CROSSSBOW COSTS

[DJH]

CROSSSBOW COSTS
By Will Elliott

What does it cost New York State to continue banning the use of crossbows as a hunting device?

Plenty.

One of the leading arguments anti-crossbow advocates put forth is that it's just a move on the part of crossbow manufacturers to generate more sales in New York State.

Why not?

In fact, those sales argue strongly in favor of crossbows being legalized in this state. Sportsmen's - and all conservation-oriented - groups would benefit directly and indirectly from sales of crossbows and all accessories used with this device.

Whenever sporting goods purchases are made, percentages of those sales are collected under provisions of both Pittman-Robinson and Wallop-Breaux.

Let's say the device became legal for hunting and just 10,000 sportsmen across New York State chose to purchase a crossbow in 2006. Considering additional gear, each total sale might average $500. That adds up to five million dollars in gross sales, not counting additional income generated from travel, lodging, food and other purchases made when resident and non-resident hunters take extra trips to enjoy a crossbow hunt.

Amounts vary for types of purchases. P-R funds come from hunting/shooting related items; W-B collects from fishing/boating buys.
No doubt, the hunter numbers and gear purchases would be much higher than those figures given above. In Georgia, when crossbows became legal for hunting in that state two years ago, officials there pegged revenue increases at somewhere near 3.2 million. Not bad.

As it stands right now, money that New York State's hunters would be spending on crossbow gear goes elsewhere. Funds that would come back to the state from federal taxation simply will not come into our coffers. Others collect.

Many of those upstate and New York City megalopolis grandpas get too chilled waiting for shotgun or rifle seasons to open in the fall. Even under new deer-season proposals, a Southern Zone shotgun shooter can't hunt until mid to late November.

Archers can start hunting sometime in early to mid October, under the latest proposal.

But those Grandpas - and all other hunters who can no longer pull and hold a vertical bow - have to wait five to six weeks before they can hunt big game in this state.

Many of these older, slightly-impaired hunters simply withdraw completely, opting instead for golfing during warmer months and buying goodies for the grandkids.

Instead, all those prospective hunting-gear buys go to a better set of golf clubs, more or longer trips to Disneyland with youngsters, an addition on the house, a backyard pool and scores of other items that won't be taxed under federal programs that benefit New York State's fish, wildlife and conservation programs.

These grandpas - and grandmas, youths, and middle-aged folk with some kind of "ittis" or upper-body injury - not only leave the sport, reducing the total number of licenses sold, they also lower the numbers of future hunters that would join our ranks in decades and generations to come.

Crossbow use has proven most useful for introducing young kids to hunting in Ohio, a state that has legalized this device for 27 years. Kids there can use a crossbow as an option to vertical bow use, adding to youth-recruiting numbers.

The problem intensifies when older hunters leave our ranks. Not only do we lose their purchases, we also lose their mentoring skills with youngsters that might be influenced by their active interest in hunting. Lost are those grandkids, nieces, nephews and neighbor kids that might have gone hunting with him or her in years to come.

Instead, that money and outdoors involvement goes to golf courses, theme parks, and other non-hunting activities.

Anti-crossbow critics are correct. Crossbow manufacturers will make money when this device is legalized in New York State. So will the travel industry and all companies that sell hunting clothes and accessories.

That's business. We're loosing it. But the recruitment of youths and the retention of older hunters - and those with slight impairments - stand as an even stronger argument for allowing crossbow use here.

Nearby Pennsylvania, and most recently West Virginia, legalized crossbows. West Virginia, with bow hunters groups more adamantly opposed to crossbows than here in New York State, will let youths and impaired hunters hunt now.

Both states will benefit from increased license sales and gear-purchase revenues - as has been seen in Georgia - but not in New York State. That loss, along with the painful drop in hunter numbers, leaves New York State behind on both fronts.

Connect with your state representative in the Senate or Assembly and ask for support of proposed crossbow legislation put forth by Senator George Maziarz and Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte.

Crossbow legalization does benefit manufacturers - and every hunter in New York State.


TO WHICH I CAN ONLY SAY, "AMEN!" >>------->DJH

[Woody Williams]

Greta article....

[Fur & Feathers]

Well written article. I have been active in contacting senators & assembly people to get bills passed for 3 years. This article has alot of points I haven't thought of. It makes alot of sense. Hope something happens here soon. I'm dying to purchase a Phoenix & spear a deer.

[Hawkeye]

In just the last three weeks, I decided to get into xbow hunting here in Cal, and I've spent over $1500 in equipment toward that effort so far. However none of that money went to any California business, eventhough it's legal to hunt during the general season, there seems to be nowhere to buy xbow equipment here. The local businesses are not promoting it, or trying to take advantage of it. There is one archery shop here that carries parker xbow's, but there's no other supplies/equip. It was just easier to order thru Cabela's & bj, than to try to support a business here locally. But maybe we're just weird here in California

[GR8RALLY]

I agree with the article. New Yorkers do have it rough when it comes to hunting season. I live on Long Island, NY and own land upstate to hunt and for other recreational activities. I'm obtaining my archery permit this year so that I may start (verticle bow) hunting in October, rather than waiting for shotgun season which is November 22. ( Buuur, just got a cold chill already) On Long Island you can hunt with a verticle bow approximately 5 months out of the year, so yes it would be nice if Crossbows where legal both for new or old prospective hunters and financially for the State.
Like Fur and feathers, I would like to purchase a Phoenix so I will also start contacting my Senators & Assembly representives to approve this bill. DJH, keep the info coming so a newbie like myself can be well informed and do my part to help the cause! Rodney.