Missouri Bowhunters Defense Committee                                                         
April 26, 2005
Dennis R. Ballard

Bowhunting Organizations Form Alliance, Oppose Crossbows

I was honored to represent members of the United Bowhunters of Missouri at the Bowhunting Summit held April 17-18, 2005, in Springfield, Missouri following the Pope & Young Club convention.  The Summit was truly a watershed meeting for the future of bowhunting in North America.  From now on, state, national and provincial-level bowhunting organizations will speak with one voice on issues important to the future of our sport. 

One of the most serious threats to bowhunting in North America is the intrusion of crossbows into bowhunting seasons.  First, Summit attendees unanimously agreed that crossbows are not bows.  Everyone agreed, too, that their inclusion in archery hunting seasons threatens the very existence of bowhunting as we know it today because of the huge increase in numbers of people that will be attracted to hunting during the archery season by the ease of shooting crossbows.

 Studies from Arkansas and Ohio report that conservatively 40% of all licensed deer hunters will be participants in a crossbows-legal archery season.

 Unfortunately, the Archery Trade Association (ATA) is pushing the legalization of crossbows during archery season to help establish a ‘niche’ market for retailers.

 ATA Position Statement About Crossbows

 ATA believes crossbows are viable shooting and hunting equipment and provide shooting and hunting opportunity for a segment of America’s hunters.  Crossbows are subject to the Federal Archery Excise Tax and thus are considered archery equipment by the Internal Revenue Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.  Excise taxes on crossbows contribute about 10% of the total Pittman Robertson program funding collected from the entire industry.

 ATA believes the seasons and regulations governing the use of crossbows for hunting to each state wildlife agency.  When possible, ATA believes each type hunting equipment should have it’s own season and regulations, especially if it reduces conflicts between hunters.  ATA does not support a reduction in the length of archery seasons to accommodate a separate season for crossbows.  Finally, ATA believes that when populations of wildlife like deer are overabundant that state agencies should make use of every possible type of hunting equipment---including crossbows---and that all hunters who qualify and are able to help control and manage deer serves the public good.