String guns and thin skin

[Bill T]

I just heard that I have created a scandal with my choice of title for an article I wrote about my Muskox hunt for Petersons Crossbow Hunting magazine. Now I'm willing to change the title if it causes such a stir, no problem, but I've got to say that those of you who are incensed at the thought of a crossbow hunter using the term "string gun" to describe a crossbow should get a sense of humor. This term may (or may not) have been coined many years ago by the antis, but where I come from it's slang for crossbow. If you find it offensive I apologise, but it's actually a pretty good way to describe a crossbow. The thing that gives power to words like "string gun" is the way we perceive them. If we all just learn to take things a little less seriously and laugh once and a while the world is a lot better place.

[A.W]

We're still dealing with anti's and hunting magazine owners/editors that that look at the crossbow as anything but archery equipment.

It wan't that long ago that the government tried to include the crossbow in the firearms registration.

I don't think it's being thin skinned to not like the term "string gun". We still have a long way to go yet.

http://www.excaliburcrossbow.com/phpBB2 ... =petersons

[sidekick]

You hit the nail on the head when you used the word "perception". That's the whole point of the whole vbow vs. xbow debate. I think by encouraging, whether intentional or not, the thought that the xbow is closer to a gun than archery equipment, we sway the uneducated hunters "perception" that xbow really are closer to a gun. I'm one of those fighting a real up hill battle, because my state doesn't even allow xbows, and I don't have the resources to take off and go hunting anywhere I want. So to me anything that remotely reduces my chances to even hunt with a xbow takes on more importance.

[Woody Williams]

Bill T,

As you well know I have done constant battles with the anti-crossbow people over the years..

The denigrating terms that they have called our chosen hunting tool has always been..

CrossGUN

AND

StringGUN.

We have constantly beat on the premise that crossbows ARE ARCHERY EQUIPMENT, and for a major crossbow manufacturer and major magazine to label a crossbow a StringGUN sets us back quite a bit.

Do not think for a minute that the antis will not use that title against us down the road at some future DNR meeting where the legalization of crossbow for hunting archery seasons is being discussed.

Sorry, but my "sense of humor" dos not extend to giving the antis more ammunition to use against us.

We are in the trenches fighting for legalization and I have to say this hurts us a lot.

I respectfully request that you change the title of the article.

[Hi5]

Aboriginal comedians can tell "Indian" jokes and the aboriginal audience will laugh. Black comedians can use the "N " word and a black audience will laugh. If the comedian is not from the same ethnic or racial group, though, the joke had better be a real rib splitter or else the comedian needs to be wearing running shoes.

"String Gun" is kind of like that, I guess. It's an inside joke when we xbowers use the term, but maybe it's risky to use it in a more general context.

[Tigerpaw]

Bill T,

As you well know I have done constant battles with the anti-crossbow people over the years..

The denigrating terms that they have called our chosen hunting tool has always been..

CrossGUN

AND

StringGUN.

We have constantly beat on the premise that crossbows ARE ARCHERY EQUIPMENT, and for a major crossbow manufacturer and major magazine to label a crossbow a StringGUN sets us back quite a bit.

Do not think for a minute that the antis will not use that title against us down the road at some future DNR meeting where the legalization of crossbow for hunting archery seasons is being discussed.

Sorry, but my "sense of humor" dos not extend to giving the antis more ammunition to use against us.

We are in the trenches fighting for legalization and I have to say this hurts us a lot.

I respectfully request that you change the title of the article.

I agree 100%!! You would think that by now bow hunters would know better then to use any term that has the word GUN in it when talking or writing about crossbows. Talk about a big step backward!!! Bill I am more then a bit surprized at your slip up and I do not see how you think we should have a sense of humor about it!

[sidekick]

Seems pretty cut and dried...is the projectile propelled by an exploding powder, or is it propelled by tension on a string? I'm sure Bill T will come up with something humerous, but just not "string gun".

[GaryL]

Bill T,

As you well know I have done constant battles with the anti-crossbow people over the years..

The denigrating terms that they have called our chosen hunting tool has always been..

CrossGUN

AND

StringGUN.

We have constantly beat on the premise that crossbows ARE ARCHERY EQUIPMENT, and for a major crossbow manufacturer and major magazine to label a crossbow a StringGUN sets us back quite a bit.

Do not think for a minute that the antis will not use that title against us down the road at some future DNR meeting where the legalization of crossbow for hunting archery seasons is being discussed.

Sorry, but my "sense of humor" dos not extend to giving the antis more ammunition to use against us.

We are in the trenches fighting for legalization and I have to say this hurts us a lot.

I respectfully request that you change the title of the article.

I agree 100%!! You would think that by now bow hunters would know better then to use any term that has the word GUN in it when talking or writing about crossbows. Talk about a big step backward!!! Bill I am more then a bit surprized at your slip up and I do not see how you think we should have a sense of humor about it!

And I too have to agree with Woody Williams and respectfully request that you change the title of the article. String Guns just, well quite frankly is just flat out right not proper.

[Bill T]

OK guys, I hear you and I feel your pain, but please understand that I didn't use that title to upset you, just because I think it's a cute term and maybe a bit to show the forces of darkness that I'm not hurt by their words. I'll come up with a new title before it's published.

[GaryL]

Will admit you caught me by surprise Thanks much for a new title before it's published. Congrat's again on your Elephant Bull ....

[Hi5]

............I didn't use that title to upset you............

Bill

If some ignorant, stupid, stubborn, condescending, arrogant fellow (whose parents were not married to each other) calls your product a "string gun" we're gonna get mad.

You're one of us, so we don't get mad at you for saying "string gun". You're one of us. It's just nobody else had better say it.

Who knows, though, they just might say it if they hear you saying it first.

[Tigerpaw]

I'll come up with a new title before it's published.

O.K. just dont let it happen again!

[ELKhuntR]

Now that the commotion has settled down a bit, I want to let everyone know that I'm not the enemy. If anything, a medium for the exposure to get out to the new crossbow recruits. This magazine if anything, will do great things for crossbows and nothing to dismantle the efforts to have crossbows legal for hunting in all states. It will help your cause and my cause, More hunters!


I believe if you look at the statistics of hunters in the US, the numbers have dropped considerably from a decade or two ago. THat's not good. WE need the numbers.

I'm not an anti-crossbower either, nor a troll as somone mentioned, or someone who changed the title as plenty of forumers insisted, or really, a bad editor. Maybe not an expert in crossbows but almost 20 years of hunting behind me.

Bill and I are exchanging emails. And hopefully in the next day or so, we'll talk about the title.

just got back from a turkey hunt in NM and shot my first turkey and went carp shooting. It was a blast. Hiked 20 plus miles in the wilderness and got snowed on.

[Big John]

elkhuntr:

I am glad you are trying to fight the good fight, however, if you really want to help the cause then why not promote the subject to the Compound ,vert bow hunters, to stop the infighting and start to co-operate so as to help get the numbers up? And have them not to try to push another method of Bow Hunting out. Especially one that has been around for so long. I'm also hoping there is time to change the title before publishing, because it "Will"set us back!

John

[sidekick]

There is a push to recruit new hunters here in Oregon. In this months issue of Oregon Hunter, it goes into great detail of the decline of the amount of hunters in Oregon. Since 1980 the number of hunters in Oregon has declined by 50%. I could hardly believe that when I read it. With more and more restrictions being placed on hunters by the Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife I can understand part of the decline. Oregon is only 1 of 4 states now that doesn't allow a xbow as a legal hunting weapon of any kind. When we talk about how easy it is for younger people to get involved in hunting, you would think they would be doing everything they could to encourage young people. One thing I've noticed most xbow hunters use varies weapons to take game, I would think many of these young people would evolve into vbow users, in fact I would hope they would. I encourage young people to try many forms of hunting and enjoy all of them. I would hate for somebody to miss out on any form of hunting. When folks go through hunters ed. they are exposed to all forms of weapons except xbow. I find it hard to believe that with some of the greatest hunting in the country there is such a decline here in Oregon. I think that says a lot about the influence of the anti hunters, and also how important it is for all of us hunters to stick together.