Confused about the urban deer rule for crossbows

Probably the same stupid reason you can't shoot carp or other undesirable/invasive fish with a crossbow in Indiana but can take them with almost any other means. Apparently the anti-crossbow movement was strong enough in Indiana at the time the legislation was passed to legislate them out of the picture.

Hopefully the increasing popularity and economic impact of crossbow users will change this .. but I wouldn't hold your breath after talking to a few folks. It's not real high on their priority list.

First off let me apologize for missing your post. Sorry.

This does not pertain just to the Urban Deer Zones. It is statewide.

The answer is:

Back a few years ago the IDNR proposed to the NRC that non-handicapped crossbowers could take an antlered deer during the late archery season. that was great. Finally treating crossbow hunters as equals.

One of the reasons givin, although it is not the main reason, was that since a deer hunter could only take one buck under the OBR trial what difference did it make which hunting tool he used?

After the preliminary hearing the IBA and the IDHA met with John Goss, who was the DNR director at that time, and pleaded that people were confused that this was tied in with the OBR trial so not a whole lot of folks spoke out against it.

I was assured at that time that it was not tied in any way to the OBR.

John Goss relented and had the proposal modified to have the late season crossbow buck sunset at the same time as the OBR.
I pleaded the crossbower's case at the final adoption meeting, but it fell on deaf ears. Glen Lange at that time said it was a "trial".

Therefore if it is not adopted fully the late season crossbow buck for non-handicapped deer hunters will sunset on August 31, 2007. The same date as the OBR is it was not renewed.

A non-handicapped crossbower can take an anterled deer statewide IF he/she has not filled his/her buck tag in a previous season.

Now, if we want to keep that we need to contact the DNR and the NRC to let them know. You may bet your first born that I will do just that.

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