...The proposed rules prompted debate throughout the summer in a state where hunting is family tradition. A public comment period drew 3,022 responses, with more than three-fourths of them favorable. Legislators said they had been flooded with letters, phone calls and e-mails that were reminiscent of past debates over creating a state lottery...

Hunting rules changes send shock waves
Sunday, May 23, 2004
GULF SHORES -- For those who have always believed that the Conservation Advisory Board is just a puppet for the desires of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, May 22, 2004, will always be independence day.

For those traditionalists who believe anything that makes hunting easier is a sin, May 22, 2004, will always be the day Alabama's great outdoors went to hell in a hand basket.

An unusually liberal board stunned most everybody Saturday in Gulf Shores by passing controversial measures that would have never even come up for consideration in years past. [ ]

First, the board legalized the use of turkey decoys. And just when the crowd was recovering from that shock, the board approved the use of crossbows for all hunters. Just when traditionalists were on their last breath, the board approved the use of scopes on muzzleloaders.

At least in terms of hunting in Alabama, it will be a day that lives in infamy.

It was day where veterans of advisory board meetings clearly saw a changing of the guard. Charles Kelly, the retired Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries director who fought against such changes for much of his 39 years in that position, appeared before the board to once again protest against making turkey hunting easier.

His impassioned plea tried to shame board members by explaining that a turkey hunter has a brain the size of a softball, the turkey a brain the size of a marble. Hunters have camouflage, blinds, turkey calls and guns that will shoot 50 yards. Hunters should be embarrassed to ask for more help, he explained.

The board thanked him for his comments and then voted to approve decoys. The vote was especially sticky for board chairman Dan Moultrie who does not vote on issues except in the case of a tie. With the board deadlocked 5-5, Moultrie had to stand before Kelly, his longtime friend, and announce his decision. He voted for decoys.

The biggest loser of the day had to be the Bowhunters of Alabama. The 1,500-member organization has always been a trusted ally of the board and the board's most trusted adviser on bow-hunting issues.

On record as passionately opposing crossbows, the board did not inform the group that legalizing crossbows was even in the works. The quick motion and unanimous vote left BHA President Randy Yeargin in stunned disbelief.

We knew absolutely nothing about this, he said.

To rub salt in the wounds, the board went against BHA pleas to not back up a special muzzleloader season any further in the bow-hunting only season that runs Oct. 15 through the first three weeks of November. The board, which gave muzzleloaders its first three-day season during bow season last year, added two more days to create a special muzzleloader season from Nov. 15 to Nov. 19.

The board also voted to ban hunting with dogs in portions of Conecuh, Crenshaw and Winston counties and to make dog hunting in Henry, Covington and Geneva counties by permit only. Mike Bolton's outdoors column appears every Sunday.

The Florida Times Union *** click here ***

It was even news in Florida.


Looks like we wound up with crossbows during "bow" season and an alligator lottery to boot.

Screw the law. We've got a Board. ... and the Board's got buddies to take care of.

paralysed laft shoulder last year kept me from shooting a bow, i bet maybe my crssbow who knows i didn't try. but out of the respect for the deer i am shooting my compound and getting stronger all the time to pull it. i have not ever in the past contacted a GW about making crossbows legal to hunt deer i did at the expo tell one i wis h it was legal during turkey season, but now that i am better i no longer feel that way i would love to kill a turkey with my Diamond. using these razor tricks.i am calm now unlike last april.i was being run out of the house my wife called my son and ex wife to come get my guns and take them to tennessee. that is not all that got gone like my KBar marine fighting knife wento tn. that stuff should be against the law, i know should is a powerful word but not powerful enough to keep my stuff here.
my experience is just the opposite . I do not know anyone that has given up their vertical bow for a x bow without a injury.

I own both and have not shot the x bow in years . I also agree I would use the x bow if I could not shoot my vertical bow.

you know not of what you speak if you say there was popular support for crossbows in regular bow season. I was a working GW then, in contact daily with hunters, esp bowhunters. In the years before the CAB legalized crossbows I had not one hunter ever propose to allow crossbows to be a legal bow season weapon. That was a damn lie told by the CAB and commish at the time.

[/quote]And that's exactly why I'm an advocate of just having a "deer season," and letting hunters decide what weapon they want to hunt with. Get over all these "special weapons" seasons, the only purpose for which are to provide a few people with more exclusive hunting time.

you know not of what you speak if you say there was popular support for crossbows in regular bow season. I was a working GW then, in contact daily with hunters, esp bowhunters. In the years before the CAB legalized crossbows I had not one hunter ever propose to allow crossbows to be a legal bow season weapon. That was a damn lie told by the CAB and commish at the time.

I have no issues with crossbows in bow season, just the way the CAB lied and shoved crossbows down our throats at the time.

My view was not "skewed" as you say, there was NO huge wave of popular support for crossbows. Not unless you counted all the crossbow manufacturers that showed up for the fight. I'm not saying there was no support for crossbows, just not what the CAB said there was.

All of a sudden, all across the US there is a mad demand for crossbows, led by the manufacturers, and compliant CAB/DCNRs????? Just out of the blue, one state after another??? This was a calculated move by the manufacturers to increase sales, nothing else.

lol i would like to see the author draw it back and hold it at full draw. if he could he could beat me any day.if he can't then he is no different from any of us your not drawing 150 pounds and holding it i don't care who you are