splitting archery areas by equipment used?

[Larry Hatfield]

i notice that the game commission here is going to look at a "primitive" season or area for archery, muzzleloader and modern firearms. the guns would revert to flintlock and pre 1947 rifles. the archery season would be for longbows as it is written now.
i am at first thought not in favor of this at all. makes for divisive arguments among archers, opens a chance for someone not familiar with longbows hunting with one, could split even the longbows depending on if theres a fight to make it self bow only, etc.
whats your thoughts?
anyone have this in your state?

thanks, larry

[Cato]

Good question Larry. Here in MS there is an archery season, which allows any kind of bow (recurve, long bow, compound, and by disability permit or if over 65 a crossbow). Then we have the gun seasons. We also have a short "primitive weapon" season of about 10 days, which allows muzzle loaders.

The muzzleloaders nowdays are inline, rifled barrels, scope sighted, etc so to me, it seems like a single shot rifle. I think the reloading process has been greatly simplified, and the chance of firing failure is way down from the real flintlock stuff. I don't own one, so I'm no authority.

Actually, to me, the difference in a long bow vs a compound (I have both a compound and my trad bows) is like two entirely different weapons. With a release aide, the compound is not difficult to master at hunting distances with pinpoint accuracy. If there was a real shortage of animals, one side of me would want different seasons for the two of them. But I guess, for the sake of archery in general, we probably all need to unify against the antihunters and animal lovers who do not understand us.

Down here, we are blessed with a ton of deer. Our limits are liberal. In spite of all that, most areas are borderline overrun with does. So opening up the season to other weapons doesn't bother me too much. For some, the extra people traffic is an irritation, as lots of people muzzle loader hunt. Since I hunt private land, it is not a big deal for me.

Just some wandering thoughts. I look forward to hearing what others think.

[mjhall]

I agree with Cato. Archery is already divided enough. No need to cause more. In Ohio a "longbow" in the regs means anything other than a crossbow, I believe--just their terminology. Modern muzzleloaders in Ohio are a "work-around" for the fact you can't hunt with a high powered rifle. Not much primitive about them.

Mike

[tuffshot]

Larry,

It would be real hard to identify an area with enuff local traditionalist with a bow or muzzleloader to even concider this. I do not think it would work that well as most of the participants may have to travel longer distances. And that would leave gaps in the season where there were no hunters at all in the area.

States like PA. have several different seasons that would make more sence and the weapon in season can be used state wide. PA. has a flintlock season only and being state wide gives anyone with a flinter a chance to use it. It is a shame most states do not look towards other states for advice they just make things up as they go along.

In Ohio also any bow can be used in the bow season and a muzzle loader can be used in shotgun season and there are two seperate muzzleloader seasons.

I am curious as to what would bring on the disscusion about a primitive only season anyway?

[van_fl]

Larry
Here in Florida its just bow season, black powder (muzzle loaders) and general season that includes all. I belive.

Seems to me that the if flintlock and pre 1947 rifles that would include my .256 Newton (1930s) that can reach out there with modern cartridges would nullify primitive wouldn’t it. And bow season would make more sense to include all bows wouldn’t it? :2cents:

[Pinelander]

I don't like it Larry... and mainly for one of the reasons that concerned you -

"opens a chance for someone not familiar with longbows hunting with one"

It would be interesting to hear what the proponents of this new system are saying to justify this kind of setup.

[rhust]

In Oregon they have a small portion of a unit for primitive only. I dont know how well it has been received. I dont really see a need. It just divides us more as archers.

[Larry Hatfield]

thanks for the comments. i was froze out of the site for a while yesterday so did'nt get to read this until this am.
i think the self bow guys are asking for this. i don't know where the flintlock etc. comes from.
usually what drives things like this is a mindset that since a person uses a weapon he perceives to be "harder to use" he should get special privleges.
i think a bow is a bow is a bow and a gun is a gun.
i just don't like the idea that someone who has never shot a longbow could get one and hunt a special season or area.
right now archery season is open to any bow and has a 65% let-off rule and a 300gr. minimum arrow weight. bow weight is 40# at a persons draw length.
also on the agenda for change is to eliminate the 65% rule and also the 300 gr. arrow weight.
i hope both of these rules stay in.

larry

[James Wrenn]

I think it should always be just bow season.I have never seen the difference in them as far as hunting is concerned.We have a one week blackpowder season only here.Everyone that hunts with a gun has a blackpowder gun and since bows can not be used that week most bowhunters as well.With my blackpowder gun 200+ yrd shots are a piece of cake so why have a season just for them?Kind of silly if you ask me.I would like to see it dropped so I could bowhunt that week. :)