Thanks

The Alberta Fish and Game Association has a resolution for the 2013 conference asking for Cross-bow use during the Archer season.

That doesn't mean that it will happen right away but in the past when AF&GA requested a change enough times, quite often the change came about eventually.

I think it would be an awesome addition to the season,, I currently don't own a crossbow but have been looking at them as an option. If they made them part of the bow season I definetly would get into it..

Nothing wrong with having an opinion on something weste..

Personely does it really matter what its clasified as,, if someone hunts with a crossbow while your hunting with a bow how is that going to affect you as a (bowhunter) in anyway.. Would it make it OK if they called it Bow/Crossbow season.. Not being condesending but just wondering why increasing hunting opurtunities is a bad thing

Come on Justin,,, no skill required to use one,, are they easier than a gun ?? any weapon used effectivly requires skill.. The skill level depends on the indavidual and how far he chooses to take it. I know quite a few guys that call themselves bow hunters that are at a skill level of a 10 year old kid,, or less.. Just because you have a tool in your hand doesn't make you skillfull with it. Again I ask,, how does it effect you in anyway having someone down the road hunting in a matter that suits them,, how does someone else's hunting preferance effect you. Lazy has nothing to do with anything,, as long as a person it out there and doing it (hunting) how does that make them lazy ?? Even with a crossbow they have to get into range,, takes a lot more patients than shooting from 600yrds..

Lets not draw lines in the sand when it comes to our sport,, live and let live.. Bow, rifle, crossbow, handgun whats it all matter, you hunt the way you want to let the next guy do his thing..

 Again I ask how does the next guys preferance effect you in any way ??

Yes I could see that being an issue for some..

Now I ask this,, how do they determine tag alotment. In a said zone where lets say they have 100 draws set for the year are there 50 tags for archery and 50 for rifle. I beleive I have read that there is a certain percentage figured in for non harvest. Now if that percentage rate drops on the archery side why could they not just transfer a certain amount from the rifle side. Or split it into 3 harvest times by sneaking in a couple weeks from both sides for a primitive weapons season. Or has these been discussed with the AFGA and decided not to pursue it..

Sorry if this is old news to some but to a lot of people but there are some of us that are out of the loop on these issues.

By the looks of it in the end no one wants to give in.. Personely I think a proper compramise would be the answer. Bowhunters may have to give up a few tags in order to acomadate those that choose to hunt another way or the rifle boys may have to give over a few,, thats life..

Personely it makes no differance to me in anyway they choose. I will just adjust as it needs to be adjusted..

I think that we need to make a province wide primitive weapon season in between the two.  Then put it on a different draw than the rest.  So we will have three different draw codes for elk moose and muledeer. And wt will stay general with same dates.  Sheep, goats and bears should stay as is for weapons. Use what ever floats your boat.

I think this would be the ultimate resolve to this. A certain percentage of tags would be taken form both sides to accomadate.. Anyone that enjoys the hunt will just adjust and enjoy,, I don't see the big deal in it..

The sheep and goat thing I do not follow at all so I won't even attempt that one Justin,, I'll leave that for you boys that actualy have some knowledge on the subject..

I don't follow what you guys are talking about with "bow draws" and "Rifle draws".  Antelope is the only draw specific to bows (Archery Antelope Special Licence).

There are draws for moose, elk and mule deer that are just draws that anyone puts in for and if you get drawn you can hunt with a bow in the Archery season and with your rifle of bow or cross bow or muzzleloader in the general season.

There are changes coming in deerman  that are going to see mule deer put on a draw system as well for the archery season.

From what I have heard the changes that MAY be coming are that archery hunters may no longer be allowed to just buy a general tag and go out and use it in the archery only season as they could in some areas in the past.

That only means that all hunters will now have to hold a special draw licence to hunt an animal no matter what their weapon or season.

A bow hunter may have to hold a special licence not a special bow licence.

Hunters applying for a draw bow or rifle licence is just conjecture as far as I have heard.


I have hunted with a bow, with a rifle, with a muzzle loader, with a shotgun and slugs and with a handgun.  Never yet with a cross-bow. 

Our Fish and Game Association put forward the resolution to remove cross-bows from the list of "Prohibited items" in the wildlife regulations.  It past at conference and shortly there after Fish & Wildlife made the change and allowed cross-bows for hunting.