>1) Wal-Mart, Dicks, Cabelas, Bass Pro >and the like have killed >more archery stores than the >crossbow ever could. You
>assert that crossbow hunters need >less tackle. Still, they
>need tackle. It's going >to be bought somewhere. Mostly
>it will be bought from >the efficient sellers. Is >the purpose of setting a >hunting season to keep mom >and pop retaillers in business? > If you have a >beef with factors that put >archery shops out of business, >look to big-box retaillers and >mail order. Clearly, this >is a red herring. >Where do you get your >30% number for archery store >failure and how can you >directly link it to crossbows >as opposed to other economic >factors (competition, mismanagement, macro economic
>changes and such)? Your >number can simply not be >supported by any discernable fact.

I got the number from a source in Fish and Wildlife. I will not expose that person since doing so might get him fired.
As for the assertion that Dick's and Walmart and Bass Pro have closed more stores.. NOT IN KENTUCKY.. NOT IN LOUISVILLE. As for the reason for setting a hunting season it is to do several things.. #1 to manage the herd.. #2 To provide recreation, and food to the hunters who pay the bills, #3 Economic Development.
This includes OPENING and sustaining businesses like Hotels, Motels, Department stores, Call makers and YES the Mom and Pop Archery Stores. How do I link it? Simple the statistics came from states with Crossbow as Archery. Can I PROVE that it is the only reason.. NO! but it is rather coincidental that it has occurred ONLY in states with Crossbow as Archery? Crossbow hunters do not need less tackle.. they need less to hunt with like accessories. Tackle is for fishing.. they do not need gloves, new pins for sites, balancers and arrows fletched or cut. Yes they need strings and rail lube.. that is about it. Oh and broadheads.. No silencers, no whisker biskets, none of the extras for a crossbow you need for bows..
Dick's, Cabela's and the Big Boxes do not offer shooting lanes or several services that many archery stores offer. I know Dick's and Cabela's do not offer fletching.. they do cut arrows or at least Galyans did.. before it was Dick's
>
>
>2) You have stated that crossbow >hunters take the largest numbers >of bucks in Ohio. >Is that an absolute number
>or a proportionate number? >Were they trophy bucks?
>Are the crossbow hunters more >skilled than other disciplines so >that they can take more >bucks? By your own
>admission the Ohio statistics are >strange.

The numbers I got from Ohio were that the Crossbow is the major weapon for the taking of Bucks in Ohio. PERIOD.. Absolute?? Not gonna answer that cause it makes no sense. Nothing Strange about OHIO.. ONLY YOUR PRESENTATION is strange I said. One day you show Kentucky AHEAD of Ohio and the next you selectively leave OUT the numbers and show ONLY Ohio stats. I did not say Ohio's stats were strange! YOU are strange and the way YOU bring up the stats are strange.. and apparently the only stats that are relevant are the stats YOU decide are the ones we should look at.
>
>3) Rush to set up a >season? So that crossbow
>hunters can get a few >crumbs swept from the table
>and face this battle each >year? The OFFICIAL line
>from the KDFWR is that >the flock/herd can easily sustain
>the pressure from crossbow hunting...the >grumblings of the disgruntled employee >notwithstanding.

Rush? A few Crumbs?
The OFFICIAL line is suspect when commissioners threaten state organizations and individuals with retaliation for disagreeing with them. Are they doing the same thing to the people who are saying that the resource can handle the pressure? If a biologist agreed with the people who say 130+ days are too many to start off with would he still have a job?
What disgruntled employee are you speaking of?
Rush? Yeah when it is brought up in the last month before NEW hunting regs must go to the LRC.. and when the issue is disguised as a Crossbow Survey DISCUSSION.
YOU made the dumb statement "Do it and see what happens.. change it if it hurts the herd" (I am paraphrasing here..)
And like I said.. when was the last time any season was taken BACK once it had been approved. How much damage to the herd is acceptable to you if you are wrong???
>
>4) What purpose would it serve >for the commission to pass
>a regulation that would hurt >the resource or the economics
>of hunting? The previously >floated argument that some had
>a financial interest has been >widely disproven. Are they
>stupid? Do they want >to ruin hunting? Remember >they were elected by you >and me and selected by >the governor. You and
>I had a say in >who they are.

What purpose? How about selfishness and arrogance. How about a totally different agenda than that of the majority of hunters?
Almost everyone has agreed that the changes to the Turkey Season were ill concieved but they were pushed through by the same group of commissioners. Even Art Lander agreed that the change in dates for Turkey Season was wrong.. but they made the change any way over the objections of the NWTF and some biologists. What would it serve..?? I have no clue.. ask the commission. HOWEVER.. the HISTORY OF THE KYDFWR is one of conservative growth and change in laws. I sincerely believe that if the Man (and here I feel very bad I can not remember his name) who Fathered the Turkey Restoration were still alive he would have had a fit over this new regulation and the way it was passed favoring Crossbows.
Why do Crossbows get so much of the season?
Why not enlarge the gun season?
Why not longer Black Powder?
My answer would be ... More Buck Pressure. The IN KENTUCKY STATS prove my point and you NEVER answer that.... so screw the OHIO Stats.. tell me about Kentucky and the admissions by KYDFWR that Gun Guys will be the major increase initially in Crossbow users? How about the FACT that Gun HUNTERS kill the ABSOLUTE majority of Bucks in this state and Archers take the does? This stat in and by itself indicates that going to a full 130+ days for Crossbow is NOT a good idea. We got it right this year.. why would you want to screw with that..and if it was right what is the hurry to add so many days for Crossbow?WHY do it all at once? Why not phase it in and see what the results and pressures are to the herd..
Selfishness on the part of people who WANT the crossbow.. is the answer. NOT consideration of the herd OR the Budget of the Department is on your mind. OH and the budget was THE reason given to us for doing this.. Increasing permit sales and taxes..
Both of these were RED HERRINGs.
>
>The fact of the matter, Jim, >is that your arguments, no
>matter how often stated do >not hold any water. >In fact, the only reason >that I bother to keep >posting is not to change
>your mind but to keep >the new reader informed about
>the differences in how you >see things and how I
>see things. It's a >battle for the minds of >the public. One would >hope that reason will prevail.
> That's a scary proposition, being that a relatively loud
>but small group got this >thing derailed for 2005.
>What do you want to >bet crossbow season is a
>go for 2006?

I am holding a bucket and it is NOT leaking. Your the one holding a seive. You are not going to keep any one informed by positing the absolute NONSENSE that you have already. YOUR OWN arguments are the best reason NOT to increase Crossbow to a full 130+ days.
ONE MORE TIME.. This is NOT a loud but small group. The meeting at Fish and Wildlife showed that it is a large, vocal and intelligent group that is ready to fight the small group YOU yourself represent... YOU are the only person coming here because YOU are ALONE. Most posts have been in support of my position..
LOUD but small?? IN your dreams only. Keep lying, Terry. Eventually the lie becomes the truth is you push it long enough.. "Who said that any way" I am sure you would know?
The only way this will pass as it was proposed in 2005 is for the commission to AGAIN vote it in in SECRET!

Jim Dicken
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