re: Are Crowsbows legal during bow season ?

I hear what you're saying AlxTgr. I'm old enough to remember when being a true hunter or fisherman required serious effort and dedication. If you wanted to find a reef to fish, you had to probe the bottom with a push pole. Not anymore. Maps with coordinates make it easy for anyone who can afford a GPS to find a reef. No more hiking the woods to get to a secret spot. Just jump on your 4 wheeler. And yes, compound bows have definitely made it easier to become a bow hunter. I remember trying to master a recurve to the point that I felt confident about taking a shot at a deer. It took a significant amount of practice just to build up the right muscles to be able to pull a bow and hold it on target. Not to mention how long it took to develop your instinctive aiming. No let off and no sights. A 60 to 65 pound recurve was a bear to pull. The first time I picked up a compound bow I was drilling bulleyes in about 15 minutes time.

Now, on the other hand, even after some people master a modern day compound bow to the full extent of their ability, or the full extent of the effort they are willing to put forth, they still suck as hunters. There is no doubt many deer are fatally wounded each year and are never found because the wound was not severe enough. But that doesn't stop those people from doing it again and again. So, although in principle I agree with you, I think the crossbow may be a win/win for the deer and the hunter. I know a scoped rifle is a more sure killer than a open sight 30-30 in the shakey hands of the occasional weekend warrior. So maybe more deer will die and be recovered than will be wounded to die a slow death. As ethical hunters, that should be our primary concern. Not whether crossbows will mean less deer for me.