savagman

No chat about quail? We found it tough this weekend. Wondering what others are seeing?

This isn't about me. Many comments here insinuating that crossbow hunters are cheating. Just fat or hip hurts. It's tacky to make that assumption and generalization. I find that sad from this group. I am correctly using an exemption carved out for people with a certified disability that prevents them from participating in traditional archery. Until something changes, I am going to hunt as I see fit. I don't need permission from the interweb. I already have the law on my side. I am ok with Crossbow tags, don't see the need but if it makes grumpy old farts feel better than ok. Still going to be only so many tags.

Yup. Sad to see so many grumpy old farts hating on fellow hunters.

No

Biggest problem I see is that many unit boundaries are roads and highways. Considered it before as only glassing spot where I chose to hunt was in an adjacent unit. The boundary was indeed a road. Planned to spot from adjacent unit then stalk into correct unit but ultimately wasn't sure that was legal. I felt funny about doing it so didn't.

He is ignorant (lacking knowledge or comprehension) in that he does not have specific knowledge of the other hunters physical condition or health. An opinion is not the same as making assumptions and judgments. There were subsequent ignorant comments regarding disability. I can lift an ice chest, I can run after game. I can do most things and don't "look" disabled. I have a very specific problem with impinged nerves in my neck. Pushing and pulling are main the issue for me and cause aggravation of the nerves. This causes weakness and numbness in my hands. I can draw a bow. (I shouldn't) I cannot repeatedly draw a bow therefore I cannot practice. I guess I could only draw a bow on hunts and fling arrows unethically. You would know none of this seeing me put an ice chest in my truck. Therefore making any assumption regarding my crossbow permit is ignorant. We have these same petty arguments about guns. Why do you need a magnum and shoot a deer at 700 yards, blah, blah, blah.... Who cares. I don't like your pistol, it meets the legal definition but not my personal definition blah, blah, blah.... who cares. It's this infighting that dooms hunters. The anti's know exactly how to divide and conquer...

How about dedicated crossbow tags? The issue of using another w

Crossguns during an archery hunt should only be allowed once due to an injury or disability. This is already the case. You need a medical form filled out by a Dr. and a crossbow permit approved by AZGFD. If you only want to hunt during an archery season then lower the poundage down to the lowest legal poundage or learn to shoot with with opposite hand. My two cents. Neck and back injuries can cause bilateral weakness ( both arms or hands ). There is a long list of diseases and disorders that can cause problems with both arms and/or hands. Ignorant comments regarding disabilities have no place here.

This is more along the lines of what I was thinking. Predators killing deer. Not sure the accurate number a lion eats in a year but each doe killed takes out potentially three deer.

I think we are mostly on the same page and I appreciate the time and effort you put into doing it right. I really dig getting close and will continue to do so whether using a pistol, crossbow or rifle. I apologize for my overarching comment. I got off topic and didn't mean to say anything negative about other hunters. My whole point was that we should support all legal hunting activity. Even if you do it different. Fighting amongst ourselves helps the anti hunting crowd. Their strategy is death by 100 cuts.

Seems many missed the point. This thread has now become bash or defend archers. The point was that all methods evolve and technology has changed. Don't bash fellow hunters because you personal experiences have led you to different styles or methods. I don't use much tech in the field but do use OnX, Google Earth, GPS etc. Most of us do. I like shooting a bow but have, in the past, committed to practice at a level to be good at it. And yet good shot placement from under 20 yards on Javelina did not always work out as planned. Each and every shot that didn't work out, would have with a firearm. Call that bad luck, bash my skill or equipment, or whatever, but you cannot call me ignorant. My comment on wounding % is based on my personal experience and many peer reviewed studies. Wounding is unfortunately always a possibility. But place a bow and a firearm in the hands of minimally proficient hunters and the firearm results will be vastly superior. Before anyone gets defensive. It takes commitment to practice and great skill to shoot a bow well. I respect those of you that bow hunt ethically and responsibly. But the sport has grown immensely and many do not have the skill level that you do. Everyone starts somewhere and I do not hope to discourage new hunters. I simply have used my personal experience to decide that I do not feel ethical using a bow when a more efficient tool is available. I like the earlier hunts so will probably use a more advanced weapon for the HAM hunts. Please do not bash my decision and legal right to use handgun or fight about what should be considered a handgun. Rather support my right as I will support and defend every right we have as hunters, whether I personally participate or not.

I agree. Neck injury prevents me from ethically shooting a bow. Crossbow permits are for hunters with disabilities. Nerve damage is hard to see so be careful talking about abuses. If you met me in the field you may think I am not disabled but I cannot perform the repetitive motion needed to practice. I have never fired my crossbow past 40 yards. Not even in practice. That's not why I bought one or get the permit. Still snuck to 10 yards to kill a Javelina with it. My #1 reason to obtain the permit was that I love to hunt Javelina in January.

Interesting topic. I ask myself what drives me to hunt. Interesting to hear from others (non-snarky replies). Not about fancy gear. My patched Walmart camo pants are my favorite. Patched butt area. Not sure why the butt wore out because I don't follow the wear the seat out of your pants advice. I find myself hiking too much and still hunting too fast. I guess I like seeing more country. Not about expensive guns. Ours get used. Carried through brush. Have imperfections associated with hunting use. Memories attached to stock dents. (That's from my first Coues hunt, fell on loose rock trying to go after deer uphill haha never saw that deer again). Love my Remington Game Master 30-06. Remington 700 CDL .270 for longer shots. We hunt hard. We don't take long shots ( just a personal choice due to gear and practice limits). We take and use all of the meat and organs. Enjoy and remember a successful hunt throughout the year via delicious meals. Had elk stew this week. Elk Chili last week. Always looking to add to recipe list. Tinkering with and expanding skill in sausage making and old school curing methods for preservation. My perspective is utilitarian. I hunt to eat. My tools are tools. I enjoy the basic carnal urge to hunt and provide sustenance for my family. In today's ever increasingly crowded and over tech world, I find it peaceful and centering to do what man has done for centuries. I daydream when in the woods and imagine no man has ever set foot where I am at that moment. Or envision ancestral humans hunting from the same overlook or natural stand. Find an arrowhead, pottery shard, or discoidal stone and that daydream becomes more of a vision or perhaps deja vu...

This is me and my family. But different strokes for different folks. Just keep it legal and represent the sport well.

Seems many missed the point. This thread has now become bash or defend archers. The point was that all methods evolve and technology has changed. Don't bash fellow hunters because your personal experiences have led you to different styles or methods. I don't use much tech in the field but do use OnX, Google Earth, GPS etc. Most of us do. I like shooting a bow but have, in the past, committed to practice at a level to be good at it. And yet good shot placement from under 20 yards on Javelina did not always work out as planned. Each and every shot that didn't work out, would have with a firearm. Call that bad luck, bash my skill or equipment, or whatever, but you cannot call me ignorant. My comment on wounding % is based on my personal experience and many peer reviewed studies. Wounding is unfortunately always a possibility. But place a bow and a firearm in the hands of minimally proficient hunters and the firearm results will be vastly superior. Before anyone gets defensive. It takes commitment to practice and great skill to shoot a bow well. I respect those of you that bow hunt ethically and responsibly. But the sport has grown immensely and many do not have the skill level that you do. Everyone starts somewhere and I do not hope to discourage new hunters. I simply have used my personal experience to decide that I do not feel ethical using a bow when a more efficient tool is available. I like the earlier hunts so will probably use a more advanced weapon for the HAM hunts. Please do not bash my decision and legal right to use handgun or fight about what should be considered a handgun. Rather support my right as I will support and defend every right we have as hunters, whether I personally participate or not.