Dear Editor:

With all due respect to Mr. Cooper, I feel that he himself has “missed the mark” with regards to the crossbow issue in Missouri.

Taking into account its long history and effectiveness as a weapon, the crossbow certainly has a place in the hunting community. The crux of the matter lies in the fact that once the crossbow is cocked, it remains ready to fire with absolutely no effort on the part of the hunter. This is a very important distinction in its classification as a firearm. (more…)

Before I get to the point of my e-mail, I will tell you that I have been a subscriber for several years and in the past have really enjoyed your paper and always looked forward to each issue. Now you can cancel it.

In the September issue, I read several articles promoting the use of crossbows. The first article was a perfect example of why they don’t belong in archery season. It isn’t so much the weapon as it is the mentality that comes with it. Mr. Cooper starts off stating how easy it was to “become proficient” with it. Later in his story he shoots himself in the foot by misjudging the yardage on a close shot and luckily for the deer, missed totally. Are you telling me that a person with Mr. Cooper’s 30 years’ experience can’t estimate 20 yards? (more…)

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece, along with two stories about crossbow hunting were published in the September 2008 print edition of River Hills Traveler, and produced a number of letters to the editor protesting Mr. Cooper’s views. Those letters are posted as entries below. We invite our online readers to participate in the discussion.

By Bill Cooper
Hunters and soldiers have been using the crossbow since well before the birth of Christ. The Chinese first used them in combat at the battle of Ma-Ling in 341 BC. They were still being used by Montagnard peoples and U.S. Special Forces during the Vietnam Conflict. In the last 20 years, crossbows have grown in popularity in the United States sparking a hot controversy among hunters and wildlife managers concerning the sporting qualities of the weapon and whether or not they should be legal for hunting. (more…)