Here is a quote from the latest UBNJ Summer 2008 edition publication and the VP’s thoughts on the article:
“With today’s technologies, a hunter really has to question: What level of technology will I use when I hunt? Will technology lessen the emphasis of my hunting skill? At what point does technology take the art of hunting out of bowhunting?
Where do I draw the line??
The article continues about the author stating many archers use modern day equipment such as but not limited to: electronic range finders, scent eliminating products, pop-up blinds and hunting with bait and so on… He also boasts about being lucky enough to have become a part owner of a compound bow manufacturing company (I think we all have the same dream). The author’s dilemma was the manufacturing of a bow with 99% let off and weather or not he should consider it a bow and how it resembled a crossbow due to its 99% let off. He confided his concerns about this particular bow to his also skeptical friend “Jon Knittel” which they took the bow to the field for some testing. Jon came to the conclusion that it is still a bow even though it 99% let off was just another advancement in today’s technology and that Pope and Young consider this weapon eligible for their records. Jon explained to the author “Kurt W. Willie” that even though the bow has a 99% let off you still require the user to apply practice, commitment and time to accurately shoot.
Then there is a part 2:
Kurt confesses that he was invited to UBNJ’s Warren County Rep’s house for a get together and how the Rep hunts with a crossbow due to a serious illness and that he approves of the use of a crossbow for this person due to the illness. Kurt continues with how he accepted the opportunity to shoot the hosts crossbow, hitting a 6” target at 60 yards on the first shot. The second mimicked the first. Kurt was amazed at how easy it was and that 99% of the first time shooters would not be able to place their first two arrows in a 6” circle at that yardage and that most archers that have been shooting for years are not capable of hitting the same target at the same distance, also that it takes a lot of practice and commitment to do so with a bow.
Kurt makes a claim that the NJ Fish and Game will almost certainly allow the inclusion of crossbows during archery season for 2008. Kurt continues his claim that crossbows are not a bow and require little skill, practice or dedication to operate successfully.
Kurt closes his article with a pleading statement:
“CLEARLY it is not a bow, the UBNJ and other bowhunting organizations do not consider it to be, and so now as “bowhunters” we must Unite to stand behind the definition of the bow, and to keep the bow season a Bow season”
Kurt,
I applaud your efforts and thoughts against crossbows. However, your efforts and thoughts may be clouded with your own personal agenda.
Let’s break down the article you posted in the UBNJ publication, shall we?
Since when do we ignore technology when it comes to anything especially bowhunting? I’m sure you feed you horse every morning before you hitch up the buggy for your commute to the farming ground. Just kidding Kurt, but we need to be realistic and why should we limit our resources when it comes to advancement? I’m confident that 90% (or more) of the bowhunters in NJ use a compound bow for hunting or have used one for hunting. Not only do these bowhunters use a compound bow, most of them also use a release aid, range finder, battery operated high intensity LED flash light, blood tracking device along with many, many more modern day devices to help them have a successful hunt. Ahhh, a successful hunt - is this what we all strive for? Does hunting have to be hard in order for it to be called hunting or moral? How many of you hunt with a compound with less than 80% let off. Hmmm, I’m guessing not many hands are raised at this time. Let’s continue…. If you are unable to hit a 6” target at the range of 60 yards I say practice more until you can! Why would you want to limit your shooting distance? Is it fear? Lack of confidence? Inadequate equipment? I do not believe any of those excuses. You should trust your sites and commit to the shot (aim small, miss small).
I digress: My friend MJ was perfectly happy with 3-4” groups when at the rifle range. I on the other hand am dissatisfied if my groups are more than 1” at 100yds. MJ thinks I have some special powers or special rifle that can make those sub MOA groups. I laugh and explain its discipline and nothing more. I have proven this to him by making the same sub MOA groups with his gun. I’ve trained myself to take the shot when it’s right and not to set limitations. MJ now shoots 1-1 ½” groups at 100yds and is very happy we shoot together. I’m glad he enjoys shooting not only with me but with himself without limitations. The moral of this is to continue to practice and have fun, don’t let frustration set the limits and work through them. So, when Kurt explains he was able to hit the 6”circle at the 60yrd range I’m sure ANY bow, be it compound or tradition can make that exact same shot if it’s sighted in correctly like the Warren County Rep’s crossbow was. I cringe when I hear these types of lame judgment calls on a piece of hunting equipment without due diligence. Kurt and the rest of the ANTI crossbowers make the same statement while trying to make you believe a crossbow is some special weapon with magical powers. I’ll try and set the record straight about crossbows and kill some myths while I’m at it; A crossbow MUST be sighted in, you MUST practice to be proficient, and you MUST have dedication!!! If you believe anything less, than you are foolish… A crossbow is nothing more than another CHOICE of hunting weapon. A crossbow is heavy, VERY HEAVY (remember Kurt had to rest the crossbow on a chair to take an accurate shot at the 6” target). You have to pick the weapon up and aim it at the target just like any other hunting weapon. Everybody knows that the arrow from a crossbow has a much higher FPS than the fastest compound bow, right? This is not true by any means. A crossbows arrow/bolt travels an average of 270-320 FPS and my Mathews Switchback XT is capable of reaching 320FPS and it does. I would suggest you use facts when making any decision. This way you don’t start untrue rumors. If you use a crossbow while hunting, deer do not magically appear under your tree stand quartering away. You must also use your same hunting technique you use with any other weapon. So if you are not able to take game with your compound bow, shot gun or muzzle loader, than you may experience the same results with a crossbow PERIOD.
Folks, I would suggest you do some soul searching and ask yourself the same aforementioned question that Kurt did and compare today’s technology to your current hunting equipment –
“With today’s technologies, a hunter really has to question: What level of technology will I use when I hunt? Will technology lessen the emphasis of my hunting skill? At what point does technology take the art of hunting out of bowhunting?
Where do I draw the line??
Or should you??
“With today’s technologies, a hunter really has to question: What level of technology will I use when I hunt? Will technology lessen the emphasis of my hunting skill? At what point does technology take the art of hunting out of bowhunting?
Where do I draw the line??
The article continues about the author stating many archers use modern day equipment such as but not limited to: electronic range finders, scent eliminating products, pop-up blinds and hunting with bait and so on… He also boasts about being lucky enough to have become a part owner of a compound bow manufacturing company (I think we all have the same dream). The author’s dilemma was the manufacturing of a bow with 99% let off and weather or not he should consider it a bow and how it resembled a crossbow due to its 99% let off. He confided his concerns about this particular bow to his also skeptical friend “Jon Knittel” which they took the bow to the field for some testing. Jon came to the conclusion that it is still a bow even though it 99% let off was just another advancement in today’s technology and that Pope and Young consider this weapon eligible for their records. Jon explained to the author “Kurt W. Willie” that even though the bow has a 99% let off you still require the user to apply practice, commitment and time to accurately shoot.
Then there is a part 2:
Kurt confesses that he was invited to UBNJ’s Warren County Rep’s house for a get together and how the Rep hunts with a crossbow due to a serious illness and that he approves of the use of a crossbow for this person due to the illness. Kurt continues with how he accepted the opportunity to shoot the hosts crossbow, hitting a 6” target at 60 yards on the first shot. The second mimicked the first. Kurt was amazed at how easy it was and that 99% of the first time shooters would not be able to place their first two arrows in a 6” circle at that yardage and that most archers that have been shooting for years are not capable of hitting the same target at the same distance, also that it takes a lot of practice and commitment to do so with a bow.
Kurt makes a claim that the NJ Fish and Game will almost certainly allow the inclusion of crossbows during archery season for 2008. Kurt continues his claim that crossbows are not a bow and require little skill, practice or dedication to operate successfully.
Kurt closes his article with a pleading statement:
“CLEARLY it is not a bow, the UBNJ and other bowhunting organizations do not consider it to be, and so now as “bowhunters” we must Unite to stand behind the definition of the bow, and to keep the bow season a Bow season”
Kurt,
I applaud your efforts and thoughts against crossbows. However, your efforts and thoughts may be clouded with your own personal agenda.
Let’s break down the article you posted in the UBNJ publication, shall we?
Since when do we ignore technology when it comes to anything especially bowhunting? I’m sure you feed you horse every morning before you hitch up the buggy for your commute to the farming ground. Just kidding Kurt, but we need to be realistic and why should we limit our resources when it comes to advancement? I’m confident that 90% (or more) of the bowhunters in NJ use a compound bow for hunting or have used one for hunting. Not only do these bowhunters use a compound bow, most of them also use a release aid, range finder, battery operated high intensity LED flash light, blood tracking device along with many, many more modern day devices to help them have a successful hunt. Ahhh, a successful hunt - is this what we all strive for? Does hunting have to be hard in order for it to be called hunting or moral? How many of you hunt with a compound with less than 80% let off. Hmmm, I’m guessing not many hands are raised at this time. Let’s continue…. If you are unable to hit a 6” target at the range of 60 yards I say practice more until you can! Why would you want to limit your shooting distance? Is it fear? Lack of confidence? Inadequate equipment? I do not believe any of those excuses. You should trust your sites and commit to the shot (aim small, miss small).
I digress: My friend MJ was perfectly happy with 3-4” groups when at the rifle range. I on the other hand am dissatisfied if my groups are more than 1” at 100yds. MJ thinks I have some special powers or special rifle that can make those sub MOA groups. I laugh and explain its discipline and nothing more. I have proven this to him by making the same sub MOA groups with his gun. I’ve trained myself to take the shot when it’s right and not to set limitations. MJ now shoots 1-1 ½” groups at 100yds and is very happy we shoot together. I’m glad he enjoys shooting not only with me but with himself without limitations. The moral of this is to continue to practice and have fun, don’t let frustration set the limits and work through them. So, when Kurt explains he was able to hit the 6”circle at the 60yrd range I’m sure ANY bow, be it compound or tradition can make that exact same shot if it’s sighted in correctly like the Warren County Rep’s crossbow was. I cringe when I hear these types of lame judgment calls on a piece of hunting equipment without due diligence. Kurt and the rest of the ANTI crossbowers make the same statement while trying to make you believe a crossbow is some special weapon with magical powers. I’ll try and set the record straight about crossbows and kill some myths while I’m at it; A crossbow MUST be sighted in, you MUST practice to be proficient, and you MUST have dedication!!! If you believe anything less, than you are foolish… A crossbow is nothing more than another CHOICE of hunting weapon. A crossbow is heavy, VERY HEAVY (remember Kurt had to rest the crossbow on a chair to take an accurate shot at the 6” target). You have to pick the weapon up and aim it at the target just like any other hunting weapon. Everybody knows that the arrow from a crossbow has a much higher FPS than the fastest compound bow, right? This is not true by any means. A crossbows arrow/bolt travels an average of 270-320 FPS and my Mathews Switchback XT is capable of reaching 320FPS and it does. I would suggest you use facts when making any decision. This way you don’t start untrue rumors. If you use a crossbow while hunting, deer do not magically appear under your tree stand quartering away. You must also use your same hunting technique you use with any other weapon. So if you are not able to take game with your compound bow, shot gun or muzzle loader, than you may experience the same results with a crossbow PERIOD.
Folks, I would suggest you do some soul searching and ask yourself the same aforementioned question that Kurt did and compare today’s technology to your current hunting equipment –
“With today’s technologies, a hunter really has to question: What level of technology will I use when I hunt? Will technology lessen the emphasis of my hunting skill? At what point does technology take the art of hunting out of bowhunting?
Where do I draw the line??
Or should you??
