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West Virginia prepares for inaugural crossbow hunting season

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A high number of hunters in West Virginia are expected to try something new this fall. The opening day of fall archery hunting season in West Virginia will mark the first time all hunters will be cleared to legally hunt in the state with a crossbow.  Legislation approved by the House and Senate during this year’s legislative session laid the ground work and the Natural Resources Commission chose to fold crossbows into the regular archery season.

“That was actually a little surprising to us,” said John Holstein, Executive Director of the newly created West Virginia Crossbow Hunters’ Association.”The origin of the bill had called for a specific crossbow season.”

The only change will be the crossbows will not be allowed for hunting in the archery only counties of Wyoming, Mingo, McDowell, and Logan Counties unless the hunter has a Class Q handicapped hunting permit.

“I don’t think it’s unreasonable,”Holstein said. “It’s understandable folks have reservations about that and I don’t see us as an organization going against that in the future.”

The association as a group has gained momentum as the first season approaches.  He expected a lot more membership as interest in the devices gained in popularity.

“We recently visited a large outdoor retailer and spoke with folks in the archery department,” he said. “They told us there has been a 600 percent increase in the sale of crossbows as compared to this time last year.  I think that’s a trend we’re going to see all across the state.”

The 6 to1 sales ratio of crossbows to traditional bows isn’t all that surprising since it’s a new kind of hunting.  Many will have to learn how to safely use one. The biggest part of West Virginia hunters have never held one in their hands.

“Drawing the cross bow back there are some limitations there and there are some technical considerations about whether you can draw it back,”said Holstein. “Some people can draw it back by themselves others will need some kind of mechanical assist.  There are of course with any type of hunting implement cautions you must be aware of and different types of dangers whether it be with guns, bows, or crossbows.”

Holstein said his organization continues to post information to their website and there is plenty more about crossbow safety online. Hunter Education instructors are also being briefed on what they should incorporate into their classes about the devices.  Since they are just getting started Holstein said they had hoped to have an open event to enable hunters to try crossbows on a 3-d range ahead of the season. He said that won’t happen this year, but he hopes to organize field days in the future to give hunters an opportunity to try them out.

The effort to legalize cross bows in West Virginia wasn’t a new concept. For many years the push on the legislature was resisted, but Holstein said it was an idea which was finally realized with education.

“The education of the legislature and the general hunting public has come a long way over the years,” he said. “I think many just realized the time has come and more and more states are coming on board with this.”





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