A new, old weapon, State (NJ) to let hunters use Crossbows

northjersey.com ^ | 08.16.09 | RICHARD COWEN

[ryan71]

I love to hunt. I’ve used bows, rifles, shotguns but a crossbow is a poacher’s tool.

[Blue Jays]

God knows there are too many deer in the eastern half of the country that they're literally starving themselves to death.
I've observed deer eating from garbage dumpsters since there is a "brown line" of very limited remaining edible foliage.
One would think automobile insurance companies greatly support this measure since their deer accident payouts must be off-the-charts in recent years due to the unchecked deer population.

[cripplecreek]

Why is a crossbow a poacher’s tool?

[frithguild]

Pointed on one end or suction cup?

[Shooter 2.5]

Unlike the hand-drawn compound bow, which takes strength and dexterity to fire, a crossbow uses a trigger mechanism and a scope and can shoot an arrow at more than 400 feet per second.

400 feet a second? Can anyone verify that?

[ctdonath2]

Probably the same reason as suppressors: gross ignorance.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I’d hazard a guess:

1. It’s silent
2. It’s easier to use than a bow.

[calex59]

A crossbow is no more deadly than a compound bow. I’ll tell you the real poachers tool and that is a .22 long rifle out of a long barrel using standard velocity ammo. To be prejudiced against crossbows when the new compounds are just as accurate and actually more powerful than most long bows is slightly silly.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Apparently so, I googled crossbow 400 fps and got a lot of hits.

Many have red dots on them.

[Vaquero]

its called a poachers tool because it is as quiet as a bow yet as easily as accurate as short range rifle....thus can stealthfully take deer out of season or in closed areas or using a light at night.

but that alone does not alter its place in history as a primitive weapon and it is more sporting to some than lets say rifles or shotguns. It is a matter of taste and a traditional ancient european weapon. I like the idea.

[ryan71]

I’m sure you know why.

It doesn’t go BANG and it can easily be fitted with light gathering scope.

[calex59]

To be prejudiced against crossbows when the new compounds are just as accurate and actually more powerful than most long bows is slightly silly.

The above sentence should read and actually more powerful than most crossbows, not long bows. Sorry.

[TChris]

400 feet a second? Can anyone verify that?

Sure. You could have verified it yourself in about 30 seconds...

Google: Crossbow - 5th Result

Barnett Crossbows : Predator AVI

375 FPS, but I'm sure there are custom jobs out there which go faster.

[STONEWALLS]

....here in NC the crossbow is permitted for persons with disabilities....as urban deer become more of a problem, I expect they’ll allow the crossbow for all hunters.

[TexasRepublic]

“We were against how fast this was pushed through...”

Kind of like healthcare reform?

[ryan71]

When’s the last time you saw a compound bow fitted with a scope you can use in the dark?

You can do that easily with a crossbow.

[cripplecreek]

Sounds like a perception issue to me. I have no problem with crossbows and have been considering getting one myself. Anybody who wants to call me a poacher can go right on ahead. Doesn’t matter to me as long as I do my “poaching” legally.

[TC Rider]

Deadly? Don’t know.

I do know they’re dangerous. I lost most of the tip of my thumb last November, when ‘friends’ insisted I try shooting their crossbow. I had my thumb in the wrong place and the string sliced the tip off as well as a blade.

[calex59]

I’m sure you know why. It doesn’t go BANG and it can easily be fitted with light gathering scope.

Poachers will use a .22 with a homemade suppressor before they would use a crossbow. Laws forbidding the use of crossbows make no more sense than laws requiring a permit to carry. If a poacher is going to use one he will use one, just as they use silenced .22s. It is illegal to shoot deer out of season and at night, why would they worry about one more law more or less? All those laws do is prevent people hunting legally from using them.