Maine Crossbow hunting bills stir controversy

[Woody Williams]

WHAT A CROCK OF YOU-KNOW-WHAT...

Today's high-tech, high-priced crossbows barely resemble the medieval weapon from which they evolved. Fans of crossbow hunting believe the weapon offers the best of both rifle hunting and traditional bow hunting - the steadiness that comes from bracing a crossbow on the shoulder and using a sight, like a gun, combined with the silence and short range that makes bow hunting palatable in urban areas.

But legislative proposals to legalize hunting with crossbows this year still are expected to be controversial.

Opponents, many of whom come from Maine's growing community of hunters who use traditional vertical bows - like those you probably recall from Boy or Girl Scouting - fear that allowing crossbows into Maine hunting could ruin their sport.

The Maine Bowhunters Association is "adamantly" opposing the proposal, the organization's lobbyist, Mike Rovella, said Monday.

In states where crossbows can be used during archery season, hunters who use compound bows are being driven out as hundreds of new hunters flood the archery season - vastly increasing the kill.
"It's not even on the same page," Rovella said. "The kill would be tripled."

DIF&W is looking into the possibility that increased hunter participation as a result of legalizing crossbows might force the state to limit other hunting opportunities to protect wildlife populations, state wildlife biologist Wally Jakubas said Monday.

Yet in other situations, crossbows could help reduce nuisance wildlife populations, like city deer, that aren't being managed by traditional bow hunters alone, he said.

"It makes hunting more acceptable, more politically correct, to a lot of people," said Rep. Stanley Moody, R-Manchester, who has sponsored a bill to make crossbows legal during Maine's archery hunting seasons.
And supporters of crossbows said that new hunting opportunities could only benefit the finances of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and those rural communities that subsist on hunting and fishing.

"I think it's going to raise some revenues for the department," said Moody, who describes his bill as an economic development tool.

In Maine, bow hunters are allowed to hunt an expanded deer season that lasts for four months, because of their reputation for safety and their relatively low success rates. Bow hunters are also called upon to hunt deer when urban areas and islands become overpopulated.

However, crossbows are presently allowed only for disabled bow hunters who must hunt one-handed, and then only by individual permission from DIF&W.

But if hundreds of new crossbow hunters flood the season - as has happened in Ohio and several other states that allow the sport - bow hunters' favored status could be lost, Rovella said.

Crossbows are easier to aim and require less force to shoot than most vertical bows. For Moody, that means that women and children can become a larger part of the sport.

For Rovella, it means that inexperienced hunters could take to the woods during archery season. Nearly all bow hunting accidents occur when crossbow hunters walk through the woods with their weapons pre-cocked, he said.

The silence of crossbows also has made them irresistible to poachers in the past, and bow hunters like Tonia Albert, who runs a Millinocket archery supply shop with her husband, worry that an increase in poaching could give their sport a bad name.

"I'd hate to see crossbows legalized," Albert said Monday.
Rep. Walter Wheeler, D-Kittery, also has proposed a competing bill, to legalize crossbows during the firearms season for bear and deer, a time that he believes would draw less opposition.

DIF&W hasn't yet taken a position on either bill. And Gov. John Baldacci will likely let his wildlife agency take the lead on this issue, spokesman Lee Umphrey said last week.

The Sportsman's Alliance of Maine has opposed crossbows in the past, but is considering supporting one or both of the bills, Executive Director George Smith said Monday.

"I don't think you can ignore the possibility that lots more people might take up bow hunting if you offer this opportunity," Smith said.

WW - Please go to the following URL and voice your displeasure with this one sided reporting.

Click on “submit your comments”..
http://www.bangornews.com/news/templates/?a=107021&z=5

[brayhaven]

It would seem that, with other states having legalized Xbows during archery, there would be sufficient, impartial data to support (or refute) the claims of the parties in this dispute. Anyone have that data handy?
Greg

[Woody Williams]

Current link for one of the bills. The one proposed by Rep Moody.

http://janus.state.me.us/legis/LawM...mmary.asp?LD=67

[Dale Duryea]

the silence of crossbows have made them irresistible to poachers one person in the story said . That person has not been around nor fired one they are anything but silence .And what about the range if I was a poacher a crossbow would not be a first choice tool. Maybe they should have a handicapped permit for crossbow use to start . The state should ask other states where the crossbow is permitted for input and info .

[Jim C]

what do you expect from the press? ABC has Dan Blather and the crossbow haters have their liars

[Digger]

My Martin Jaguar bow I use to hunt with makes my Excal look positively antiquish with its 75 % let off, four carbon rod stabilizer, Whisker biscuit rest. five pin fiber optic trophy ridge sight, LED blue light to illuminate the pins, wrist strap, carbon arrows and Tru-fire mechanical release.
I'm glad that once in a while I can put down my xbow and hunt traditionally.

Digger

[Zeke]

Lot's of misinformation in that article.

Referring to verts as "like you remember from Scouts" - Diggers Martin is a prime example - I don't think any Scout troops or schools would buy 20 or more modern hunting compound bows for their archery activities.

They refer to the crossbow hunters "flooding" the season like in Ohio - Maybe - but not to the extent they claim. I live in Ohio, and the guys I know who bought a crossbow did it for one of two reasons:

- Reason #1 - They are hunters who hunted deer only during gun season and were looking for a way to extend their time in the woods.

- Reason #2 - They are hunters who already hunted with a compound bow, but decided to try a crossbow both to improve accuracy and to take advantage of the crossbow's ability to "hold" indefinitely.

The article makes it sound like non-hunters everywhere will wake up one morning and think "Wow, crossbows are legal now - I think I'll take up hunting!"

Point is, the crossbow isn't likely to make a bunch of people decide to become deer hunters - it just gives folks who already hunt another means to do so.

I'm gonna send this to that paper too - they may not care since I live in Ohio, but I figger it can't hurt.

[Zeke]

Here's a little article from nearby New Hampshire:

http://www.nhspal.org/newsDetail.php?id=68

[Zeke]

The "Submit Your Comments" link on that page apparently was removed - but the author's email address is still there.

[Woody Williams]

The "Submit Your Comments" link on that page apparently was removed - but the author's email address is still there.

Zeke,

The last I checked I was the only person that made a comment.

[Moxie]

I decided I'd ask why I should become a member of the Maine Bowhunters Association, since I have no choice but use a crossbow, because of medical reasons. I await there answer.

[brayhaven]

Here's a little article from nearby New Hampshire:

http://www.nhspal.org/newsDetail.php?id=68

I thought it was a pretty fair & balanced piece. Did anyone have a problem with it?
Greg