Thursday, March 03, 2005
Bill Cochran's Outdoors: Crossbow hunting on fast track
Bill Cochran is a Roanoke Times outdoors columnist.
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You might as well go ahead and begin shopping for a crossbow, if you are so inclined. It appears to be a sure thing that hunters will be able to go after deer with crossbows during the next bow season, which opens in early October.
One of the most amazing stories of the 2005 General Assembly is how quickly and easily authorization was given to the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to establish a crossbow license. You would have anticipated some opposition -- at least a legislator or two who would question the suitability of allowing crossbow use during the bow season. But it didn’t happen. The general feeling appeared to be that there are plenty of deer and plenty of places to hunt them, and if a crossbow license will recruit new hunters, then all the better.
The measure, introduced by Watkins Abbitt, Jr., I-Appomattox, passed the House 98-to-0 and the Senate 39-to 0.
The Senate liked the idea so much that it said, “Why wait around?” It added an emergency amendment that put the license on fast track. This means that the DGIF can immediately begin moving to establish the license.
The agency plans to do just that at its board meeting March 24. At that time, the DGIF wildlife division will recommend to the board that the license be set up, according to Bob Duncan, wildlife division chief.
If the proposal is approved, and that’s pretty much a sure thing, then a final vote by the board will come June 23. Following that you are safe to take your credit card to the crossbow shop with confidence, because the license will be a reality.
The cost of the license is yet to be determined. According to the Abbitt bill, the price is to be set by DGIF and can not exceed one and one-half times the cost of a basic hunting license. A basic license is $12 plus a processing fee; however, most hunting and fishing license fees are expected to be increased shortly.
Crossbow hunting won’t be inexpensive. The new law will require that hunters also purchase a hunting license, big game license and bow license in addition to the crossbow license. Let’s say that the crossbow license will be $12, the same as for the other licenses. The total package will come to $48. If license fees are increased to $15, the package will cost $60. Crossbows run from about $300 to more than $1,000. Arrows start at about $5 apiece. This isn’t cheap access to hunting.
There won’t be any bonus for crossbow license holders, such as a special season or exclusive hunting area. Hunting will take place during the archery season.
Under current law, only disabled people who meet certain DGIF requirements are allowed to hunt with a crossbow. Just how many newcomers will be attracted when the restrictions are removed is uncertain.
I don’t see a lot of seasoned bowhunters switching to crossbows. Many will prefer the challenge of their sport. The recruits most likely will be gun hunters who want to enjoy the lengthy bow season without having to put in all the practice required to master a compound bow.
It is a fact that crossbows are easier to shoot than compounds. You can be capable of killing a deer with a crossbow much quicker than you could with a bow. But would-be users make a mistake if they think a crossbow is some kind of super machine that will fling an arrow 100 yards with deadly accuracy. Success still depends on woodsmanship skills that get you close to your target.
