Crossbows in Archery Season

[Tom Dickerson]

I have received some information that crossbows WILL be allowed this season for anyone to use in the Urban Zones AND anyone over the age of 50 Statewide, WITHOUT the medical exemption.

I'm not sure we can stop it now but we sure can let them know how we feel about it!! :mad: :mad: :mad:

Tom Dickerson

[Gray Buffalo]

Who do we yell at? Our self for being complacent are the CF for being stupid

[Sanderlin3]

I called Columbia last November and asked that very question... I was told that the "commission" does NOT want crossbows used other than in rifle season(except for disabled hunters)....

To allow crossbows the commission has to vote them in.. This is not going to happen in Missouri. At least this is what I was told...

John III

[Sanderlin3]

I just emailed the Dept. asking for the facts about this.... I hope it is not true and only rumor. I wish I had written down the name of the manager I spoke with at the Conservation Dept last November... She did state in no uncertain terms that the Commission does not want and will not allow Crossbows to be used other than in rifle season by able bodied hunters.


This could be the beginning of the end for our "special" set aside Archery season...

[Mudd]

I just got off the phone with a regional supervisor and a local supervisor bot stated they knew nothing about anything like this nor had there been any rumors to that effect that they are aware of.
That being said.. It wouldn't surpirise me to see it show up on the news about a week before season starts...lol

God bless,Mudd

[Sanderlin3]

I called the right person this morning...

As of now there is a "committee" exploring exactly what Tom's post states... This being said a final decision would still need to be voted on and approved by the commission. We will know by July this summer as this is when the new regulations are written and made public.

My opinion I don't think they will make it happen this summer.. Next season in 2011,,, we will see... After my conversation this morning I really do expect to see crossbows used statewide in our Archery seasons in the not too distant future...

[Sanderlin3]

Email from the Dept this morning:

John III:

Thank you for contacting us.

As you are probably aware, the issue of crossbow use in Missouri has been a topic of discussion for a number of years. A recent survey of Missouri deer hunters included questions related to crossbow use. More than 70% of respondents were favorable on the topic of archery hunters over 50 years of age being able to use crossbows without having to document a disability. The use of crossbows to help control urban deer is another issue with some support. Neither topic has yet been proposed to our Regulations Committee as a change to current regulations. Our plans are to have a meeting with multiple stakeholders, especially archery hunter organizations, to discuss those and other issues related to crossbow use.

We do not know whether either or both of those proposals will be supported by our Regulations Committee or the Conservation Commission. At this point, those are a couple of possibilities that will be discussed with interested parties because some support was indicted in our survey of deer hunters. It is definitely premature to say that those changes are on their way.

Tim E. Smith
MDC Ombudsman
573/522-4115 ext

[Rick Wakeman]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for this information. Let us know about meetings, what, and how we need to voice our stance on this subject.

[mpaul]

I see that the conservation dept. is allowing crossbows to be used by anyone in archery hunts on managed deer hunts this year. What next the regular season?

[Ron Mackenberg]

A lot of the MDC managed hunts allowed crossbows for the past couple of years. There was no open discussion.

Ron