A call for the crossbow

Last year I was afflicted with Lyme. I became stiff, fatigued, my mind felt a little slow and foggy, and I lost 1/3 of my strength. Although it did not stop me from successfully hunting, it did change my life. I had to have my compound bow draw lowered from 70 # [pounds] to 48 #, and it was still difficult to pull back. If I continued to practice with my bow daily I had to learn to live with shoulder and neck pain daily. I started using my crossbow regularly with no pain, and I can consistently make an accurate 50-yard shot and started practicing out to 75 yards with great results. I shot my first deer with the crossbow this November. Good, clean, ethical shot that did more damage than my rifle. The deer did not go far before it dropped, making recovery easy. Considering all the negativity in the media about guns, the crossbow is a great way to bring young people into hunting. The crossbow is easy to use and accurate for a ethical kill. I know NY should take the crossbow off our muzzleloader license and add the crossbow to the archery license. Also, I am all for extending or adding a specific compound or primitive bow season —maybe then the bow hunters in NY will campaign to have crossbows usable October 1.

I am also sending this to the DEC and my local reps to Albany. 

John “JP” Pasquale

Livingston Manor, NY