things so simple and easy is the best thing for our country. I'm 30 and I sound like a geezer when I say this, but my son is 2 years old and I worry about the country and culture we've created for him. Archery license sales have been growing for years. I see a good handful of youth on this site alone. Joe is a great example of a gun hunter who took interest in archery and was made offers by many here to give him help and equipment to make him successful.So some must be getting into archery, and I doubt it's a bunch of 50 year old guys picking up a bow for the first time. I support youth and hunting just as much as the next guy. I come from a long line of hunters. Can't wait till my kid is old enough to hunt, but I do not agree that hunting should be made "easy". That's the fun of hunting. The challenge. It should be hard. Life is hard. Not everyone gets a trophy, but those that work hard do. Why don't we just legalize baiting and feeders next?

pot meet kettle? check this years gun and bow harvest threads. You'll see my fine chiseled jaw line there

what source is that?

I agree with this. My only addition is that the bow hunter who goes after a buck is why many of us buy a license in the first place. Don't get me wrong, I eat venison at least twice a week and am always sure to fill my freezer, but the thrill of a big buck is why a lot of tags are bought and why a lot of gun hunters started bow hunting. I'm not sure archery season was ever meant for population control. The same deer are still there during gun and doe tags can be used whenever. An archery tag can be used with mz as well, so the tag itself does not lend a gun hunter to any more kills, just lets him get them earlier on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyNdDkspQQo

In my career I've mentored quite a few interns and direct reports and I see that you're passionate and raw, so take this advice or not, but I feel inclined to give it. You will find you're taken more seriously if you can go 1 post without insulting someone. I can't even read your posts because you sound like a high school girl. Anyone who needs to resort to name calling to support their side has already lost. I'm not saying Wolly is any better, but this is directed at you. Keep an open mind, be humble, use facts and experiences to support your side. Attacking someone personally does nothing to prove your point.

you're incorrect. elderly, disabled and regular and late season are all fine. We just feel they don't belong during archery. I would discourage youth as well. Why give them an xbow and take it away when they're no longer youth. Start them out right.

not sure why we needed another thread, but please explain this statement further. How many non-hunters (who already gun hunt and do not bow hunt already) do you know who are now going to start slaying whitetails?

every once in a while someone looks exactly how you pictured them.

you don't need decoys. they have a time and place. avoid the tom decoys unless you're a serious vet. try to scout and understand their roost. As a newbie, knowing where they roost will help where you lack in calling. I would say that you should be in the woods even before you think it's the right time to be in the woods.