THE use of crossbows in New York State is again on the table with considerable angst from both sides.
The proposed legislation comes after neighboring states already allow crossbows and other states across the country are making similar moves. Some sportsmen are wondering if the bill could become a reality this time around.
The bill, S22, calls for the DEC to develop standards for crossbow hunting by July 9, 2009. It would be up to the DEC to establish season lengths and address issues such as whether crossbows would be allowed during the regular archery hunting seasons or the gun season.
The bulk of the opposition to crossbows comes from New York Bowhunters, Inc., the statewide group representing thousands of archery hunters. NYB always has been against any type of weapon that isn’t a conventional bow that is drawn and held by hand during the archery season.
Right now, the only ones who can use the crossbow are the physically challenged.
I don’t see any reason why the crossbow should not be allowed during the gun season. Over the past 20 years, the number of gun hunters has dropped considerably, allowing for growth in the number of hunters during that time of the season.
To create a separate season for crossbows would only cut back time from archery or gun seasons. Bow-hunters in New York already got the short end of the stick by the move to a Saturday opener for the regular firearms deer season, which is usually the beginning of the rut and used to offer some of the best whitetail hunting of the archery season.
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If you are a sportsman or sportswoman, you are looking forward to the 30th World Fishing & Outdoor Exposition, March 1-4 at Rockland Community College Field House in Suffern. That’s where you’ll find that perfect bow, learn how to bag the biggest buck, and see top hunting dogs.
Archery buffs will find everything they need from tree stands, bows, arrows, and complete lines of archery gear. To keep your skills sharp, you can try the hunting simulator and test your eye and arm against a range of game scenarios.
The Expo also will have legendary hunter and turkey calling champion, Matt Morrett. He is a five-time winner of the World Champion Friction Turkey Calling title, five-time U.S. Open Turkey Calling Champion and a Grand National Champion. In the field, Morrett has completed a grand slam of all four subspecies of wild turkey. Joining Morrett to offer hunting tips will be Peter Fiduccia, the deer doctor, and black-powder expert Dave Ehrig.
Deer hunters also will be amazed by Big Jake, a whitetail deer head sporting the heaviest set of antlers known to man and features a non-typical score of 344, with 30 points and a 9 and 10 inch mass.
Go to http://www.sportshows.com for complete details on the 2007 Expo.