Relaxed crossbow regulations mean more hunters will be squeezing a trigger Saturday

Pioneer Press ^ | 9-12-14 | Dave Orrick

[TurboZamboni]

"I was hitting the bullseye on the first shot," said William Blechinger, Amery, Wis., who practices with his brand new Mission MXB400 crossbow for the very first time under the helpful eye of A-1 Archery technician Toby Smith, left, Thursday, September 11, 2014. "I'm really excited about it. It's going to extend my hunting season. I've only just rifle hunted before," Blechinger said. (Pioneer Press: Jean Pieri)

A half-hour before sunrise on Saturday, tens of thousands of archery hunters throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin will be perched in trees, hoping a whitetail strides into range.

Many of them, like Tom Lynch of Oak Grove, Minn., won't be drawing their bows vertically, but horizontally, with fingers on triggers.

"I'm a bow hunter, but I think I'll probably bring out my crossbow Saturday," said Lynch, 61. "I can get more speed out of it than my compound bow."

Lynch will be among a number of hunters in both states -- no one's sure how many -- who will take advantage of new regulations that allow crossbow hunters to join the ranks of archers for a lengthy season that runs through the end of the year.

[Viennacon]

A victory for the 2nd Amd, which does also apply to crossbows

[Brother Cracker]

Dusting off my old TENPOINT X2

[Cold Heart]

Not in Oregon, they won’t even let you use one during the gun season.

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Same in Mass. You have to present proof of disability to to be “allowed” to use a crossbow — possibly to even possess one, but I can’t recall for sure.

[RightGeek]

Now legal in NC after years of requiring a pistol permit and hunting only for handicapped.

[null and void]

I have no quarrel with this...

[Ellendra]

I suddenly understand why there were a bunch of chubby guys asleep in their cars at the gas station outside of town. Guessing they’re not used to those early mornings!

[elcid1970]

If your name is Gessler, be very afraid......

[TurboZamboni]

anything with a trigger makes leftists wet their panties

[wildbill]

I’ve often considered buying a crossbow for whitetail hunting but couldn’t find reliable info on the effective range.

Clearly you can’t make a 400 yd shot, but exactly what distance is reasonable for a clean kill? Any crossbow hunters out there?

[taxcontrol]

It is basic ballistics. Crossbows are essentially bows turned sideways with a slight edge to the crossbow for stability during the shot. Thus, similar FPS and similar grains will equal similar performance. The only way to be certain is take it to a range and find out.