Oklahoma Allows Crossbows In 2010 Archery Season
Well, looks like us bowhunters who are not handicapped or elderly will finally be able to use Crossbows in Oklahoma's archery season. Or technically, any season where archery tackle is legal, which is the entire deer season practically! All I can say is, it's about time! Oklahoma crossbow hunting is now a reality!
I don't intend to start another debate about crossbow vs compound vs traditional archery as it pertains to hunting deer. I've been down that road many times. I own all types of bows and intend to continue to use them as I want to.
I just bought a new Excalibur Axiom and I have to say, it's a real pleasure to shoot. I've been shooting bows since 1978 and I'm just as happy to add this weapon to my arsenal as any I have bought before.
At one time in the late 80's and early 90's, I was dead set against crossbows being used in archery seasons. At the time I lived in Arkansas where crossbows were legal to use in the Archery season. I, like a lot of other anti-crossbow people, spewed the same mis information that had been spewed for many years. I called them "crossguns" and all the other nonsense jargon. It wasn't until about 1992, when I finally bought a crossbow, that my views changed. I quickly learned that a crossbow has a lot of the same limitations that any other bow has.
That crossbow was stolen a year later after I had moved back to Oklahoma and I never replaced it, even though I continued to hunt in Arkansas.
I'm glad to see that technology has helped make Crossbows somewhat quieter and with less vibration than my old PSE crossbow had! Still, they can be nosier than most compounds but the speed of the bolt is about that from a compound. That's the primary reason a crossbows effective range is usually around 40 yards. Even though my crossbow is accurate out to 40 plus yards, I limit my shots to no more than 30 yards under most conditions.
So what do I see for the future of archery hunting in Oklahoma? The reason I say that is because some doomsayers predict that Archery season will be abolished in Oklahoma because crossbow hunters will decimate the deer herd. Yeah, sounds silly once you read it doesn't it?
I suppose crossbows will affect Oklahoma deer hunting just as they have in places like Arkansas, Ohio, Alaska, Alabama and other places. Which means there will be little, if any difference in the number of deer taken but more hunters who would not otherwise hunt will be taking to the field, mainly Women, younger hunters and elderly hunters. This can only be a good thing as in most States the numbers of hunters are declining.
And maybe, just maybe they'll actually EXTEND hunting season like they have in some of those other states! I think Oklahoma legalizing crossbows for archery hunting will help our sport, just like allowing inline muzzleloaders and compound bows with sights and releases helped. (although I was against the inline muzzleloaders with scopes at one time also)
What finally made me realize that all these modern forms of hunting are actually good for our sport were the numbers of new hunters that entered our sport. If it wasn't for new technology, just think of how many fewer hunters would be afield if only longbows and recurve bows were legal in archery season and only muzzleloading rifles with size hammers using flintlocks were legal in Primitive weapon season? Simply put, greater number of hunters means more security when it comes to fighting anti hunters trying to reduce or eliminate our hunting seasons.
Besides, once I came down of my high horse, I found shooting inline muzzleloaders with scopes and shooting crossbows were a lot of fun! So yeah, I'm one happy camper that an archer can use crossbows in Oklahoma for deer hunting.
Buy hey, don't take my word for it, see what Uncle Ted thinks about it!
Filed Under Bows, Deer Hunting | 2 Comments
Tagged With crossbow hunting, crossbows, oklahoma, oklahoma crossbow hunting, oklahoma crossbow season
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That’s awesome! Hopefully more states will start allowing them.
Hey, PA came out a couple years back 2009 I think that Crossbows would be legal to all archers in all archery seasons also. I am 78 this year, and just didn’t have the upper arm strength to pull and hold a compound bow. I did get a medical verification from my doctor to get a license for crossbow then. The following year, it was open to all hunters. Would’t you know it? I have a barnett RC150 and I’m happy that PA opened the season now so I don’t have to re-apply for disability use any more. I have no disability, just the lack of upper arm strength. I now have a lifetime hunting and archery license so I’m fixed up for a while. Still buy the Doe permit. Thanks for the info on Oklahoma opening up , and thanks Ted for your video. That too was enlightening. I’ll have to tweak my bow now. Mine is a compound and I hope it’ll work there also.