The exciting thing about giving the crossbow a shot as a viable piece of archery equipment is that most rifle, shotgun and airgun hunters have the transferable skills to hit the woods running, so their learning curve is virtually flat. The aiming, shouldering, trigger skills and etiquette of shooting a crossbow are more than familiar to the experienced hunter. All that's necessary is to learn the skills needed for close range hunting and be ready for the hiss of the arrow's flight to target. Little noise, no recoil. It's real and it's expanding nationwide. There's legislation in the works that could very soon expand crossbow hunting in Texas.
In 2007, Crosman Corporation, a company with an 80-plus year history of providing quality products to the shooting sports, entered the archery category with a line of crossbows, as well as youth archery models. The company has confidence that, with legislation, interest by youth organizations and the rising popularity of crossbow hunting, it represents the next dimension in having fun with the family in the woods.
On the legislative front, in the mid 1970's, wildlife agencies in Ohio and Arkansas began testing short crossbow seasons to measure the impact on hunters and the resources. Based on deer harvest data, the agencies concluded that the modern crossbow was a safe, humane, and user friendly hunting tool that could provide increased opportunities for bow hunters, without a negative impact on the resources or other hunter groups.
Because of the positive results, Ohio and Arkansas ultimately expanded their crossbow seasons to coincide with the general archery seasons. Many other states, as well as several Canadian provinces, also established crossbow seasons, based on the Ohio and Arkansas experience. To date, 10 states have legalized the crossbow for use in all or part of their general archery seasons. In addition, many states have expanded crossbow use for youth-only seasons, urban deer management units and late season hunting. This expansion is further evidence of the viability of the crossbow as an excellent choice for all hunters, particularly for aging, partially disabled and beginning archers.
The user friendly design of the crossbow makes it a great way to introduce people to hunting. With the help of an experienced coach and some quality instruction, and, of course, a good cocking device, many first time crossbow hunters can achieve tight arrow groups and the confidence to take to the woods. This ease of entry makes crossbow hunting a very effective hunting recruitment tool. This is especially true for young people and women, who may be nervous about the noise and recoil of a gun. The crossbow minimizes both of these issues, while providing an archery experience for those who may not otherwise be able to handle the physical requirements of the standard vertical bow.
In urban areas, where crossbow hunting is permitted, archery hunters are already providing game managers with a safe and effective way to control burgeoning deer populations. In addition, as with all hunters, crossbow hunters contribute to wildlife management funds through hunting licenses and federal excise taxes on their archery equipment. These two points illustrate a win - win for both the state agency and the hunter.
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