What about crossbows in Montana's archery season?

[shoots-straight]

And so it begins.

Should have a forum that says "Bill Watch 2015".

Here's a bill to include Crossbows in Montana's archery season.

For your viewing pleasure.

http://leg.mt.gov/bills/2015/billpdf/LC1361.pdf

 

[shoots-straight]

This link shows the enormous amount of bills just dealing with fish and game. There will be many more showing up, and others hidden within other names.

http://laws.leg.mt.gov/legprd/LAW02...BJT_SBJ_CD=FISH&P_ENTY_ID_SEQ=&Z_ACTION2=Find

 

[Big Fin]

And so it begins.

Should have a forum that says "Bill Watch 2015".

We do have a state specific forum for each state. That allows people who don't want to be bothered with topics from other states to block that state forum. Here is the link to the MT issues forum.

For any other MT issues that come up during the legislative session, I ask that they get posted in that forum.

http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/forumdisplay.php?f=460



As to the bill in question, it is the classic example of legislatures across the country thinking they need to fix something that is not broken. We already allow crossbows for five weeks of the general season and also in all of the extended seasons and weapon restricted seasons.

Seems as though that would be enough opportunity for that specific weapon. Evidently not in the minds of some legislators.

This issue has been fought for years in Montana. It always gets a resounding defeat in the public comments. Yet, some people just cannot accept that Montanans, for the large part, do not want crossbows in archery season. I suspect this is an industry push by the crossbow industry. Or, introduced by someone who likes to see the Montana hunting community at each others throats during the legislative session.

It is fine that other states allow them. Good for those states. If that is what people want in those states, that is how it should be. In Montana, every time it comes up, it dies a painful death and further divides hunters and extracts energy better used on other more important topics.

 

[antlerradar]

Cross bows in Montana. A good first step to a shorter archery season.

Antlerradar

 

[RUT JUNKEY]

. . .next thing you know it will be lighted nocks. . .

 

[jryoung]

Can't wait

 

[Big Fin]

. . .next thing you know it will be lighted nocks. . .

Oh, don't worry, there will be a bill about that, too. Lots of them are still titled "Generally revise Game and Fish laws."

Also one to change the hunter orange requirements.

Also a bill to prohibit sage grouse hunting (by the former chair of the Senate F&G Committee)

Require reporting and testing of wolf-dog hybrids

Make FWP Commissioner an elected position, subject to the same rules and activities of elected legislators, yet allow a Governor to remove any of those elected Commissioners.

Exempt hunters from paying bed taxes

One pertinent to another thread - Revise rules related to tagging requirements and another to clarify laws defining how to legally tag an animal.

Allow cow elk hunting by senior citizens

Change game damage laws to that landowners no longer need to allow public hunting in order to qualify for game damage.

Another bill to .......

As you can see, we in Montana are in such a sad state of affairs, our legislators find us in need of another 100+ changes to our current system.

To repeat what I say many times when this ugly process is under way, Montana needs a Legislature that convenes for two days every ninety years, rather than convene for ninety days every two years. We would all be better off.

 

[Pinecricker]

Can't wait

Are over the counter tiger tags available?

 

[shoots-straight]

To repeat what I say many times when this ugly process is under way, Montana needs a Legislature that convenes for two days every ninety years, rather than convene for ninety days every two years. We would all be better off.

One could only dream!

 

[Joe Hulburt]

I despise crossbows. Them and those high tech long range muzzleloaders. Makes no sense for people who are looking for a primitive hunt to constantly try an reinvent the rifle!

Getting to be a lot of outdoor television shows pushing them. Must be big money in them. I always turn off the program if they rear their ugly heads.

 

[RobG]

Interesting that Ellie Hill is pushing for sound suppressors in the field. I might eventually warm up to that idea.

 

[mixedbag]

I wastotally against crossbows here in Pa when they started to allow in archery.Well, now I have a tear across my shoulder which is going to need surgery.Thinkmy bowhunting days are over,and may now have to go with a crossbow.Would Mt allow me a special permit to use one in archery??Also, Wy has allowed crossbows for some time now and I have never seen a guy with one yet while hunting there.So I sit on the fence about all this now that my situation has changed
Also, what would be the big deal about lighted knocks?Or for bow mounted cameras?I got a survey from Mt bowhunters association about it,and don't want to go against the grain in a state I only visit shortly for hunts.

 

[RUT JUNKEY]

I feel for you guys out there when it comes to all the changes every year. Does the regs book look like a Cali phone book? Good luck guys.

 

[RobertR]

We have already went through the growing pains of recurve/ long bow versus compound bow. It will be a long battle between purist and.compound bow shooters that it's not fair or ethical.
It's the same as shooting a rife long range.

Big Fin says: crossbows are aloud during the general season in weapon restriction areas.
I'm going to have to check the regulations out.

 

[The Hedgehog]

Gaybows?

 

[Straight Arrow]

RobertR, do check the regulations and you will determine that both crossbows and muzzleloaders are allowed in Weapons Restriction Areas whenever there is an open season in the particular WRA. It may even fall during the Archery Season timeframe and after the general season. Those weapons are also allowed during the general rifle season and have plenty of opportunity to hunt.

The main point continued to be emphasized by Montana Bowhunters Assn is that those weapons are not appropriate for the archery season. That point has been strongly supported for years by a majority of Montana hunters and other citizens.

Unfortunately, the past several legislative sessions have included proposals from many special interest groups or industry lobbyists to fix a large number of problems which do NOT exist!

If narrowly focused elements continue to attempt to change the great tradition and legacy of "Last Best Place" hunting opportunities, I fear that future Montana hunters will face ever diminishing opportunity.

 

[sbhooper]

These arguments have been going on forever. I was incensed when New Mexico started allowing scopes on mz when I lived there. Allowing scopes did not change the success rate much over all. Nebraska did the same thing a few years after I moved here. The success rate stayed the same. They have allowed crossbows for two years now in Nebraska and the same thing has happened.

Overall, I think allowing them is a moot point, as the word "primitive" has no bearing on the seasons what-so-ever anymore. True primitive hunts are only in the eyes of those that want to follow the primitive route.

Personally, I am all about putting meat in the freezer and am too old to worry about the "challenge" anymore. Had I known that Nebraska was going to legalize crossbows, I would never have bought my last Bowtech.

A lot of what is influencing decisions here in Nebraska, is that the numbers of hunters is not growing and Game and Parks is willing to try anything to get more people interested-even if it means sacrificing the purity of the sport.

 

[The Hedgehog]

There's a perfectly long 5 week general season for gaybows and polesmokers right now.

 

[Joe Hulburt]

These arguments have been going on forever. I was incensed when New Mexico started allowing scopes on mz when I lived there. Allowing scopes did not change the success rate much over all. Nebraska did the same thing a few years after I moved here. The success rate stayed the same. They have allowed crossbows for two years now in Nebraska and the same thing has happened.

Overall, I think allowing them is a moot point, as the word "primitive" has no bearing on the seasons what-so-ever anymore. True primitive hunts are only in the eyes of those that want to follow the primitive route.

Personally, I am all about putting meat in the freezer and am too old to worry about the "challenge" anymore. Had I known that Nebraska was going to legalize crossbows, I would never have bought my last Bowtech.

A lot of what is influencing decisions here in Nebraska, is that the numbers of hunters is not growing and Game and Parks is willing to try anything to get more people interested-even if it means sacrificing the purity of the sport.

There is a huge difference between states that have little public land or OTC hunting opportunity and those that do. In a state where there is a lot of public land and liberal general archery or muzzleloader seasons each advancement in technology is a step toward loosing hunting days. Something has to give!

In a state that has very limited tags with high success rate already I could see where it wouldn't make much difference.

 

[Rooster52]

After my heart surgery ,I could not pull my bow anymore so I bought acrossbow.Have not killed anything with it yet just punched targets but looking forward to hunting with it. Very accurate.
Seems like everyone I know owns a crossbow now days.