Crossbow qual VS trad and cmpnd qual???!!!

[RiverRat1]

I too joined out of anger after I saw how my wife was treated yesterday at qualifications. I'm all for bringing in new hunters and supporting them any way possible. Like my cousin StoneCreek, I am here to stay as well. I always visited the site to get my hunting fix. I just never had anything beneficial to add to conversation until now.

Have a good day.

How was she treated?

[Loneaggie]

Maybe I'm missing something, but if I didn't shoot a 90+ on the course you described I'd skip archery season and wait till I could use a rifle. Aren't we literally talking about putting 10 arrows inside a 5" circle? With people watching is a problem? So these same people won't get nervous on a live deer?

Test is skewed to x-bows for those that don't shoot much; however, the test is not hard by any means. Its public land, everyone has a "right to it." Don't get me wrong, I'd be frustrated in your position, but from the outside, it is what it is

[Txnrog]

Public land in Texas is the problem not crossbows.

^^^^^ THIS!!! Texas is largely a barren landscape when you look for public hunting opportunities, so this whole debate is about new technology allowances getting more people into the sport (desired), but putting greater pressure on public resources.

IMO, the crossbow issue is over - they're here, they're going to stay around. I'm not a fan of them, and would flip if the issue came up again here in CO, but Texas has a bit of a different situation - we have about 4 months worth of hunting that can be done, largely by choice of weapon (it would be interesting to see the % of archery killed deer in archery season vs. gun season). Anyway, the law has been passed. Have read some articles from a ways back, and interesting to see that the debate was very similar with compounds v. recurves when the compound first came out.

Personally I think it would be a better use of resources to lobby for a $5 public lands stamp (required) that would be allocated directly to the state purchase of land. Also think they should work on the rules to make it even more attractive for estates to donate land. Totally different arguement - but another way to attack the real issue - lack of access and growing competition for a limited resource.

[bowhuntertex]

Ya'll still beating this dead horse?

[VorTexan]

Ya'll still beating this dead horse?

Whart's that line in blazing saddles



"Ah what the heck let'em all in!"

[TXJon]

And I agree, stick bow hunters have a big disadvantage. Did they get to move up this year or did they shoot where everyone else shot from?

Trad shooters shot from no more than 20 yds, and it has been that way as long as I have been shooting that qualifier.

I've only been at this whole archery thing about five years, but I have learned it's not about the equipment. Top of the line equipment can make a small difference to a really good archer. It won't make any difference at all to someone who just can't shoot that well.

Another way to put it: a better pan is not going to make my wife's pumpkin lasagna taste any better (where's that barfing smiley when you need it?)

Honestly I'd like to see them make the qualifier MORE difficult, but they probably won't listen to me any more than they will to you.

Best of luck to you out there this year. If I can help you out, let me know. Anything short of sharing my best spots.

[glen]

Stonecreek and XGun- welcome to the fire- pull up a stump and enjoy it. Glad to see yall join in. Lots of local folk around here and if either every want to shoot a few targets or grab a cold one and BS hunting let me know.

[RiverRat1]

Trad shooters shot from no more than 20 yds, and it has been that way as long as I have been shooting that qualifier.

I've only been at this whole archery thing about five years, but I have learned it's not about the equipment. Top of the line equipment can make a small difference to a really good archer. It won't make any difference at all to someone who just can't shoot that well.

Another way to put it: a better pan is not going to make my wife's pumpkin lasagna taste any better (where's that barfing smiley when you need it?)

Honestly I'd like to see them make the qualifier MORE difficult, but they probably won't listen to me any more than they will to you.

Best of luck to you out there this year. If I can help you out, let me know. Anything short of sharing my best spots.

Why do you want it more difficult? Just curious. Most people say they want more people to join the sport. I'd guess a lot of new people will need public lands to hunt and if only experienced bow guys can pass they will not join the sport.

Like I said, it really does not matter to me. I like to hunt there because it's cheap but it would not be the end of the world if I could not hunt there anymore. I think a draw system would be best...then a test to make sure people can shot decent, no need to be an olympic archer to bowhunt IMO.

[TXJon]

Why do you want it more difficult?

I guess I'd like to be a better test of how someone shoots in a hunting situation. 5 targets standing broadside with anatomically incorrect 12 rings doesn't really do that. It would be nice to see some branches in the way, some quartered shots, maybe even score where you need to hit a deer to KILL it, rather than McKenzie's 12 ring.

If the program is truly one bad shot away from being shut down due to a PR mess, the guys hunting out there need to know where to hit deer, and be able to do it reliably. Listening to some of the guys at the shoot, and some (not all) of the guys I run into hunting out there, not everyone hunting out there can do that.

Hunting that lake is the reason I picked up a bow in the first place. Five years ago I shot almost every day for six months to be ready for that shoot. Maybe I over prepared, but I felt ready and did ok.

I support new people getting into the sport, but I hate to see deer running around with arrows sticking out of their necks, heads, butts, whatever. Anybody hunting needs to put the time into becoming proficient with their weapon.

[Bonesplitter]

We all have the right to hunt as we want, it's legal now, were just gonna have to get used to it.

[RiverRat1]

I guess I'd like to be a better test of how someone shoots in a hunting situation. 5 targets standing broadside with anatomically incorrect 12 rings doesn't really do that. It would be nice to see some branches in the way, some quartered shots, maybe even score where you need to hit a deer to KILL it, rather than McKenzie's 12 ring.

If the program is truly one bad shot away from being shut down due to a PR mess, the guys hunting out there need to know where to hit deer, and be able to do it reliably. Listening to some of the guys at the shoot, and some (not all) of the guys I run into hunting out there, not everyone hunting out there can do that.

Hunting that lake is the reason I picked up a bow in the first place. Five years ago I shot almost every day for six months to be ready for that shoot. Maybe I over prepared, but I felt ready and did ok.

I support new people getting into the sport, but I hate to see deer running around with arrows sticking out of their necks, heads, butts, whatever. Anybody hunting needs to put the time into becoming proficient with their weapon.

I agree with everything you posted.

And making sure the hunters know where to shoot is a good thing but it probably will not stop the bad shots in the field from taking place. I'm not sure what the solution should be for that.

[Speedgoat]

I guess I'd like to be a better test of how someone shoots in a hunting situation. 5 targets standing broadside with anatomically incorrect 12 rings doesn't really do that. It would be nice to see some branches in the way, some quartered shots, maybe even score where you need to hit a deer to KILL it, rather than McKenzie's 12 ring.

If the program is truly one bad shot away from being shut down due to a PR mess, the guys hunting out there need to know where to hit deer, and be able to do it reliably. Listening to some of the guys at the shoot, and some (not all) of the guys I run into hunting out there, not everyone hunting out there can do that.

Hunting that lake is the reason I picked up a bow in the first place. Five years ago I shot almost every day for six months to be ready for that shoot. Maybe I over prepared, but I felt ready and did ok.

I support new people getting into the sport, but I hate to see deer running around with arrows sticking out of their necks, heads, butts, whatever. Anybody hunting needs to put the time into becoming proficient with their weapon.

There were some that tried to change the testing procedures, but the powers that be made the qual what it was. They were talking about quartering shots and shots from a ladder stand or tripod while seated. The first two years I tested, we even had to shoot out of a pop-up blind. This year was the easiest that I can remember. Congrats to all of those that made the cut(trad, cmpnd, or cross)

What I have noticed in this forum that I do take issue with now, is that there are some that think the are "deadeye Dikk" and never get nervous and pull a shot when people are watching. I find this to be quite comical Maybe y'all should take up competition archery and get sponsored, because even those guys doing it now "miss" from time to time. You guys would win every time and make lots of money doing it Anyway, thank you for all of your replies and good luck to everyone this season

[Stonecreek]

thanks Glen, I'll be trying to get some quality sleep in on my stand in Georgetown, I'll drop you a line and enjoy some of those cold ones

[glen]

I dont hunt Georgetown but right down the road- if you get one you can't find ill carry my dog out as its only about 15 minutes from the house. I may brerak down next year and go out there and try to qualify.

[XgunArcherMan]

Hey RiverRat1, you asked how my wife was treated at the qualifier earlier in one of your posts. Basically when we got there, we walked around and watched everyone hanging out and practicing. When we pulled the crossbow out of the car, the demeanor of the other people around the event changed significantly. People were sneering and shaking their heads at us while we were practicing. She finally went over to the tables, and let my cousin, his daughter's boyfriend, and I practice by ourselves, only to have some of those same people complain to the rangers at the sign in table complain about us right in front of her. Rather than having the experience of being a new hunter in the midst of fellow hunters, she was made to feel like a new hunter being ostracized by people who are supposedly her peers who what to bring people, especially women, into their sport. By the time we were called to qualify, she was ready to just go home. I finally told her that some folks are just idiots, and that we just needed to qualify and be done with it. What was supposed to be a good experience went to hell in a hand basket five minutes after we showed up. Great way to get a person motivated to try something new, isn't it? The rangers and the interns were supportive of her being there and showed encouragement, thank God, but a lot of my fellow hunters really disappointed me. On the up side though, now she is motivated by spite to take part in this hunting opportunity with me. We will see how well she qualifies next year now that she knows how the game is being played.