BCWF to push for CROSSBOW BAN

[Stone Sheep Steve]

I think the way the thread was presented was indeed overly dramatic.

To begin with, the title "BCWF to PUSH FOR crossbow ban" was completely inaccurate. It turns out it was two BCWF reps in one region who had an idea they wanted to explore. If you are going to make a controversial thread, at least take the time to get the title of the thread correct.

Then the post goes on to be a call to arms without actually talking to the people involved. It's not like the OP didn't have the contact info, he posted it in the thread. Why not contact Mark and discuss it to find out what is actually going on before plastering it all over social media. My first question to the OP -which was not answered- was "What did Mark say when you spoke to him?" Turns out he didn't actually bother to go to the source.

Keep in mind, this was a proposed resolution. Which means it hadn't got anywhere, it hadn't been approved to go forward as a resolution, and it certainly didn't reflect the opinion of the entire BCWF.

The OP got what he wanted though-lots of drama and people freaking out that the entire BCWF is trying to take away hunter opportunity. When the reality is that it is questionable if this proposed resolution would even make it past a regional vote, and it almost certainly wouldn't pass at the AGM. So yeah, it was unnecessarily dramatic.


On the topic of advancing technology in hunting, it's a subject hunters can't really avoid. It's already arrived. Drones were banned pretty fast. Trail cameras have been banned in some states and make no mistake about it, it's going to be a topic here, too. MichelD asked what became of the ML season in BC? As I understand it, ML technology outgrew the purpose of having a ML season, so it was cancelled.

Have bows also evolved to the point where having a special bow season is redundant? I know this thread was originally about crossbows, but as everyone has pointed out, compound technology has advanced as well, and you can't really talk about a modern crossbow without talking about modern compound bows. Wasn't the main purpose of bow seasons to allow hunter opportunity without over harvest? Have the modern bows effected this?

Many here obviously don't like the idea of excluding crossbows, and want to just shut down the conversation ASAP, but the topic ( including the topic of modern compound bows) is certainly an important thing to discuss, as there are questions that bow hunters need to be able to answer, before someone else decides their future for them- both crossbow and compound alike

Well said, Gate. This is my take on this thread as well.

Imagine the drama on here if ever regulation ‘proposal’ was aired out like this one.

In principal, I’m not against Foxton’s stance. Although I’ve never used a crossbow( I use a compound), I fully support their use during archery only seasons.

I have more faith in the system than others.


SSS

[willyqbc]

My Personal experience here in region 5 has been the BCWF reps here at the time I was involved were 0% supportive of any additional opportunity for hunters if the word "archery" was attached.

I sat in the room with the BCWF reps, the ministry, guides, ranchers, trappers, FN etc. I was there as the rep for the UBBC for allocation meetings yearly.
When the BCWF reps put suggestions to the ministry that made sense and were going to provide opportunity, I wholeheartedly supported them. I lost track of the number of times an archery opportunity was proposed where the ministry made it very clear, that the archery opening was the ONLY option they would consider for a given area, or for additional days. Regardless of the fact that no new "any weapon" openings were even going to be considered, the BCWF reps flatly refused to support any suggestions I put forward....and a lot of additional opportunity was lost.

When moose here went from a two week open season, to 100% limited entry, I questioned the ministry bio if there was any possibility of saving a 2 week open season by making it an archery season in addition to the LEH. He said that the archery harvest was so low that he felt we could reduce LEH authorizations by 3-5% and leave a 2 week archery any bull opening in place. The ministry liked the idea, the guides, ranchers, and even FN were on board.....the BCWF reps nearly lost their minds almost yelling that all moose opportunities had to be for EVERYONE!!! Like there was some sort of prohibition where certain people werent allowed to use a bow???. For some reason the ministry never seemed to want to cross the BCWF, so like so many other proposals....it died on the table.

In this day and age of less and less AAH, the low success rate of archery hunting is the ONLY way to more OPPORTUNITY in my opinion.....and that being said, that ship may have already sailed.

for what its worth....many years of archery, pulling wrenches etc, has left me with a buggered shoulder and I have not archery hunted in probably 5 years, and may not for many years to come, so i'm not advocating for something I want to see for ME....but rather for something to improve opportunity for anyone who chooses to take advantage of it.

JMO

[Wild one]

Willy you probably already know that BS went well beyond region 5

This is just one of the reasons I am not a fan of the BCWF. It is also a factor in B.C. having a divided hunting community

but that is as far as I am going with that

[Harvest the Land]

Thanks for the "heads up" on this Jim. And good posts Willy - nice to hear from an expert. If BCWF ever started lobbying to ban crossbows from archery season I would cancel my membership and monthly donation. Unless there were conservation concerns, which there aren't

[180grainer]

I haven't read the entire thread, but the guy proposing a reclassification of a crossbow sounds like he's writing for the government. It is Orwellian that a organization that is made up of hunters and anglers takes it upon itself to suggest to government on how to place more restrictions on hunters and anglers. Up is down, good is bad, right is wrong. I remember when Region 2 had a "special weapons" season where you could also use a muzzle loader. In this case "the season" was reclassified to exclude the muzzle loader. Maybe the BCWF did that too.

[Gateholio]

Well said, Gate. This is my take on this thread as well.

Imagine the drama on here if ever regulation ‘proposal’ was aired out like this one.

In principal, I’m not against Foxton’s stance. Although I’ve never used a crossbow( I use a compound), I fully support their use during archery only seasons.

I have more faith in the system than others.


SSS

I'm glad some people can see past the hype and understand what I was saying. Some of the replies on this thread remind me of the kid with the MAGA hat with the older native guy, and how social media erupted calling for the kids head without actually looking at the rest of the story. I suppose it's the world we live in now, where headlines cause extreme reactions.

[835]

Maybe your right Gate but in this case it worked.

[boxhitch]

.......... I suppose it's the world we live in now, where headlines cause extreme reactions.

Fake news draws first blood usually, and always takes a great effort to heal

[Jagermeister]

Fake news draws first blood usually, and always takes a great effort to heal

This was NOT FAKE NEWS. It was actually contemplated to the point of being put to words and had it not been brought forward by a couple of people, we may have been surprised after the BCWF AGM.
When an item is sent to the BCWF as a resolution, it essentially rubber stamped for inclusion on the resolution list that is sent out to the clubs. Clubs usually spend some time going over the resolutions to determine how to vote on each. Although the club directs their delegates I have witnessed where the wishes of the club have not been carried out by the delegates.
In this case, we have a preempted vote and the resolution will not hit the AGM floor, we think.
The Fed and it's membership should be more concerned about retaining hunting opportunities and habitat improvement than trying to impose loss of hunting opportunities.
I have been in contact with Mark and with the dialogue that we have had, I think it would be safe to say we are now on the same page. Remember though, it's not to safe to say that someone else may attempt to put this to resolution on the floor.

[ratherbefishin]

I like getting out for a hunt, but quite frankly am not prepared to put in the time to be proficient enough with bow to launch an arrow at a living target,but a crossbow gives me the opportunity to take an animal humanely ( which is my personal criteria be it with a rifle,shotgun,bow or crossbow) Does the BCWF arbitrarily decide casual hunters like me should not be allowed to hunt with archery tackle because I don’t fit their purist criteria?