Wisconsin Bownters unite
- Thread starter Wisco
- Start date
Stay Sharp
Very Active Member
Yes, there is no move and no action to make any changes to the sport of bowhunting in Wisconsin. Other weapons types and seasons are slated for change but thanks to the unity of the Wisconsin Bowhunters, the WI archery deer season will not be changing. This is no doubt due to the fact that we worked diligently to make sure the WI archery deer season stayed as a human powered weapons season meaning that those that buy an archery deer hunting license in WI must use archery gear (a human powered bow and arrow that has to be drawn only with human effort and must be held back only with human effort at the time of the attempt on game)
Recently We worked to create a crossbows season in WI that is completely separate of the archery deer season. The separate crossbow season means that sort has to buy the crossbow deer hunting license and has to register their kills as crossbow kills. The crossbow season did not have a final and set season duration and enjoyed a temporary season length until a few years passed to allow game managers to assess the usage and success rate of the crossbower and the impacts on the resource. That trial period has passed and it was discovered that not only did the crossbower have a higher success (kill per license sold) rate than bowhunters but the state discovered that the crossbower enjoyed a higher success rate than even gun deer hunters.
Now the state is entering the process of finally setting the season duration for the separate crossbow season. It will ultimately be shorter than the archery deer season but still long enough to allow crossbowers to enjoy the fall woods. The process seems to be advancing nicely.
Recently We worked to create a crossbows season in WI that is completely separate of the archery deer season. The separate crossbow season means that sort has to buy the crossbow deer hunting license and has to register their kills as crossbow kills. The crossbow season did not have a final and set season duration and enjoyed a temporary season length until a few years passed to allow game managers to assess the usage and success rate of the crossbower and the impacts on the resource. That trial period has passed and it was discovered that not only did the crossbower have a higher success (kill per license sold) rate than bowhunters but the state discovered that the crossbower enjoyed a higher success rate than even gun deer hunters.
Now the state is entering the process of finally setting the season duration for the separate crossbow season. It will ultimately be shorter than the archery deer season but still long enough to allow crossbowers to enjoy the fall woods. The process seems to be advancing nicely.
Stay Sharp
Very Active Member
That is a shame. We worked diligently in WI to structure to have total separation between real bowhutning (the WI archery deer season) and the sport of crossbow hunting. WI is one of the few states to do this so we could accurately capture the usage and success rates of the two different weapons. States that made the mistake of lumping the crossbower under the archery deer tag, lost the ability to capture harvest stats. We worked on this here in WI since 2012. Its paying dividends now.
NEWHunter
Member
Due to all the hunting pressure deer receive in Wisconsin, I think the best way for Wisconsin to handle crossbows would be to create a crossbow/gun tag that lets people hunt bucks with their crossbows during bow season and bucks with guns during gun season. While they're at it they should eliminate group hunting for bucks. This would help decrease some of the hunting pressure and allow some bucks to reach an older age class. 65% of our bucks harvested last year were yearlings, the next closest states were around 50%. If Wisconsin could just get to the national average of 35%, the whitetail hunting here would be insanely good.
And if you think 1,000 antelope tags in a unit in Wyoming on opening weekend is a zoo - you should see 600,000 gun hunters on opening weekend in Wisconsin - it's a nut house inside a circus inside a zoo.
And if you think 1,000 antelope tags in a unit in Wyoming on opening weekend is a zoo - you should see 600,000 gun hunters on opening weekend in Wisconsin - it's a nut house inside a circus inside a zoo.
Don K
Very Active Member
Problem will be the politicians.
States that battle the crossbow issues keep them out until it gets political.
States that battle the crossbow issues keep them out until it gets political.
Stay Sharp
Very Active Member
WI has it structured perfectly. An archery deer season and a soon to be reduced crossbow deer season. Separate season, separate license, separate registration.
PeteD
New Member
It is more important all hunters unite in this day and age. Bowhunting is my preference. I have crossbow hunt, I muzzy hunt, I rifle hunt. I travel out of state a bunch for many reasons, one being to escape WI pressure so I can see more mature bucks during DAYLIGHT hours. We have more mature bucks than one would think as game cameras show it... they are just very nocturnal. Being selfish I would institute buck harvest to 1 per year, implement QDM areas, limit pressure on state land by having draw tags, eliminate baiting, etc. However, I have become much less selfish as I mature and look far into the future. Now I could care less if someone uses a bow or crossbow or shoots a yearling buck, etc. I am happy for whatever they are happy with. A crossbow is much easier to sight in and use no doubt. Are avg Joe crossbow hunters more accurate and successful in recovering deer than if they would use a bow? All hunters should unite for the sport of hunting imo.
Stay Sharp
Very Active Member
I think all WI hunters are united but each enjoys a separate season they wish to promote and protect from negative changes. WI is structured very well. Once the crossbow season duration gets set, I dot force any problems and nothing but unity.
Stay Sharp
Very Active Member
22tbone
New Member
I bowhunted all my life in WI. Last year is the first year in about 40 yrs I did not and will probably not hunt again until the DNR changes somethings. I think you need to be 65 or older to use a crossbow and you should only be allowed to harvest 1-buck the entire deer season. 1 and done.
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Extractor
Active Member
mustang8
Active Member
I couldn't disagree with you guys more! I'm wondering how the hell you guys think your new fancy Matthews vertical bows are any different than a crossbow? Nowadays they have a crazy amount of let off and are getting more and more faster. Both have advantages and both have disadvantages, I believe the success rates your talking about are not fully telling the truth. I believe US crossbow hunters don't mortally wound deer as often as the vertical bow hunters do. I know a ton of people who wound deer every year (and most of them are good bucks), now why is this? If you want fair then everyone should be shooting re-curves! But you guys wont want that either, well technology has changed hasn't it and your new Matthews is no different than a crossbow. Now go ahead boys whip away!
CrimsonArrow
Very Active Member
Big deal! Somebody wants to hunt with a crossbow let them. Look at the harvest statistics, I'd bet the success rates from the 80's to the early 2000's pre scary crossbows went up significantly, due to mass advancements in technology to compound bows. Want to limit it to a 1 and done buck tag? That would help more than restricting how someone else prefers to hunt.
Think food plots, party rifle tags, and 500 yard rifle shots at a running deer are more ethical than a crossbow?
Think food plots, party rifle tags, and 500 yard rifle shots at a running deer are more ethical than a crossbow?
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mustang8
Active Member
Yep ill give you that, I just looked up the new Matthews Triax it weighs 4.4#s, I shoot a parker crossbow (newest 1 I could find that was the lightest weight comes in at 6.9#s). So yep you have to draw your bow back with 80% let off, I have to hold my crossbow steady with at least 2.5 more pounds of weight. Don't wanna bust your bubbles but the truth is that its pretty much a wash if you ask me! So don't screw with my bow season length, I do the same QDM practices as any other hunter that chooses to do so.
NEWHunter
Member
I have owned a couple "fancy new Mathews vertical bows" and have had success with them for years. Last year, just after the season opened, I had all of my treestands stolen. Rather than buy new stands, I spent the $3 on a crossbow tag upgrade. I picked up some new bolts and had my Dad's 8 year old crossbow dialed in at 55 yards in less than an hour. I've never been that good with any of the Mathews I have owned in less than an hour. I sat on the ground with that crossbow, without a blind, and killed a decent buck and a doe last year. I could NEVER have done that with any of my "fancy Mathews vertical bows."
I'm not looking for a fight and I'll put this as nicely as I can - anybody that says a new crossbow doesn't have an advantage over a new vertical bow for the vast majority of hunters doesn't know what they are talking about. End of story.
I'm not looking for a fight and I'll put this as nicely as I can - anybody that says a new crossbow doesn't have an advantage over a new vertical bow for the vast majority of hunters doesn't know what they are talking about. End of story.
I picked up a recurve one year while I still lived in Wisconsin. Shot a buck in his bed 3 weeks later while he slept. Never shot a recurve before in my life till 3 weeks before. So, yes you can get good with a vertical bow fast.
Here's the question. Why would you as a sportsman want to prevent, or eliminate other sportsman from having the opportunity to hunt?