But you will kill a deer with a rifle You aren't a senior citizen yet.. why not hunt with your bow year round?
Then again, you shouldn't even use a compound. I mean, you have 80% let off, fiber optic sights, trigger release, stabilizer etc.. Must be like shooting fish in a barrel, right? You should only use a recurve all season long.
Seriously, a lot of people don't understand crossbows, so they bash them. They are jealous that other hunters are going to get more of "their" deer.
I understand crossbows very well. My father was a disabled vet who had no other choice but to use a crossbow for the last 20-25 years before he past away. I was always practicing with him and had shot his crossbow more times than I care to count. I still have his crossbow, and it shoots well. I don't have a problem with people using crossbows who physically CAN NOT draw a bow for whatever reason. I have a problem with people who CAN draw a bow, but choice to not take the time to practice and become proficient at it. I use my bow from Oct.1-Jan.15 every year with the occasional use of a firearm (usually when conditions are poor to use archery equip) during it's respective season. I don't have a problem at all with primitive and rifle seasons. The city boys need their chance to harvest deer as well!
I remember a time when primitive arms season was still somewhat primitive. And when In-Lines muzzleloaders became a legal means of taking deer.... the idiots (who knew nothing about hunting) came out of the woodwork. I'm just hoping the same doesn't hold true with this new crossbow usage as well!