Proposal to Allow the Use of Crossbows during Archery Season

[Ben Sobieck]

http://www.myfwc.com/recreation/Deer_crossbow.htm

Proposal to Allow the Use of Crossbows during Archery Season

February 8, 2010

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is considering
allowing the use of crossbows during archery season. The proposed change
would mean hunters could use crossbows if they wish, or they could continue
to use vertical bows. These changes are being considered as a way to
encourage greater participation in the archery season and may help increase
overall participation in deer hunting, benefitting hunter recruitment and
retention. Allowing the use of crossbows during archery season may also
help younger and older hunters who may be unable to use vertical bows.

The use of crossbows during archery seasons has been allowed in several
other states, including neighboring states Georgia and Alabama. Some states
allowed the use of crossbows to increase deer harvests in response to
expanding deer herds, particularly in urban areas. Success rates for
hunting with crossbows compared to vertical bows has been a major point of
discussion in these states. Reports from Ohio, Arkansas, and Georgia,
indicate that success rates for hunting with crossbows were similar to
success rates for vertical bows. These states have reported some increase
in deer harvest levels, but generally crossbow harvests represented a small
percentage of the overall deer harvest with minimal, if any, impact on deer
herds.

This is a complex issue. Caution is warranted when considering information
from other states, because circumstances in Florida are different with
regard to deer habitats, deer populations, and hunting-season structure and
bag limits. Up to 2 antlerless deer are allowed to be harvested daily
during the 30-day zonal archery season in Florida. Ohio, Arkansas and
Georgia allow antlerless deer harvest during archery season, but hunters are
limited in the number of antlerless deer that may be harvested during the
season. These limits vary from 2-6 antlerless deer in Ohio, 2-4 antlerless
deer in Arkansas and up to 10 antlerless deer in Georgia. Under these
different conditions, deer harvest rates in Florida may vary from other
states.

[69Viking]

I already voted yes for this, we need it here in Florida. You can sit on stand and see 20 or more does in a single day but hardly ever see bucks. I believe with more opportunity to take does it will help ease the pressure to shoot younger bucks just to get meat in the freezer. Other than Archery season Florida only allows one other week during the rifle season in which you can shoot does so they are over abundant here while bucks see a ton of hunting pressure even when they're young because hunters just want to get some deer meat in the freezer after they strike out or just don't get a chance to hunt such a short gun season for does.

[pcbfish]

[size="3"]VOTED YES [:)][/size]