cross bow should be legal during archery season. 



I would like to see a Primative Weapon's (Black Powder) season 2- 

 4 weeks after general rifle season. My thoughts are that it 

 could commence after the holidays in those areas where the big 

 game harvest was not sufficient for population control vs feed. 



I would not like to see x-bow, muzzle, or choice of Bow or Rifle 

 hunting in Montana I If the 2 week post season hunt is being 

 considered at all, I am strongly all for it . This would be a 

 great advantage to the Bow hunter as the rut sometimes begins 

 then; (at least the Bugling where I hunt) 



In my opinion, the archery season should be turned to a primitive 

 weapons season enabling the use of bows & black powder guns. The 

 season should be arranged to have snow present for tracking. 



I believe that use of cross bow could reduce the wounding rate by 

 providing a more accurate tool. Under the best of conditions a 

 long bow in a hunting situation can cause wounded & lost animals. 

 I've heard of people wounding and losing 2 to 3 bull elk in one 

 season. 



1) I think most of us do not take vacations to bowhunt. We hunt 

 near home on weekends & evenings - Need long seasons . 



2) The best way to eliminate the opportunist bowhunter is to not 

 allow the compound bow for hunting. 



3) I expect that you will find that over 80% of bowhunters also 

 rifle hunt. In other words, bowhunters are not separate people, 

 bowhun ting is just an added activity. Do not interchange the 

 words . 



4) The crossbow should not be allowed as a hunting weapon because 

 of tradition - historically it was mainly a European military 

 weapon . 



It should also not be allowed because it is an effective weapon. 

 That logic would also apply to machine guns. 

 These points apply to general season use as well. 



I am not against crossbows, however they should be placed with 

 muzzle loader or handguns. I think the people who enjoy these 

 weapons should be allowed a season. My biggest concern for 

 hunting in Montana, is hunting access to public land. State, ELM, 

 National Forest. I fail to see the reason for a bow hunting 

 needing to pay more for a hunting license than a rifle hunter. 

 Do we enjoy it more? I would be happy to discuss in greater 

 detail many of the questions addressed. 



AGAIN: I would like to see a primative hunting law passed saying 

 you can use either Modern rifles or primative weapons (Bows & 

 ZJJjltlock rifles {Flintlock only} Then I will go along with the 

 hunting only during one season. 



11 



