I know I qualify. I have been delaying buying one as I wanted to use my Bear Grizzly recurve my 3 younger brothers bought me when I returned home from Nam in the early 70s but just could never get to where I felt it was even ethical for me to hunt with that. I also did not want to take on another time consuming sport like trapping or fishing but now with a crossbow I can move around in the big woods and plan a nice time just still hunting. I will need to avoid all the bear bait stations so I don't foul up their places but scouting those out while grouse hunting will create some exercise as well. Hunting seasons now and even trapping are getting to a lot like "special interest" events and the more time one can spend in the woods away from all that sports politics the better off I am.

Bryce

I too would appreciate that. lol

I just buy a deer license and use whatever weapon you choose to harvest that animal.

Jeez, we just got crossbows approved and Someone from the other side is whining loudest now and giving the merry go round a good push. I wish the wi dnr would make a decision and stand by it. But then politics would not be the driver instead of science. By the time I adjust to a trapping rule change it changes again. And around we go

Well here is the question as it will appear on the ballot. IMO it couldn't be more slanted to a "yes" vote.

Dave

QUESTION 18: Crossbows
In 2014 the Wisconsin Legislature established a crossbow season for deer hunting to help recruit new hunters
and provide additional deer hunting opportunity at a more clement time of the year.

The legislation required the crossbow season run concurrent with the archery season for a minimum of two
years to analyze the results and granted the DNR the authority and responsibility to adjust the crossbow
season after the two-year trial. The Legislature recognized crossbow technology would continue to advance
and today some crossbows already rival shotguns with slugs in both range and accuracy.

The data is in. Crossbows did not produce the anticipated increase in deer hunter numbers. The long season
did create a dramatic shift of both gun hunters and bowhunters into the crossbow season where their odds
(success rate) of harvesting a buck are approaching approximately 50% greater than those of either gun
hunters or bowhunters in their respective seasons. This imbalance and the increased harvest of bucks before
the traditional gun season has created frustration, concern and a further breakdown of Wisconsin’s deer
hunting traditions.

In order to give all deer hunters an equal chance to harvest a buck, and to return the exclusive advantage of a
long crossbow season to the disabled and elderly, it has been suggested to shorten the season for the ablebodied
to reflect the effectiveness of the weapon based on harvest data.

18. Do you support the DNR adjusting the length of the crossbow season, for
those that are not disabled or elderly, to better reflect harvest success
rates of bucks similar to the gun season and archery season?

18. YES____ NO_____

If that is not a "leading question , wow. How bout we switch seasons every year so the gun hunters get the rut every other year?

Boy would people be screaming then!

Dave

NO , and I don't like how the question is worded.

if they think too many deer are being taken in specific areas then set a quota and when enough have been shot in that area close season. the season would only be guaranteed to be open till the last day of the nine day gun deer season.

they do it with other seasons just announce it on the radio at the top and bottom of the hour you tune into the radio or get the email or call in to see if season is still open for your county.

but I think they should leave gun or at least muzzle laoder season open till January 2nd and that isn't going to be popular either.

either they have management goals to get to or they cater to peoples boo-hoos they can't have both.

season after the two-year trial. The Legislature recognized crossbow technology would continue to advance
and today some crossbows already rival shotguns with slugs in both range and accuracy.

In some cry baby bow hunters dreams. These deer don't belong to the WBH.

Maybe we can start to snare them?

If this question yanks your chain, just wait toi hear the rumbling from my submitted suggestion on season structure. Keep the traditional 9 day gun as an "Over-the counter" tag, and offer more muzzleloading and rifle seasons that are shorter and draw only.

Everybody better get to the Spring Hearings held in every county in the State on April 9 at 7:00 p.m.

Moosetrot

X2 Absolutely - voice your concerns.....

It's become a huge cluster you know what.

I think it should get voted down for the simple fact they didn't give kids an exclusion.

I don't have a dog in the fight, but I find it rather comical that anyone thinks a modern compound bow or an in-line muzzle loader with 209 primers, etc is somehow a "primitive weapon".

Since I am now considered elderly and disabled, it looks to me like I'll be unaffected by any upcoming changes. That being said, if it wasn't for deer camp I think at this point in my life I'd give up gun deer hunting.

I've had a belly full of legislative know betters. Changing DMUs to existing county lines was the biggest act of deer management stupidity ever created here in WI. The list is long, but also includes this need to register a deer by 5:00 the day after the kill.

We continue to be asked to simplify trapping regulations, yet these politicians want to micromanage as many aspects of wildlife management as possible.

Meanwhile our wetlands continue to shrink and our groundwater continues to absorb nutrient loads from bigger farm operations. Rural Wells are showing nitrate levels that never did exist before.

And here we are wringing our hands over "too many bucks being killed by crossbow hunters."

Think I'll go find some railroad tracks to cross . . .