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Button Buck
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/8/2010 1:45:47 PM
Posts: 19,
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Just got this e-mail,and am passing it along,I called everyone on this list to oppose this bill - They are voting on it Monday!!!
May 1, 2009
TO: Pope & Young Club Members in Texas
FROM: Kevin Hisey, Executive Secretary
SUBJECT: Urgent Crossbow Threat in Texas
*** URGENT CALL TO ACTION ***
Dear Member,
The Texas State Legislature is currently in session. There exists pending legislation (SD 968) that would, in affect, change the legal, statute definition of archery equipment to include crossbows, and thereby, allow their use in the bowhunting-only season and bowhunting-only areas. Your quick, timely, grassroots effort will go a long way to curbing this urgent threat to Texas’ bowhunting-only seasons and bowhunting’s well-earned heritage.
Bowhunting needs your help! Please take just a few minutes of your time today to help preserve Texas’ bowhunting heritage!
CALL AND EMAIL THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE to voice your opposition to this radical change in the longstanding, successful and accepted definition of archery equipment in Texas statute. The five members of this committee, and their contact information are listed below.
ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.
PLEASE ACT IMMEDIATELY (the bill has just been assigned to this committee and a hearing/vote is now scheduled for Monday, May 4th)
The Pope and Young Club and the Lone Star Bowhunters Association, as well as 66 state/provincial level bowhunting organizations in North America, are ALL opposed to the use of crossbows in archery-only seasons by able-bodied persons. The bowhunters of Texas are not asking for this radical change. This is driven by the crossbow industry and is purely about MONEY and CROSSBOW SALES.
Such a change would flood your archery season with thousands of firearms hunters seeking an easy way to get in the woods earlier and with a longer season. Imagine
200,000 new, so-called “bowhunters” in the woods during “bow season!” It will do nothing for recruiting new hunters.
Perspective
· Crossbow legislation has come up repeatedly in the past. But this year is different. The crossbow industry is making an all-out push, and, unless we each do something about it, they are going to get it done this year. House Bill 968 was introduced, voted on, and passed by a vote of 167 to 1. That is scary!
· “They” want all-inclusive use of the crossbow throughout archery season. This is evident by the testimony presented in support of the bill by a number of crossbow industry surrogates. And they are close to getting what they want.
CALL TO ACTION
Please make a phone call (if possible, also send a brief email) to each State Senator on the Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee. It is important to do both. A phone call will have the most immediate impact.
Emails and brief letters are a very effective form of expressing your opinions to your legislators. They do not need to be detailed or lengthy. Just express your strong objection to this attempt to radically compromise (and legitimately destroy) Texas’ rich bowhunting heritage. Remind them that:
· Texas statute and the entire history of archery seasons in Texas—a tremendous success story worthy of protecting—has NEVER considered a crossbow to be acceptable during the archery season.
· Bowhunters are not asking for this radical deviation. Firearms hunters are not even asking for it. It is solely about crossbow manufacturers and their desire to have the Texas Legislature create a market for them (jeopardizing a successful hunting heritage)…asking the Senate to betray the public trust doctrine in order for them to profit from the people’s wildlife.
· No evidence exists that proves blanket legalization of the crossbow in archery-only season will increase hunter recruitment, as is being claimed.
· No evidence exists that proves blanket legalization of the crossbow in archery-only season will aid in hunter retention, as is being claimed.
· No evidence exists that proves blanket legalization of the crossbow in archery-only season will increase the overall hunter harvest, as is being claimed.
· Your senators are being sold a false bill of goods!
· The arguments being made in favor of this bill are the same arguments that would be made to get shotguns or 30-06s included in archery season. They are functionally one step away from eliminating the archery season, altogether, and replacing it with a general hunting season.
Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee
Position
Member
Chair:
Sen. Craig Estes
Vice Chair:
Sen. Carlos Uresti
Members:
Sen. Glenn Hegar
Sen. Juan Hinojosa
Sen. Mike Jackson
Sen Craig Estes
Capitol Address:
P.O. Box 12068, Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0130
District Address:
2716 Commerce St., Suite 101
Wichita Falls, TX 76301
District Phone: (940) 689-0191
Sen Carlos Uresti
Capitol Address:
P.O. Box 12068, Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0119
District Address:
2530 SW Military Drive, Suite 103
San Antonio, TX 78224
District Phone: (210) 932-2568
Sen Glenn Hegar
Capitol Address:
P.O. Box 12068, Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0118
District Address:
P.O. Box 1008
Katy, TX 77492
District Phone: (281) 391-8883
Sen Juan Hinojosa
Capitol Address:
P.O. Box 12068, Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0120
District Address:
612 Nolana, Suite 410 B
McAllen, TX 78504
District Phone: (956) 972-1841
Sen Mike Jackson
Capitol Address:
P.O. Box 12068, Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0111
District Address:
1109 Fairmont Parkway
Pasadena, TX 77504
District Phone: (713) 948-0111
Thank you for your time and efforts. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our offices (507-867-4144, admin@pope-young.org). For more information and details, you can also contact the Lone Star Bowhunters Association.
-----------------------------------------------
Kevin Hisey
Executive Secretary
Pope and Young Club
PO Box 548
Chatfield, MN 55923
(507) 867-4144
kevin@pope-young.org
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Marksman
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/20/2009 11:13:56 AM
Posts: 757,
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So, how did your vote go?
I really hope it didn't pass as I just don't understand the THREAT you see with someone using a crossBOW during an open season for archery. Lucky you, here in Maine a crossBOW can only be used during firearms season for deer! I still can't get my head around THAT!
The only logical reason for not allowing anyone out with a crossBOW during archery season is the direct competition for a spot on public land.
Personally, I believe we need to stop the pissin'&moanin' about what someone else does and focus on what WE can do to better the image of hunting & trapping.
MOSSY OAK PRO-STAFF
"Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you."
"I used to visit and contribute to this site EVERYDAY but it seems too much trouble & time to navigate."
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Button Buck
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 9/3/2009 6:09:24 PM
Posts: 1,
Visits: 0
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My view might offed but,I believe a crossbow offers no more advantage than a modern compound...besides this kind of stupid infighing between hunters only benfits those who would take all our righits away .
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