New York State Assembly : Assembly Supports Crossbow Legislation
Dear Friend, New York hunters will be pleased to learn that the Assembly unanimously supported l...
nysassemblyspeaker.com
NY XBow!!
- Thread starter Muddyboots
- Start date
If you are a bowhunter,that's the beginning of the end. Wisconsin did the smart thing. They added them as a separate weapon. That way when the xbow hunters get to high harvest numbers they can shorten bow season without affecting the regular bow season.
- Joined
- May 23, 2017
- Messages
- 2,023
- Reaction score
- 3,473
- City & State/Province
- Bradford County, Pennsylvania
I don't know about that... We can use them all season in PA. From Oct 1-middle of November, no problems
I know the gun hunters are trying to shorten the bow season in Wisconsin, because more bucks are killed by xbow than firearms and archery combined.
Michigan has xbow for quite a while, kill number about the same.
yotebuster17
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2014
- Messages
- 197
- Reaction score
- 388
Imagine being a hunter and wanting to take away hunting opportunity. 
They aren't trying to take it away. They want to close bow season from the middle of October until after Thanksgiving.
Interesting the Wisconsin 2024 Deer Harvest shows different numbers. These numbers are as of February 2025 so pretty solid.
Total bucks = 161,512
Archery = 24,062 bucks
Firearm = 89,582 bucks
Crossbow = 39,387 bucks
Wisconsin deer harvest summary | | Wisconsin DNR
dnr.wisconsin.gov
I understand crossbows can generate lots of debate but these numbers are kind of similar to Michigan.
I had read different numbers,but saw them in a magazine and didn't fact check it. I don't care anymore one way or the other. I bowhunt until it gets cold. If I haven't shot a decent buck,I take a doe and stay in a nice warm house. I don't have the circulation in my feet to keep them warm anymore,but love venison. Can't eat antlers.
Hunters are their worst enemies. We need to come together and get more people in the field hunting. We are a dying breed and fighting against each other is doing more than the anti's will ever do. Bow, crossbow, rifle, shotgun, or muzzleloader, I don't care. Get out the and get after it.
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2001
- Messages
- 9,648
- Reaction score
- 20,330
- City & State/Province
- Long Island, New York
Crossbows certainly are a big advantage over conventional longbows or compound bows. If the law goes into effect, I can see a lot of hunters putting their traditional bows down and using a crossbow during the archery season. It certainly should increase the buck harvest during the archery only season. I can't tell you how many good bucks that I've seen that remained just out of my reach during the archery season.
I have no issues with crossbows, I've owned one for years. It's how their use is incorporated within the seasons that starts all the controversy. I think that crossbow use should be allowed after the regular archery season, or at the tail end of it, so as to not compete with longbow/compound bow use. But ..... that's just my opinion.
Some NY suburbs are so dense that only bows are permitted due their rather limited range. I wonder how the idea of crossbows will affect these communities.
I have no issues with crossbows, I've owned one for years. It's how their use is incorporated within the seasons that starts all the controversy. I think that crossbow use should be allowed after the regular archery season, or at the tail end of it, so as to not compete with longbow/compound bow use. But ..... that's just my opinion.
Some NY suburbs are so dense that only bows are permitted due their rather limited range. I wonder how the idea of crossbows will affect these communities.
isaaccarlson
Well-Known Member
I remember hearing a similar argument when compounds came out…now the guys who griped will only use compound.
I have used all three, and all 3 have advantages and drawbacks, pun included.
Longbow is slow but quiet, very easy to carry, and simple.
Compound is faster, but louder and more complex and a little harder to carry.
Crossbow is very loud, takes a while to reload, pain in the @$$ to carry, but shoots a heavier arrow and will penetrate a deer the long way.
Crossbows are suited for stationary hunting with a rest. Compounds are not suited for moving through brush because they snag. Both will do 300+ fps.
Longbows are great for stalking, if you can get pretty close.
I use what works for me in a specific situation and let others do the same.
I don't care what you use, as long as you are good with it.
If you think someone is going to kill "your" deer with a crossbow because it gives an unfair advantage, YOU are the problem.
I have used all three, and all 3 have advantages and drawbacks, pun included.
Longbow is slow but quiet, very easy to carry, and simple.
Compound is faster, but louder and more complex and a little harder to carry.
Crossbow is very loud, takes a while to reload, pain in the @$$ to carry, but shoots a heavier arrow and will penetrate a deer the long way.
Crossbows are suited for stationary hunting with a rest. Compounds are not suited for moving through brush because they snag. Both will do 300+ fps.
Longbows are great for stalking, if you can get pretty close.
I use what works for me in a specific situation and let others do the same.
I don't care what you use, as long as you are good with it.
If you think someone is going to kill "your" deer with a crossbow because it gives an unfair advantage, YOU are the problem.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2001
- Messages
- 9,648
- Reaction score
- 20,330
- City & State/Province
- Long Island, New York
Long Island is (essentially) an archery only area. I recently read that xbows will not be permitted anywhere on Long Island.
Just extremely poor understanding and BS beliefs on xbows. My Hoyt Double XL out penetrated my xbow easily! How? I used fixed broadheads and out penetrate mechanicals big time. Xbows shoot farther. Nope. My son and I practice to 60yds with broadheads no problem. My Hoyt at 72#'s chronographed Black Eagle Rampage 300 spine, 100gr Thunderhead at 315fps. My son's Hoyt at 82#' shot 4MM FMJ's at 295fps. Pass throughs were virtually 100%. Shoulder blades were paper. Set you bow up right and they can do surprising things. Oh yeah, QUIET versus xbows .22 crack.
I now run xbow because rt shoulder gone and not operable. Shoots great but I just don't see the huge difference except for being able to practice less. Practice to use was fun not a chore.
