Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Bowhunting Indiana's proposed new archery rule dilemna...

Indiana DNR is proposing to allow crossbows during the entire urban archery season, which would mean that I could slide open the patio door in my house and pop a buck like this that is in my backyard:



How many of you out there would NOT buy a crossbow?

Or you could keep your door shut and pop a buck any way you want to. I would not buy a crossbow- I already have 3.

i would not buy a crossbow. different strokes for different folks.

When you say "urban" does this mean the deer runs off and dies in somebodies drive way or next to their back yard hot tub? Do the neighbors see "bambi" running off pumping out with fletching sticking out one side?

Maybe my vision of Urban is different? I've always lived in the bush.

JJ - yes, that could happen!
Urban means I live in a subdivision with a woodlot that is approximately 170 yards square behind me. Neighbors on both sides. Under the "urban" deer zone rule I am allowed an extra buck tag and 3 extra does. Otherwise we are pretty much limited to one buck per year regardless of weaponry chosen.

A compound is more accurate & powerful than a crossbow.

I wouldnt.

Nothing against them just not my cup of tea.

It would seem ok to me if all your going to do is use for back yard pets. Its not hunting so a cross bow is fine for that

I would buy one, but I'm just a medieval sort of guy.

Would prefer something with a little more "chutzpah" however.

Marty-

I'm considering buying one AND purchasing a week-long stay/vacation for your wife at an out-of-state spa to free up some space in the "blind".....

anything that can be done with a crossbow I can do with a compound bow and better...

Dan-

Can you shoot your bow from the prone position?
I'm in the vertical bow camp but the crossbows do have their place.

Especially when one of your employees has a younger brother on Parker's field staff. I hear the Cyclone is a nice crossbow.

anything that can be done with a crossbow I can do with a compound bow and better..., except for shooting prone (which I wouldn't do anyway except maybe spot and stalk antelope), which is why I have no problem with someone using a crossbow during archery season.

I'd buy one if I were in your shoes. I'd love the extra venison a cross bow would bring in!

Crossbow can take your thumb off better than a compound.

Voice of experience?

No, friend of a friend inexperience.

I watched that happen when a buddy shot my father-in-law's for the first time. It didn't take his thumb off, but the look on his face was priceless. His thumb swelled up so big it looked like a hotlink.

I will buy a crossbow at some point this fall... I hope to have it before bow season..... since its legal here now too...only because at this point in life I just don't have the time it takes to practice with my brackenbury..... Doesn't matter to me much tool wise, I enjoy using them all.

I used to be an archery snob..... but I've come to my senses....

I do hope that in a few years I can drag the brackenbury back out again though....

My alphamax will be used quite extensively in my bowhunting spots. Will probably pick up a Parker crossbow just for urban and late archery. Never know when a 12 pointer is gonna waltz into my back yard for a 40 yard shot...

Get this one. Here in Arkansas, one used to be able to hunt with a bow of any type the entire deer season. Oct 1st through Feb 14th. we had to follow the same restrictions as firearms during those seasons but as long as no other seasons were open bow had no restrictions. there were guys shooting does during gun seasons and getting in trouble for it and claiming ignorance. Sooo..this year..yup you got it, the entire season is wide open all year as long as one bow hunts. anything goes. you can kill a doe during a bucks only firearms season as long as its with a bow. how does this compare with your states regulations? i personally think its a joke and if one cant read the rules then theres no reason to cater to them. what rule will people claim ignorance on next

Indiana doesn't have a "bucks only" season, but they do have "buck only" tags. I can kill a doe with a bow during the entire bow season (which also coincides with firearms and late muzzleloader seasons). Just have to wear hunter orange and follow the rules during the firearm season.

Of course I don't do 40 yard shots with either, for me its just unethical. FWIW I would say I"m as accurate or more so with the bow than the crossbow at 30-40 yards. I see some strange fliers with the crossbow... probably simply due to not shooting one all the time...

I practice out to that range in my backyard quite often. So I would consider the shot quite feasible at this particular time. Maybe if I showed you the "rest of the picture" it would make more sense...