Did anyone attend the 3-7-01 nrc meeting?

[bhntr]

Did anyone attend the lansing nrc. meeting? I was just wondering what went on and whats new with the crossbow thing. bhntr.

[bishs]

Yes I attended the NRC meeting. Tom Lutke and myself spoke for MTB on behalf of the crossbow issue, my wife also spoke representing herself. There were 9 people speaking against crossbows and 1 for crossbows. The pro crossbow person spoke of the crossbow bringing women and children into hunting. These theories were deflated when my wife spoke of practicing all summer with her bow, and harvesting deer with her 40 lb bow. She stated; "its not supposed to be easy" We enjoy a long archery season because it's a challenge. Then she told them how she bowhunted last fall 8 months pregnant. She recieved much praise from her speach.

The Meeting went as well as could be expected. I was delighted to see that 5 of the 9 speakers were MTB members. It's in the hands of the NRC and the Law Division. We will be maintaining a close eye on the issue. If it maintains its course it will be allowed in the Nov 15-30 season. The crossbow handicap permit is going to be revised to minimize hunters abusing it. It is estimated that 65% of the 11,500 handicapped permits are fraudulent.

The gun season is being viewed as a any weapon season. We were told from the start there will be a crossbow season. The Ad Hoc committee has overwhelmingly decided that it fits nicely into the rifle season, and will not have a negative impact on the resource.

I would just like to say that I think it was great of you guys to represent it, and More power to your wife (christi) to speaking up for the women and the children. Great job! ONce angain, thankyou for saying what we all wanted to. Good luck!

[bhntr]

bishis you said out of 9 speaking 5 were mtb members .Do you know who the others represented against crossbows. And do you think there would be any way to regulate the crossbow as a firearm. what I'm getting at is its already against the law to use a bow that is held at full or partial draw in bow season.
would a crossbow be considerd a firearm being that it is held at full draw and has a trigger like a gun and is aimed and shot like a gun. It has no physical limitations like a bow.

oops

There were 2 speakers representing MTB, myself included. Two other MTB members were speaking as individuals, one was speaking for ATHA, (American Traditional Hunting Archers). There 2 speakers for MBH. The others were speaking as individuals.

The day before the NRC meeting, The vast majority of the crossbow Ad Hoc Committee came to a consensus. It was presented to the NRC and the DNR Law Division in a several page document.

We have a member of the Ad Hoc Committee, that is very knowledable, and put the statement into Legal Form. It is very well done.
I will post information regarding the results of this issue as soon as it is resolved.
Thanks Scott Bishop

[bishs]

This message is from MBH, but reflects the majority opinion of the the crossbow Ad Hoc Committee. Of the 20 voting people at the committee, only 3 disagreed.

Fellow Bowhunter,

A presentation to the Natural Resources Commission on March 7, 2001 of
the Majority Agreement from the ad hoc Crossbow Committee which had
interested representatives (including MBH, MTB) to whom the possible issue of
crossbows for general public use being introduced into the Michigan
Hunting seasons, held items the MBH agreed to. These being:

1.. The crossbow for general public use, be utilized in the November
15-30 firearm season.
2.. The crossbow be listed as a sub category of a firearm in the rules
and regulations.
3.. That to update the present process of Physically Challenged individuals who want to hunt with a crossbow during the archery season,
unless having (a) a VA Permanent Disability status, a (b) Social
Security Permanent Disability status, be (c) Legally Blind, obtaining a
crossbow permit would require a Diagnosis from a Doctor and then be
reviewed before a 5 member panel of a (1)Physically Challenged
Bowhunter, (2) a Physical Therapist, (3) a member of a state Bowhunting
Organization, (4) a Conservation Officer or NRC Commissioner, and one
other select individual.


The MBH Legislative Committee encourages the membership for the
protection and promotion of Bowhunting to please write NRC Commissioners
and contact through the secretary of the NRC, Teresa Gloden:

Teresa Gloden
Natural Resources Commission
Department of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 30026
Lansing, Michigan 48909

***Please send a polite short request to the Commissioners that as an
MBH member, you support the Majority Agreement of the Crossbow Committee
as written, and submitted by NRC Commissioner Jerry Bartnik. Also let
them know the importance of the need that all crossbow permits records
be kept, and the committee review of the doctors diagnosis is imperative.

And as a sportsperson who helps in funding through license fees, which in turn is supplemented by funds from the Pittman/Robertson act of 1937, you request
additional manpower in the MDNR Law Division
for record keeping and enforcement.

Please do this without delay, the future of Bowhunting for all, depends
on you!

"It has been a privilege to work with such a diverse group of hunting organizations and individuals and be able to reach a majority understanding and consensus on the crossbow issue and present the findings to the NRC. Those who worked on the Ad Hoc Committee should be commended for their determination to be fair to all interests while at the same time demand that the resource be protected. If the NRC enacts into rule the recommendations of the committee as written it will provide hunting opportunity for general crossbow hunters, will allow genuinely disabled hunters to use a crossbow during archery season, will maintain the integrity and benefits of a long archery season and still protect the resource. "

Tom Morang
Michigan Bow Hunters

[Steve]

Thanks for the note Tom.

[bishs]

Thanks Tom, your experience and hard work was very beneficial to our committee.

I also felt greatly priveledged to work with individuals from so many different organizations. The ability to come together with an overall consensus and protect the resource was truly a milestone. Hopefully the group can be utilized in the future to resolve other issues. Every group has slightly different directions, but in the end we all want to protect the resource and make sure our kids get the same opurtunities we have today.

Scott Bishop