Crossbows really archery?

[dougedwards]

I thought that title might get your attention. The introduction of the use of crossbows into each respective's state's archery only hunting season has caused some heated discussion within the archery hunting circles as a whole and is reminiscent of the debate that raged when smokeless powder was introduced as an alternative to black powder for hunting and shooting purposes during the muzzleloader hunting seasons. As with each instance, anyone's personal opinion on the subject deserves some respect but in the end anyones personal opinion is tainted or enhanced by the validity of reasonable facts submitted.

Based on historical evidence, the crossbow came into existance before the vertical bow. This fact doesn't indicate that the crossbow is in fact "a more primitive weapon" but merely indicates that the crossbow design to fling arrows was used before the design of the vertical bow. Also the enhanced effectiveness of the modern crossbow over the modern compound bow cannot be verified since crossbow archers fair very poorly when competing with fellow compound archers in 3D shoots. Also at longer distances the longer arrows used with compound bows will stablize better making them inherintly more accurate.

Yet the argument against the use of crossbows as a valid archery weapon is that crossbows are much faster, easier to learn to shoot effectively and resemble too closely the shooting of a rifle. They also allow the use of optical scopes instead of pin sights which can be illuminated with small lighting or tridium pins.

I am not defending the use of crossbows for hunting during the archery only season but I will state that it is beyond me how any crossbow that I have seen is any more "tricked out" than some of the more modern compound bows since either has very little similarity to their most primitive ancestors that slung wooden arrows.

TYPICAL MODERN CROSSBOW

TYPICAL PRIMITIVE CROSSBOW

TYPICAL PRIMITIVE VERTICAL BOW

TYPICAL MODERN COMPOUND BOW



Both will shoot arrows tipped with broadheads. They both are an effective hunting weapon projecting 300-400+ grain arrows to 250-350+ fps depending on the type of respective bow chosen of course. Neither can remotely compare to the slowest shooting rifle on earth.

Sure, the crossbow can be "pre-cocked" and ready for fire before the moment of truth and compounds must be drawn moments before the shot but at release the modern compound makes a whisper of a sound compared to a "THWACKKK" sound created by the crossbow. And what about the possibility of a second shot if necessary? Wouldn't the compound have an undisputed advantage there?

Am I missing something here? Is it possible that where-ever you find mankind you will find a dispute of sorts? Or are there really some plausible and valid reasons why the crossbow should not be considered a form of archery as it applies to hunting?

Doug

[ozark]

I think many avid bowhunters consider the crossbow a stepchild at least. Personally I don't think it can be tweaked to shoot as accurate as the compound bow at longer ranges. Many crossbow users are physically handicapped by age or other restrictions that makes the decision one of crossbow or nothing during archery season. I have never been a longbow or compound bow hunter but I am told that one must shoot one on a regular basis to be accurate. I am restricted to using a crossbow but I think we should let the compound and longbow hunters continue to use their equipment. LOL

[sw]

:)Doug,
Having hunted with "stick" bows(flat and long bows) for over 20 years before using a compound in addition to my recurve(now), it strikes me strange that someone shooting a vertical machine(commonly called a compound) would take any sort of "purist" attitude. Many x-bows(mine for example) and many compounds are just highly mechanized contraptions that use highly sophisticated pulleys and cams, synthetic strings, cables, fiber optic sites or scopes. 2 machines. Little accuracy or range difference exists when used by skilled hands.
However, a # of us have gotten older and the x-bow does allow us to "keep hunting". I have no problem with younger hunters using x-bows either, though.

[rons]

I have the same view's! I shot a recurve for years,then as old age, and sholder injurys,caught up to me,I went to a compound bow. It was alot easier (30% letoff, back then) to draw and hold at full draw(80% seems to be the norm now) ;D. Later in life I suffered 3 strokes,and now shoot a crossbow,due to my limmited abilities,of my left arm. I'm glad the compound bows,came along,and the crossbows too! Without them I would have had to give up "bowhunting"for deer long ago! Ron PS. I'm 60yrs old (older than dirt) ;D

[DHinMN]

Are crossbows archery? No. If you shoot a rifle with skill and never shot a bow, and then some one hands you a cross bow, it would be pretty obvious how you would go about shooting it. Shoulder it, aim it like your rifle and pull the trigger. Hand the same guy a bow and he isn't going to have a clue how to go about shooting it. If laws allow its use during the archery season OK. Thats laws. But in IMO its not archery. Archery is a different skill from rifle shooting.

[ozark]

I agree the two are totally different. But then, the early Indians would probably think the modern compound bow was some kind of musical instrument. Remove 65 years from my age and I would be happy to hunt with a spear and call archery cheating.

[sagittarius]

Doug,

I consider Crossbows archery because of the "bow" in the name and because they shoot bolts which is just a short arrow.
...and that's all I'm going to say as I received enough flack at AT on the same topic.

[whelenman]

Well, longbows and recurves require holding the entire pull weight. Compounds reduce that holding weight down substantially. Crossbows reduce the holding weight to zero. I've used all three and now use the crossbow due to the shoulder. Opinions about types are just like a bunch of high school kids arguing over who's the best. Have a good time and do what you want. I'm glad they're now legal or I'd be confined to muzzleloader and rifle season.

[ozark]

To me if it launches an arrow it is archery. My ideas suit me just fine and I hope no members of this forum comes to trash my butt.