Crossbow sides share same claims

by Bobby Cleveland
bcleveland@clarionledger.com

The state's largest organized archery hunting group is against legalizing crossbows for all hunters.In its attempt to shoot down House Bill 1418 and Senate Bill 2858, the Mississippi Bowhunters Association claims crossbows cheapen the tradition of bowhunting. It feels the modern crossbow, with a rifle stock to shoulder and a rifle scope to aim with, is more like a gun than a bow, both in its looks and its use.

Bobby Cleveland

Oddly enough, when asked why they favor crossbows, supporters say ... well, pretty much the same thing. The House Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Committee passed 1418 out of committee Thursday and it now awaits action by the full House.

MBA officials, representing about 1,500 members, are hoping for a royal flush, sending it and the identical Senate version down the pipes."We strongly oppose any bill that would open up crossbows to all hunters," said Max Thomas of Madison, the MBA's Legislative Chairman. He said the MBA is OK with the current crossbow law that restricts use to those over 65 and to disabled hunters with medical conditions that totally prevents them for using longbows. All hunters? No.

A gun, or a bow?

"We just don't think it's right to take the modern crossbow, which can be shouldered on a rifle stock with a rifle scope mounted and call that archery," Thomas said. "It's totally different. With even the most modern compound bow, you still have to draw the string back while in the close proximity of a deer.

"With a crossbow, you can draw it, cock it and then sit and wait for the deer. It's more like a rifle than a bow." Now for the opposing view of the same reasoning."Seems to me that those very issues are why it should be legal," said Tommy Green of Jackson, a non-MBA member archer. "It is a more effective weapon for your average hunter who lacks the experience — or the time to gain it — to be a good bowhunter, so it could lead to more participation.

"Anything we can do that would recruit more hunters and help us take more deer out of the herd seems to me something we ought to consider." The Mississippi Wildlife Federation stands unopposed to crossbows, perhaps directing all its focus on fighting baiting bills.

State wildlife officials are neutral on the issue, but it's a good bet that they wouldn't oppose something that could take more deer and recruit more hunters. It would be nice to have results from Alabama's first winter of across-the-board legalized crossbows to see if they affected kills, participation and safety. Problem is, those stats won't be available before legislative deadlines force a vote here.  

A compromise

Legalize crossbows, BUT only during open gun seasons. The crossbow may be more user-friendly than a longbow, but I promise you it's no match for my .264 magnum. MBA officials might not like it, but it beats the alternative.