Crossbows

Should Crossbows be allowed on the 3D course

I kind of messed this pole up a bit but I think the intention is clear.
First off I would like to say that I am a dedicated compound shooter and have never shot a crossbow in my life. Now having said that I think that as long as crossbows are allowed in the hunting season and as long as they don't beat up the targets they should be allowed on the 3D course. I don't know about all the categories that would have to be created as there are so many types of crossbows around these days. As long as they are competeing
against each other in their own category I can't see a problem.

[toxic111]

Ok.. since I am the secretary of our local club we have had to deal with this issue a few times. As a club we decided no, not at our shoots, a cross bow is harder on targets, compounds with carbons are hard enough (our January shoot just about destroys the targets we have)

PLus the crossbow is not allowed during archery season around here, and it is not a bow as defined with the IBO, ABA & P&Y. and that is where we based our decsion on.

Now, I like the idea of the crossbow as a different form of hunting, same as a MZ, archery tackle, rifle, and handguns. But it is not a bow.

[Calvin L]

I have only been to one shoot that allowed this . The mad trapper in trail . This is a privite course ( if that matered) It worked well they had there own stakes to shoot from and they competed against only cross bows . It does get the cross bow hunters out to have some fun and to help fine tune there shooting . Know with that said I have to agree with toxic 111 that it is not a bow as per p&y therefore to allow them in any major shoots would not be right . It is not held or drawn as a bow there fore it is not one Just my 2 Cents
calvin L

[300 wsm]

this is a great topic ..as long as they do shoot in there own category its probably ok .it does give them the chance to practise with there equiptment .in the ok valley here they do allow crossbows in the bow season to hunt with ..300 wsm

[bushrat]

Like toxic, I'm in the executive of our club the Brazeau bowbenders. (by the way we put on the best shoot in Alberta)This has come up before and we have always said no to crossbows, basically because they resemble a bow and arrow in the fact they have a string and limbs only. They are held like a gun and there is no tension whatsoever to hold only a trigger to pull. Even the string is drawn mechanically and held indefinately. It's a short range gun that happens to shoot a short arrow. I have nothing against them, they're just another weapon. Crossbow guys will have to start their own club if they want to shoot around here. Same for the spear chuckers.

[Fred]

Well now, IMO if you guys keep treating the crossbow and it's users like outsiders or poor cousins, you are doomed to be downtroden by the Lieberal govt and the anti's. All shooting enthusiasts need to pull together against our foes. Fred

[Doug]

Do I hear some elitism here, my friends?

I know this is a western board, and I respect that, but here in Ontario a crossbow is treated as a bow for hunting, in all seasons. So if there is a bow season for moose in a given area, one of the types of bow that may be used is a crossbow.

I would venture to say that MOST bow-hunters in Ontario are crossbow hunters. Furthermore, a large number of them would NOT be bow-hunters if they could not use a crossbow. as Fred says, we have enough opposition from outside the hunting and shooting community, without putting up barriers ourselves.

OBVIOUSLY, this has nothing to do with the question being asked here, about allowing crossbows on 3D events. I think clubs need to make their own rules for their own reasons, and people who are not club members have no right to dictate to clubs what their rules should be.

Doug

PS) But if you DID allow them, you should give the crossbow shooters a handicap...........

[bushrat]

Did somebody say they were againt crossbows? I have no problem with them they are another weapon, just as guns are or black powder weapons. I don't take a smoke pole to the archery range and I don't take my bow to the pistol range. We are an archery club and only bow and arrows are allowed, club policy. We support folks who want to shoot crossbows just as we support the rifle, blackpowder, and handgun crowd. Just our club has no accomidation for Crossbow shooters. Crossbows are a class by themselves and are not legal for a 3-d archery shoot. They are not legal to hunt with in Alberta unless your handicapped and cannot manage traditional archery equipment.

[wounded]

Plain and simple YES allow them anywhere .What are you bow heads scared of getting showed up a little

[Calvin L]

I am all fore any type of weapon to be used for hunting or shooting .( I would love to be able to hunt with a hand gun or even pack one as I am bow hunting But I can't DAM GOV't) I say let them shoot so long as they have there own category . Know most of the cross bow users around here (okanagan) are only out for the extra 2-3 weeks of hunting . that is fine if they are serious shooters that practice so they can judge the yardage . It piss's me off to see and hear of the jack asses that go and just fling arrows or bolts at any time of game .We own our wild life more respect than that!

[wounded]

I am going to penticton shoot on sunday Iam going to convince them to let me enter with my crossbow,along with a couple bow heads I have a good chance I think.

[Canuck2]

It looks like multiple topics are being confused with each other here. The question is 'Should crossbows be allowed on 3D courses?' Whether they are allowed for hunting in various jurisdictions, etc, are entirely other matters.

Doug, crossbows are legal for hunting here in B.C. as well. They are treated as any other archery gear and can be used in the early and late archery seasons in addition to the firearms seasons. No elitism here - follow the laws, be ethical, and they get the nod from me just as any other legal weapon does. It's the guy behind the weapon, not the weapon itself, that can either cause problems or be a feather in the cap of the hunting community in general.

As to whether they should be allowed on 3D courses, that can be left up to individual clubs. I, too, have heard that they are very hard on some kinds of targets, so that would be a determining factor. Otherwise, if there's enough interest, they can be included in a class of their own.

[Doug]

Hey there Canuck2, sounds like we are 100% on the same wavelength....

Doug