If crossbows are allowed in the archery seasons and the number of bowhunters increases by 10,000 crossbows then this new group would now be some 26% of the total number of hunters. If government follows the equality system that most support then this group would now be allocated 26% of the harvest quotas. I wonder if accepting 10,000 crossbow hunters in the archery season but getting 16% more tags would be a bad deal for bowhunters. Bowhunters currently are allocated some 10% of the harvest but actually are 16% of the total hunters. Increasing their allowed tags would be increased opportunity.
It would mean that 16% of the rifle tags would be reduced but then according to 209 that would be fine because there would be less gun hunters applying for the 16% less general season tags.
Might mean a few more bowhunters and crossbows in those early seasons but then at least this new group will have more tags in their pool to apply for. Might not be a bad deal.
Who knows , maybe the next move is to carve out another 20% of the general season tags to make a muzzleloader system.
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