Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer Bow Talk Crossbow Vs. Bow

I know this is probably an old topic since they legalized crossbows a few years ago in Alabama, but I was just wondering how many people has the same opinion on allowing Crossbow's during Bow season for anyone that wants to go out and purchase one.

Me personally, I do not think they should be legal unless you have some kind of disability in which you can not draw a bow back. Legalizing the crossbow during "Bow" season allows all the gun hunters to go out and purchase their arrow shooting guns with a scope mounted on top of it and fill the woods up just like it was rifle season. Do not get me wrong, I hunt with a rifle 50% of the time when it is in season. I was just sitting in my stand the other day and just recalling when Bow Season used to come in you would only see a handful of hunters. Remember when we used to have a Month to ourselves in the woods???

Personally....I haven't seen a increase in hunters during bow season since they legalized crossbows. Maybe to make it fair for everyone they should split the seasons and have Bow only Oct 15-31 and Crossbow only Nov.1 - 16 ... Think that would make everyone happy?

Take your idea to the Conservation Advisory Board and present it to them.

They are legal now and there is nothing to be gained from opening up old wounds. Just get out and hunt!

What ever floats your boat but lets not talk about it. Again. But I will say I have a partially torn rotator cuff this year and wished I had one. Atleast I could get after them. Oh well. I can always catch up come gun season.

Good Lawd!!!! :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

i think it was a great thing.now my son and daughter can go with me.i still use my bow but for kids and people that cant use a bow its a good thing.

Along with a check, cash, or free merchandice like the crossbow companies. Dang Clem, you nearly left out the most important part of the presentation.

I see no difference in hunting with a crossbow or a shotgun with buckshot. Range is the same if not longer for a crossbow and all either takes is the pull of a trigger. Ever since the dang things have been legalized it seems like every old retired man who hunted everyday of gun season anyways got thier chance to spend $400 and extend their season by another month every year. People who hunt with the Xbows will not agree with you or me because they were never in the October woods before the legalization. This also takes the sport away from bowhunting in a way, I wish everyone would refer to it as crossbow hunting if that is thier weapon of choice. I started bowhunting when I was 12 yrs old with an old bear bow that my dad had for 20 years prior. I spent countless days in the woods. After three years of misses and a couple of unrecovered bad shots, I finally scored on a doe that just barley lost her spots. Most gun and crossbow hunters would bash me for it but that was the most appreciated accomplishment of my hunting career. Since that day over 10 years ago, I have become extremely deadly in the woods compared to the people I grew up hunting with that never took into the sport of bowhunting. And the reason I see it this way is because I have seen too many people in the last few years go out and buy a Xbow and kill a deer on thier first outing with it. Those individuals dont even realize they are missing out on a passion that is uncurable. It's kinda like calling a gobbler into range vs. abushing one in a food plot. I was never for the legalization of them and will always hope that it will go back to the way it was. I can't compete with lobbyist in montgomery so I'll just keep my opinion and refuse to take anyone that hunts with a Xbow, to my bowhunting only lease. I just hope all the marketing era hunters dont end up treating bowhunting like doghunting, another sport which they will never appreciate the love for. Again, I have no problem with the traditional laws where you can use one with a disabilty.

I think compound bows take the sport out of hunting. I think we should have a hand to hand season from October 15 - November 21, and then have rock season from November 22 - December 31. We could let people with a disability use a spear.

It's just sad. People that use guns and compound bows to kill deer aren't real hunters, and they are ruining it for the rest of us who are trying to be traditional.

Answer this question for me, what legal weapon for killing deer is better than a compound bow yet not quite as good as a rifle?

A) Shotgun
B) Crossbow
C) Both A nd B
D) I spent a weeks pay on a crossbow and I think I have as much skills as someone with a compound bow much less a recurve.

SnapperSlapper, I think pocket knife season should come in atleast a day prior to rock season since rock season would require projectiles. By the way, I have been shooting by instinct with a recurve for the last 2 years.

I am not trying to be rude or ugly about it but with people who think like that is one of the things that hurts hunting. Why would a new hunter want to start hunting if people are telling them they don't need to hunt with this or they don't need to hunt with that.If you are doing it legal and have put the time in to be able to get the job done why can't you hunt the way you wish.What about people who are good enough to take a deer with a bow at 60 plus yards. Should they not be allowed to hunt in bow season because they are shooting to far. I will give you a good example of how some people are. I hunt a club that took in a new member a few years ago. He come up to bow hunt took a nice doe with a bow. The club prez got mad cause he killed a deer with a bow. Come up with a rule no more bowhunting. Muzzleloader season comes in he comes up takes a nice doe. Prez gets mad again makes a new rule no muzzleloader hunting allowed. Says that he don't hunt like that so nobody else should. I have not owned,shot or hunted with a bow in over ten years. I have never shot a crossbow. But if it is legal what is the problem. We have got to come together on hunting not argue about it. Thanks

Handihunter, sounds like your club prez was an idiot...were you in a "gun only" club?

I've softened a lot on my anti-crossbow stance and agree with you that we have to be unified in our support for all hunting methods for the most part.

I only agree in principle though...I still tend to correct people that I hear speak of crossbow and bow hunting in the same breath as though they're comparable...they aren't. BUT, if you love to bow hunt(like I do) and dislike crossbows in bow season(like I do)...then I figure the best option is hunt with like minded bowhunters, or on a bowhunting only property. Incidently, neither has been too hard to find.

I think it is sad when someone thinks they are a better person than someone else because of the weapon they use. The recurve hunter who thinks he is a better person than the compound bow hunter. The compound bow hunter who thinks he is a better person than the muzzleloader hunter. The muzzleloader hunter who thinks he is a better person than the rifle hunter.

It is sad. If you base your self worth on the type of weapon you deer hunt with, you might want to take another look at the big picture and reevaluate things.

And it is also sad that these people want to exclude others from the sport so that they can have it all to themselves. Hunting should be a personal endeavor. If you are so worried about what everyone else is doing, maybe you should consider why you hunt. As long as it is legal, it doesn't endanger others, and it's not bad for the sport, let it go.

I thought the way the crossbow thing was forced on Alabama was wrong. Now that they are legal, I am through fighting it. They are legal now and I will share the woods with them. Case closed.

There will be folks hunting in the Oak Mountain hunt this year using traditional bows, compound bows, and yes crossbows. As long as they obey the law, hunt hard, hunt safely, and conduct themselves well, all will be well and I will be happy. And of course, I hope they kill lots of deer.

There is no need in continuing to fight amoungst ourselves. Our ranks are getting smaller and more fragmented. We MUST stay united and strong.

Its a shame all the guys on here who complain about crossbows being to easy to kill a deer and and that you should only be able to use a compound bow to hunt deer during bow season. The bottom line is most of these guys are selfish and want the woods to themselves and are worried someone might shoot a deer they were after. Plus most of them put the bow down come gun season and use a rifle which makes it very easy to take a deer. For me I hunt with all weapons of choice and enjoy using each one at different times of the season.......I enjoy the crossbow because now my son & daughter ages 7 & 9 get to go hunting the whole season with me and that is more important than worrying what someone else is using to hunt!

Just my 2 cents worth!

I'll say this much about a crossbow. If you do your job it definitely makes an impact when that bolt rips through a deer's chest cavity. The does I've killed have buckled as if punched with a 4-by-4, died quickly and bled like crazy.