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Other Hunting => Turkey Hunting => Topic started by: emac on April 03, 2013, 04:25:25 PM


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Title: scope legal on crossbow
Post by: emac on April 03, 2013, 04:25:25 PM
Just wondering if anybody knows if you can use a scope on a crossbow during turkey season. I know they aren't legal during big game seasons, but didn't know about turkey season.  And yes I do have a crossbow permit for washington state.
Title: Re: scope legal on crossbow
Post by: bobcat on April 03, 2013, 04:30:34 PM
It's not a special archery only season, so a scope would be legal.
Title: Re: scope legal on crossbow
Post by: smdave on April 03, 2013, 04:53:20 PM
I know this is not what you asked, but I thought I had read you can only use a crossbow in a firearm restricted area.

Just throwing it out to further your discussion on the use of crossbows.
Title: Re: scope legal on crossbow
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on April 03, 2013, 04:56:31 PM
He says he has a special use permit, so he is good to go with a crossbow just like any other archer.
Title: Re: scope legal on crossbow
Post by: smdave on April 03, 2013, 04:57:52 PM
He says he has a special use permit, so he is good to go with a crossbow just like any other archer.

I even read it more then once but still did not see that.  :o oops.
Title: Re: scope legal on crossbow
Post by: Bob33 on April 03, 2013, 05:07:13 PM
That is an interesting question. A crossbow would not be legal without a permit.
Title: Re: scope legal on crossbow
Post by: teanawayslayer on April 03, 2013, 05:29:00 PM
Just wondering if anybody knows if you can use a scope on a crossbow during turkey season. I know they aren't legal during big game seasons, but didn't know about turkey season.  And yes I do have a crossbow permit for washington state.
hmmm. Wouldn't you have to be handicaped to use a crossbow? :chuckle:
Title: Re: scope legal on crossbow
Post by: emac on April 03, 2013, 06:07:37 PM

[/quote]hmmm. Wouldn't you have to be handicaped to use a crossbow? :chuckle:
[/quote]

Yes you would or have a disability th that is why i am able to use one.
thanks bobcat
Title: Re: scope legal on crossbow
Post by: NoImpactNoIdea on April 03, 2013, 06:23:02 PM
Lets see a picture of this crossbow!
Title: Re: scope legal on crossbow
Post by: teanawayslayer on April 03, 2013, 07:25:31 PM
I've got a horse you can ride and shoot your crossbow from. With a scope of course :llam:
Title: Re: scope legal on crossbow
Post by: cmiller85 on April 03, 2013, 10:49:26 PM
That is an interesting question. A crossbow would not be legal without a permit.

Or one can be used in a firearm restricted area if you have a modern firearm tag as I understand it. Of course it makes zero sense that you cannot use a crossbow in a non firearm restricted area also, but this is just one of the many things that WDFW has done that just seems stupid to me.
Title: Re: scope legal on crossbow
Post by: bobcat on April 03, 2013, 10:52:02 PM
That is an interesting question. A crossbow would not be legal without a permit.

Or one can be used in a firearm restricted area if you have a modern firearm tag as I understand it. Of course it makes zero sense that you cannot use a crossbow in a non firearm restricted area also, but this is just one of the many things that WDFW has done that just seems stupid to me.

 :yeah:    A crossbow should be legal to use anytime a firearm is legal to use.
Title: Re: scope legal on crossbow
Post by: Bob33 on April 03, 2013, 10:54:30 PM
That is an interesting question. A crossbow would not be legal without a permit.

Or one can be used in a firearm restricted area if you have a modern firearm tag as I understand it. Of course it makes zero sense that you cannot use a crossbow in a non firearm restricted area also, but this is just one of the many things that WDFW has done that just seems stupid to me.

 :yeah:    A crossbow should be legal to use anytime a firearm is legal to use.
All firearms are not legal for turkeys; only shotguns.
Title: Re: scope legal on crossbow
Post by: emac on April 03, 2013, 10:57:45 PM
I order it last week and it should be here on saturday i will try and get a picture up when i get it
Title: Re: scope legal on crossbow
Post by: bobcat on April 03, 2013, 11:05:47 PM
That is an interesting question. A crossbow would not be legal without a permit.

Or one can be used in a firearm restricted area if you have a modern firearm tag as I understand it. Of course it makes zero sense that you cannot use a crossbow in a non firearm restricted area also, but this is just one of the many things that WDFW has done that just seems stupid to me.

 :yeah:    A crossbow should be legal to use anytime a firearm is legal to use.
All firearms are not legal for turkeys; only shotguns.

I don't think anyone said anything but a shotgun (or bow) was legal for turkeys. cmiller85 was expanding the discussion just a bit, I believe. He was saying that with a modern firearm deer or elk tag you could hunt with a crossbow in a firearm restricted area. And, that it didn't make sense that they were only legal in the firearm restriction areas.

I agree. We can use archery or muzzleloader equipment during modern firearm season. Why not a crossbow? Maybe you are hunting a developed area with a lot of houses nearby and you don't want the noise of a firearm or the possibility of a bullet going too far. A crossbow would be a great option.

I'd also say they should be legal for turkeys. Shotguns and bows are legal for turkeys, why not crossbows?
Title: Re: scope legal on crossbow
Post by: Bob33 on April 03, 2013, 11:10:58 PM
My replies have only been in response to the OP's question, which was specific to turkeys.

Big game is a different discussion.

Why not crossbows for turkey? Because they increase the effective killing area by 400%. A shotgun with #4 shot is good to about 50 yards; a modern crossbow can easily kill a turkey at 100 yards.
Title: Re: scope legal on crossbow
Post by: bobcat on April 03, 2013, 11:13:54 PM
My replies have only been in response to the OP's question, which was specific to turkeys.

Big game is a different discussion.

Why not crossbows for turkey? Because they increase the effective killing area by 400%. A shotgun with #4 shot is good to about 50 yards; a modern crossbow can easily kill a turkey at 100 yards.

Oh ok, I can see that. I didn't realize they could take a turkey out to 100 yards. I figured they'd have about the same range as a shotgun.
Title: Re: scope legal on crossbow
Post by: Bob33 on April 03, 2013, 11:15:22 PM
My replies have only been in response to the OP's question, which was specific to turkeys.

Big game is a different discussion.

Why not crossbows for turkey? Because they increase the effective killing area by 400%. A shotgun with #4 shot is good to about 50 yards; a modern crossbow can easily kill a turkey at 100 yards.

Oh ok, I can see that. I didn't realize they could take a turkey out to 100 yards. I figured they'd have about the same range as a shotgun.
I've read reports of sub 2" groups at 100 yards with some of the newer models. :yike:
Title: Re: scope legal on crossbow
Post by: emac on April 10, 2013, 02:14:32 PM
I emailed the the wdfw to see if scopes were legal for turkey hunting and if iluminocks were going to pass.  The response I got was this "no scopes for this year in all animal categories.  We hope to have the rule changed by next year. Yes the nocks will be a go for this fall season."  So I guess i got good news on one of the two. 
Title: Re: scope legal on crossbow
Post by: Bob33 on April 10, 2013, 02:37:38 PM
I emailed the the wdfw to see if scopes were legal for turkey hunting and if iluminocks were going to pass.  The response I got was this "no scopes for this year in all animal categories.  We hope to have the rule changed by next year. Yes the nocks will be a go for this fall season."  So I guess i got good news on one of the two.
Depending on how you asked the question, the answer may not be correct. Scopes are already legal in crossbows in modern firearm seasons.
Title: Re: scope legal on crossbow
Post by: emac on April 11, 2013, 05:43:05 AM
I emailed the the wdfw to see if scopes were legal for turkey hunting and if iluminocks were going to pass.  The response I got was this "no scopes for this year in all animal categories.  We hope to have the rule changed by next year. Yes the nocks will be a go for this fall season."  So I guess i got good news on one of the two.
Depending on how you asked the question, the answer may not be correct. Scopes are already legal in crossbows in modern firearm seasons.

I specificly asked about turkey hunting.
Title: Re: scope legal on crossbow
Post by: Bob33 on April 11, 2013, 06:18:17 AM
There is no RCW that addresses the use of scopes on crossbows for hunters with disabilities.
Title: Re: scope legal on crossbow
Post by: smdave on April 11, 2013, 09:09:08 AM
There is no RCW that addresses the use of scopes on crossbows for hunters with disabilities.

But there is a WAC

Scopes
(WAC 232-12-828) Scopes are allowed on Crossbows and Muzzleloaders for persons who are visually impaired. “Visually impaired” means central visual acuity that does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with corrective lenses, or the widest diameter of the visual field is no greater than twenty degrees.

Title: Re: scope legal on crossbow
Post by: bobcat on April 11, 2013, 09:15:51 AM
He has a disability which is why he is able to use a crossbow for turkeys, but I don't believe he has said he also is "visually impaired."

I would go ahead and use the scope on your crossbow. As Bob33 said, there is no law that says you can't.
Title: Re: scope legal on crossbow
Post by: smdave on April 11, 2013, 09:23:58 AM
WAC 232-12-054
Archery requirements — Archery special use permits.

  (e) It is unlawful to hunt wildlife with a crossbow during an archery season. However, disabled hunter permittees in possession of a crossbow special use permit may hunt with a crossbow in any season that allows archery equipment.

  (i) It is unlawful to hunt wildlife with any bow equipped with a scope. However, hunters with disabilities who meet the definition of being visually impaired in WAC 232-12-828 may receive a special use permit that would allow the use of scopes or other visual aids.

Is it ok during modern firearms season?
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