AZG&F PONZI SCHEME

[Broken Wheels]

So by now a bunch of us should have received an email from our wonderful new political party known as the AZG&F department. They have decided by nature of a vote (not by us the overpaying hunters) to rescind all crossbow licenses as of June 30th 2026. Thank you AZG&F for convincing me to continue to hunt even though as a veteran i had become more and more disabled and couldn't safely or painlessly draw a compound bow any longer. So I invested almost $3K in a crossbow and applicable accessories and now they are of no use to me because of money and political pogues. dang shame but typical anymore of our government! 

[40-year-AZ-hunter]

Just have to get recertified after July 1.  ( Why is this in classifeds?)

[trphyhntr]

.

[CWpredator]

27 minutes ago, Broken Wheels said:

So by now a bunch of us should have received an email from our wonderful new political party known as the AZG&F department. They have decided by nature of a vote (not by us the overpaying hunters) to rescind all crossbow licenses as of June 30th 2026. Thank you AZG&F for convincing me to continue to hunt even though as a veteran i had become more and more disabled and couldn't safely or painlessly draw a compound bow any longer. So I invested almost $3K in a crossbow and applicable accessories and now they are of no use to me because of money and political pogues. dang shame but typical anymore of our government! 

I’m sure that $3k crossbow will still function just as well going forward in the general season going as it did previously in the archery season…. Don’t even need to see an MD any more for a Dr note to use the crossbow during the general season. Seems like they did all crossbow hunters a favor and finally placed them in their correct season. 

[HuntHarder]

Are you not able to get re-certified?  

[EarlyBronco]

16 minutes ago, CWpredator said:

I’m sure that $3k crossbow will still function just as well going forward in the general season going as it did previously in the archery season…. Don’t even need to see an MD any more for a Dr note to use the crossbow during the general season. Seems like they did all crossbow hunters a favor and finally placed them in their correct season. 

Dumb comment 

[oz31p]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponzi_scheme
 

I guess just be happy I’m not in charge. Id make a cross bow a general season weapon 

I'm also a disabled combat vet. 

[verdehunter]

Sounds like you didn’t really need it if you can’t get recertified. But you conveniently left that part out of your rant….

[ctafoya]

1 hour ago, 40-year-AZ-hunter said:

Just have to get recertified after July 1.  ( Why is this in classifeds?)

It won't be read anywhere else. 

[Savageman2506]

they're rescinding all CURRENT ones so that you have to reapply, and actually meet the criteria of a disabled archer to be able to use a crossbow. It's free to get one, it only takes a doctors certification (which if you are truly disabled shouldn't be too hard to get) then you're good. 

 

EDIT: It's not free, its $13 per year. If you're going to bitch about $13/year then you probably can't afford to hunt anyways... especially not with a crossbow. Have you seen how expensive bolts are?

[twistzz]

If you can’t hunt your done simple as that go fish ….  I’m almost done with that and fine with it.  Does suck getting old buying a new camper though man they have a come along way in 12 years.   Turkey hunting with the grandkid coming up.  Yahoo!!!

[azsugarbear]

I'm sure it sounds like a simple, straight forward process.  But the 'brain trust' at AZGFD did not consult with the medical community before crafting the language in their rules.  First of all, it is by no means simple, free or easy.  When I called the doctor's office that did my shoulder surgery to get an idea of what it would take to requalify, they couldn't even understand what I was asking for.  So I sent the language of the proposed rule to them.  They got back to me and said they did not have the right equipment to test for the things AZGFD was requiring of them.  I went back and forth with them for a week before they finally told me (paraphrasing): "they were too afraid of making a decision on a piece of equipment (crossbow) that they couldn't properly or wouldn't normally test for; and then worry about later running afoul of a "government agency".  In short, my surgeon saw no upside (except for their one-time office visit fee) and a whole lot of downside to my request.  The doctor simply said she would pass on this piece of business.  From a practical and business standpoint, I get it.  There's no future medical fees the doctor can generate by offering this service.  Secondly, it would cost the doctor more time and money to dictate the letter and fill out the form than would be covered by the visitation fee.  Even with a bona fide, partial disability that is known to the surgeon, the requirement for doctors to certify is not a slam dunk.

I understand that there were abuses with the crossbow licensing process.  As I understand it, some hunters were taking big deer every year with OTC tags.  I see how that could be a real concern to AZGFD and to the herds.  With that in mind, why not just make a rule that a deer can only be taken with a crossbow every other year, or every five years?  I spoke with two different AZGFD employees about the problems they were having and also about their proposed rule change.  But rather than going after those hunters that were abusing or 'gaming' the system by getting their local chiropractor or PA to sign off on their 'disability', AZGFD just decided it was easier to make everyone start all over again.  As far as I can tell, nobody down at AZGFD ever spoke with a doctor or the medical community in general to get their input on this.

Finally, it makes no sense to burn your points on a premium archery elk or deer draw hunt in Jan/Feb while betting on the come that you will later qualify for their crossbow permit through an unproven process that doesn't even open until July of that same year.  It's just a bad rule as it currently stands.

BTW - I did speak with another doctor regarding the certification of the AZGFD form.  He stated that he would be happy to complete the form, provided I first complete six weekly visits of physical therapy at $150 apiece.  I passed.

 

[Roosevelt Mark]

This takes all of the cheaters out, I know plenty. If you are getting up in age or have a sort of disability you probably see your Dr on a regular basis. Just have them sign it,

 

[thegunsmith2506]

People sure get upset when they have to actually follow the rules. What I have been seeing is the only ones complaining are the ones who never really qualified in the first place. 

[Taylorz1]

Two people in these images have a legitimate argument for a crossbow. One is waiting on his appeal to AZGFD because he is super pissed he has to re-certify for his.