Bowhunting intended to be challenging
To the Editor,
It was with great disappointment that I read Mr. Cooper’s article about crossbows that you saw fit to publish in your magazine. Mr. Cooper obviously wants to take as many shortcuts as it takes to get an easy deer during bow season. Mr. Cooper wants to skip all of the hours of practice that is necessary to become proficient with a bow and instead rely on a crossbow and his misplaced rangefinder, and then has the nerve to sling mud at the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) for denying him and everyone like him the chance to take the easy way out.
I have not met any archers that would deny the exemption to use a crossbow to anyone that has a legitimate disability. The MDC use to list 40 lbs as the minimum poundage for a bow to deer hunt with. I just looked through the regulation pamphlet for the 2008 and could not find any reference on minimum poundage for a bow. Another article in the RHT listed a 120 lbs crossbow as the “accepted” minimum. I just wonder how it could be easier to cock and load a 120 lbs crossbow instead of drawing and shooting a 40 lbs bow? I have seen archers with disabilities shoot a bow by drawing and releasing the bow with their mouth (with the aid of a chew strap). I know of an extraordinary archer that is blind (John Rook) that has had tremendous success hunting. John has a very good friend that sits behind him to aid John in aiming. I mentioned these examples to show what motivated individuals can do. I find these people inspirational.
Bowhunting by its very nature is supposed to be challenging. I and many, many other bowhunters want to keep the challenge in our chosen outdoor sport. Bowhunting seasons are in existence today because 60 years ago some dedicated men and women lobbied the forerunner of the MDC for the separate season. This was a grass roots initiative. Today, our Archery season is under assault to allow crossbows the same consideration as real bows. This push is coming from the manufacturers of crossbows and from the outdoor retail sector. This push is profit motivated! If these groups are successful they will reap huge rewards at the expense of our archery season. Let’s say no to this. If a person wants an easy deer then there is Firearms season, Muzzleloading season, and also the Antlerless season. Missourians don’t want or need crossbows!!
If The River Hills Traveler wants to promote and preserve bowhunting then please refrain from publishing any more stories about missing deer and wounding deer. Anti-hunting groups would love to get a hold of stories like this and use it in their national campaigns. Let’s not give these groups any more fodder for their misguided work.
Todd Goodman
tggoodman@centurytel.net
October 12th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Mr. Goodman jumps to some strange conclusions. He hasn’t met either Bill Cooper or myself but he judges us both as “lazy.” Maybe he needs to follow either of us around for a week.
He also seems to fear a free and open discussion of outdoor issues. I believe that is the best way to get information to the public and make sure all points of view are aired. I couldn’t be in the publishing business if I thought otherwise.
Emery Styron, publisher, River Hills Traveler
estyron@rhtrav.com