MBH : News and Reports

[Riva]

The Michigan Bow Hunters Association Position Statement regarding proposed crossbow regulation changes and laser sight usage

The Michigan Bow Hunters Association does not support using age as a condition for determining crossbow eligibility. Eligibility should be determined by need on a case by case basis.

MBH supports the current standard for determining crossbow permit eligibility for physically challenged hunters. However we are opposed to lowering the level of permanent disability from 80% to 60%. Our Association acknowledges that the current evaluation process for crossbow permit applicants is expensive and frequently abused. We therefore support removal of the physician from the evaluation process as a means of addressing both issues.


Also, we would be very supportive of a more "vigorous scrutiny" of crossbow permit applications by the DNR Law Dvision to further address the abuse issue. In addition, there are other issues with the crossbow permit system not mentioned in the proposal. We look forward to working with the NRC to resolve these concerns.


Commentary: One hundred years from now, some will look back and say about the MBH, that this, was not their finest hour!

[weatherby]

Sounds to me that is is another way the mbh is dividing and weakening our hunters voice :(

[Swamp Ghost]

This a bowhunting organization.

Since 1946, MBH has been the official voice of Michigan's Hunting archer, dedicated to promoting and protecting the interests of our steadily growing number of bowhunters.

I guess in 1946 crossbowhunters could have formed the MCBH, the official voice of Michigan's hunter arbalist, dedicated to promoting and protecting the interests of MI's crossbowhunters.

Commentary: But they didn't.

[Munsterlndr]

Since 1946, MBH has been the official voice of Michigan's Hunting archer, dedicated to promoting and protecting the interests of our steadily growing number of bowhunters.

For purposes of accuracy maybe MBH should amend their mission statement to this;

"Since 1946, MBH has been the official voice of Michigan's Hunting archer, dedicated to promoting and protecting the interests of our rapidly declining number of bowhunters. " ;)

[Swamp Ghost]

Here's the funny thing, people are focusing on the declining number of bowhunters while at the same time we have lost more than double the amount of our most efficient hunters, firearm hunters.

Batten down the hatches! The sky is falling!

Never mind the deer harvest increased last year.......

[TOW]

There was already an established base of archers due to the popularity of field archery. That was a large pool to draw from.

[Munsterlndr]

Here's the funny thing, people are focusing on the declining number of bowhunters while at the same time we have lost more than double the amount of our most efficient hunters, firearm hunters.

Batten down the hatches! The sky is falling!

Never mind the deer harvest increased last year.......

Obfuscate and deny. A one year blip does not reverse a ten year trend. Overall harvest is 100,000+ deer below what it was in 1998 when it peaked.

Meanwhile hunter numbers continue to dwindle.......... The DNR is no closer to reaching the population targets that were established 5 years ago.............special seasons continue to be added to try and make up for the harvest shortfall....................and some people remain in denial.

[Swamp Ghost]

Obfuscate and deny. A one year blip does not reverse a ten year trend. Overall harvest is 100,000+ deer below what it was in 1998 when it peaked.

Meanwhile hunter numbers continue to dwindle.......... The DNR is no closer to reaching the population targets that were established 5 years ago.............special seasons continue to be added to try and make up for the harvest shortfall....................and some people remain in denial.

So the deer herd has been reduced with less hunters? Say it ain't so.....

Special seasons target antlerless deer, not the entire herd.

It's a regulation problem with the deer herd not a weapon issue.

At the same time hunter numbers dropped even in states that allowed the crossbow. It appears weapons are also not the answer to hunter recruitment.

If you guys keep going, pretty soon these crossbows are going to be gutting deer for hunters, printing money for the state of MI and solve the nation's energy crisis. :lol:

[TOW]

So the deer herd has been reduced with less hunters? Say it ain't so.....

It ain't so..

Just because more deer are killed in one year than the year before does not mean "the deer herd has been reduced." One has to take in consideration of many factors. A biggy is fawn recruitment from the year before. There could be a RECORD year and the herd could still be growing. In fact a lot of states use kill data to show how many deer are in the population. The more killed means there are more deer out there,.

Special seasons target antlerless deer, not the entire herd.

They are put in place as a means of population control, right? Anytime a state has a "special season" means that they are having some severe control problems.

It's a regulation problem with the deer herd not a weapon issue.

What difference does it make what "weapon" the deer is killed with? I'm sure that the deer can not tell if it was a compound or a crossbow that launched that arrow that sliced through their lungs.

BTW - I really don't care for the word "weapon" as it pertains to hunting disciplines. "Weapons" are instruments of war or to be used against humans, not hunting animals. As a HE instructor I NEVER use the word "weapon" to describe a hunting tool. That sends a bad message to the non-hunting general public.

At the same time hunter numbers dropped even in states that allowed the crossbow. It appears weapons are also not the answer to hunter recruitment.

There are many reasons for that. If you will look the latest USF&W survey you will find that not enough time or places to hunt head the list as to why people drop out. Survey after survey point out that crossbows do help to recruit more hunters and retain older hunters. Numbers are dropping, but one would have to wonder how many MORE would have dropped out if there had not been crossbows.

[Swamp Ghost]

It ain't so..

Just because more deer are killed in one year than the year before does not mean "the deer herd has been reduced." One has to take in consideration of many factors. A biggy is fawn recruitment from the year before. There could be a RECORD year and the herd could still be growing. In fact a lot of states use kill data to show how many deer are in the population. The more killed means there are more deer out there,.



They are put in place as a means of population control, right? Anytime a state has a "special season" means that they are having some severe control problems.



What difference does it make what "weapon" the deer is killed with? I'm sure that the deer can not tell if it was a compound or a crossbow that launched that arrow that sliced through their lungs.

BTW - I really don't care for the word "weapon" as it pertains to hunting disciplines. "Weapons" are instruments of war or to be used against humans, not hunting animals. As a HE instructor I NEVER use the word "weapon" to describe a hunting tool. That sends a bad message to the non-hunting general public.



There are many reasons for that. If you will look the latest USF&W survey you will find that not enough time or places to hunt head the list as to why people drop out. Survey after survey point out that crossbows do help to recruit more hunters and retain older hunters. Numbers are dropping, but one would have to wonder how many MORE would have dropped out if there had not been crossbows.

Well the TREND in MI is a decreasing herd from it's peak of almost 2 million to about 1.3-1.5 million and at the same time hunter numbers have decreased, coincidence?

Deer herd managers don't care how deer are killed, they worry about how many and where. Precisely why bowseason is about "how" not "how many" and precisely why gun season is about getting "as many" deer hunters in the field and killing "as many" deer as possible.

Ok, we'll call weapons "hunting instruments" from now on.:rolleyes: PC enough for ya?

[Munsterlndr]

Well the TREND in MI is a decreasing herd from it's peak of almost 2 million to about 1.3-1.5 million and at the same time hunter numbers have decreased, coincidence?


Swamp -
You need to check your numbers, you are way off. Per the MIDNR website, the projected 2008 deer population is 1,841,000. That is an 8% reduction in the size of the herd.

Since 1998 there has been a 19% reduction in the annual harvest.

Since 1998 there has been a 25% reduction in the number of hunters.

Still think the smaller harvests and loss of hunter numbers is simply due to a decreasing population?

Decreasing numbers of hunters............smaller harvests................more special seasons being introduced...................and some remain in denial that we have a problem in Michigan.

Instead they are more concerned about not having to share the woods with more hunters. :rolleyes:

[Swamp Ghost]

Swamp -
You need to check your numbers, you are way off. Per the MIDNR website, the projected 2008 deer population is 1,841,000. That is an 8% reduction in the size of the herd.

Since 1998 there has been a 19% reduction in the annual harvest.

Since 1998 there has been a 25% reduction in the number of hunters.

Still think the smaller harvests and loss of hunter numbers is simply due to a decreasing population?

Decreasing numbers of hunters............smaller harvests................more special seasons being introduced...................and some remain in denial that we have a problem in Michigan.

Instead they are more concerned about not having to share the woods with more hunters. :rolleyes:

No there is a problem in MI but it will be solved with harvest regulation changes not a weapon change.

Nice use of pre-hunt population estimates for 2008, btw.

[Munsterlndr]

No there is a problem in MI but it will be solved with harvest regulation changes not a weapon change.

Nice use of pre-hunt population estimates for 2008, btw.

Um... generally when you are talking about state deer populations the numbers quoted are going to be pre-hunt. When the DNR set their target population goal of 1.3 million deer in 2005 it was a pre-hunt population target. Nothing deceptive about that my friend but it was a nice try to make lemonade out of lemons. ;)

Can't wait to see your snappy comeback as it seems you are compelled to respond to pretty much every post made in the crossbow forum. :lol:

[Swamp Ghost]

I can't wait to see what crossbows are going to do for MI and all of hunting next.

The DNR was no closer to attaining the 1.3 million herd target when hunter numbers were at their peak. Actually it appears we were farther off then, than now.

Give 'em a crossbow all your problems will be solved......:lol:

[Thunderhead]

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Commentary: One hundred years from now, some will look back and say about the MBH, that this, was not their finest hour!



Maybe you could submit to them a few of your rib recipies ?

Couldn't hurt.

[TOW]

No there is a problem in MI but it will be solved with harvest regulation changes not a weapon change.



Why not both? Is there ever just one answer for anything?