Michigan BowHunter's Response to the proposed airbow legislation.
Honorable Representative,
Subject: Opposition of HB4080 of 2021
Michigan Bow Hunters Association (MBH) is an organization that represents various clubs that boasts membership of 20,000 people in both Peninsulas of Michigan. Our Mission is to Promote Archery Hunting and Education here in the great state of Michigan. We were formed in 1946 to participate as a “stakeholder” in conservation with the MDNR, a Michigan United Conservation Corps (MUCC) Member organization, and provide support to Michigan’s Natural Resource Commission.
In 2016 MBH sponsored and passed a MUCC resolution supporting “airbows” in firearm deer season. Since 2016, this bill has seen number of changes to help it pass through the legislature. Along the way these changes have given the bill legs.
MBH supports this weapon type as defined in the current statute—as a firearm. We also support its use in firearm seasons but do not support it as a weapon to be used as “archery,” as a “bow,” or during any bowhunting or Archery season.
We oppose the wording in the legislation in several areas that we will try to detail here. Attached are a few web-based videos and links to commercially available accessories designed to aid any hunter at any age, skill level or level of disability. We assume you understand firearms and how they differ in application. Please take the time to look at all the links. We apologize for the length of this position release.
First, Page 6 Lines 22-29 State:
“(2) The department may issue a permit to an individual with a disability or physical limitation to take game with a pneumatic gun during any open season in which a bow may be used for taking game if that individual submits a certification from a physician, physical therapist, occupational therapist, or other medical professional stating that after examination he or she has determined that due to a physical disability or limitation the individual is unable to hold, aim, and shoot a bow or crossbow.”
The main reason we oppose this legislation is the weapon is not needed to allow a person with mobility difficulties to hunt in any season. What makes this weapon easier to hold, aim or fire over a crossbow or rifle? This legislation adds another weapon to any season in which a firearm can be used, and any season in which a person with disabilities as stated above is “unable to hold, aim, and shoot a bow or crossbow” to hunt with this special weapon during “bow” season. Manufactures of hunting equipment provide quite a few options to hold and manage both a rifle/shotgun and crossbow as well as compound bows (YouTube Video). These devices are intended to hold the weapon steady until the game is within range or to a specific area. Rifles, shotguns, crossbows, and pistols can be attached to these stands. We have attached a link to “BOG DeathGrip Shooting Tripod” for your reference of just one weapon holding unit.
https://click.pstmrk.it/2s/ads.midwayusa.com%2Fproduct%2F1020678542/PTZa5x8N/yDpU/q-rMlNW0bT
This tripod enables the hunter to have their weapon placed on a steady rest, and the rest allows the weapon to swivel up/down and side to side to enable the hunter to put the target in their sights. Another company named “Be Adaptive Products” also provide a range of similar mechanisms designed to help people with limited use, including paraplegics that cannot hold a gun or crossbow in a shooting position. https://beadaptive.com/products/
In addition to holding a weapon, people with disabilities, the elderly, or young children may have a problem loading and cocking weapons. Another company, and a manufacturer of Crossbows, offers cocking devices: Ten Point Crossbows offers their ACUdraw cocking Device which among other features, reduces the cocking force down to 5 pounds; it is lightweight and is designed to directly attach to a Ten Point Crossbow. With these options and many more, the air gun is not needed, the crossbow or rifle can be easily used, and used within the current laws on the books. Summary: Michigan has complex hunting laws, but plenty of options for every hunter at any level of ability, and another specialty weapon is not necessary because there are many options currently available to fill a need.
Secondly, Page 7 Lines 1-2 state:
(The) “department shall develop and make available for use a certification form under this subsection.”
We have had a few conversations (prior to the COVID-19 pandemic) with law enforcement (Conservation Officers) on the use of weapons in the various hunting seasons. Currently in Michigan we have a complex set of rules for deer hunting. The rules vary by region and time of year. Deer hunters wishing to hunt with a firearm in the lower Peninsula have the following hunting times available: September early doe season (2 days), October Independence hunt (2 days), November Regular Rifle (16 days), December Muzzleloader (10 days), and December Late Doe (20 days in 2021). All seasons combined, one wishing to hunt with a firearm in 2021 can be afield 50 days. In Zone 3 (southern Michigan), a hunter can carry afield any of the following weapons during the Independence hunt: Compound Bow, Crossbow, Shotgun, Straight walled cartridge rifle, Pistol, and Muzzleloader. The basic question, then, is this: Who in the department has the knowledge to develop a form to be used by a physician to determine the individual’s ability to hold, aim, and shoot a weapon or bow—and in particular, this new weapon? Likely, given that they are only 10% of the hunting population, the medical professional (physician, physical therapist, etc.) will have little or no knowledge in the matter. Should we allow an air gun that propels a projectile for the use of a person with disabilities, how will law enforcement be able to determine if the person has the proper paperwork to carry the new weapon afield?—and how will they be able to determine if the person has the disability stated on a permit? Again, it seems unlikely that a Conservation Officer will have the knowledge needed to determine this because these professionals are law enforcement agents and not physical therapists or medical professionals. Above the statute states “certification form” provided by the department. I think you know that our conservation officers have enough to do without trying to decide on these two points. We feel the added weapon in the field will not be monitored/controlled as intended, giving fully able hunters the opportunity to use it. In Summary, this weapon cannot be separated from other unrestricted weapons used in deer hunting, and it will be difficult to oversee access and certification of an individual for the reasons we detail above. If the legislation allowed it to be used only in firearm seasons, the legislation would be less likely to be abused. Also, the number of people hunting with firearms vs pneumatic guns is overwhelming: Hunters with disabilities likely will choose a more efficient weapon anyway.
Lastly, an evaluation of Archery techniques or bows without stocks should be made. (YouTube)
Below are some archers using devices designed to be used for people with severe disabilities. The bows these people are using are commercially available at any pro-shop, big box store, or even online through Amazon. The point here is these people are using existing archery equipment to attain their goals. They did not need to buy anything special other than their shoulder release. They have worked hard to do what they do. These off-the-shelf bows and shoulder releases enable archers to compete and hunt right next to their friends and family without disabilities. We understand that there is no easy button in hunting; one must be where the game is and when the game is there. Many people choose bow hunting because of the challenge. We know that these three individuals (and thousands more) appreciate the challenges that hunting offers, and these people have embraced that challenge and made it happen for them by doing this within their abilities and current legislation. Please look at these three people working hard at their goals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWux678f6xE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0kyo2osLWI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoEb92erBYA
The innovation for each of these current technologies we outlined above should give the person with disabilities hope and challenge. Hunting is not all about “bringing home the bacon”; it is about the journey that the person takes to get to the goal. We can shortcut these journeys only to a certain degree using handling aids, trigger aids, and cocking aids, but that shortcut only levels the hunter up to a standard. These aids give him or her no additional leg up over their counterparts, but simply the technology to attain their goal. Another weapon is not the answer.
After reading this and looking at the attachments, please ask yourself the following:
“Does the airbow make hunting simpler for the Michigan DNR or for law enforcement?”
“Does this weapon enable the disabled or simply add more weaponry for all hunters?”
Respectfully submitted,
The Michigan BowHunter Association
Subject: Opposition of HB4080 of 2021
Michigan Bow Hunters Association (MBH) is an organization that represents various clubs that boasts membership of 20,000 people in both Peninsulas of Michigan. Our Mission is to Promote Archery Hunting and Education here in the great state of Michigan. We were formed in 1946 to participate as a “stakeholder” in conservation with the MDNR, a Michigan United Conservation Corps (MUCC) Member organization, and provide support to Michigan’s Natural Resource Commission.
In 2016 MBH sponsored and passed a MUCC resolution supporting “airbows” in firearm deer season. Since 2016, this bill has seen number of changes to help it pass through the legislature. Along the way these changes have given the bill legs.
MBH supports this weapon type as defined in the current statute—as a firearm. We also support its use in firearm seasons but do not support it as a weapon to be used as “archery,” as a “bow,” or during any bowhunting or Archery season.
We oppose the wording in the legislation in several areas that we will try to detail here. Attached are a few web-based videos and links to commercially available accessories designed to aid any hunter at any age, skill level or level of disability. We assume you understand firearms and how they differ in application. Please take the time to look at all the links. We apologize for the length of this position release.
First, Page 6 Lines 22-29 State:
“(2) The department may issue a permit to an individual with a disability or physical limitation to take game with a pneumatic gun during any open season in which a bow may be used for taking game if that individual submits a certification from a physician, physical therapist, occupational therapist, or other medical professional stating that after examination he or she has determined that due to a physical disability or limitation the individual is unable to hold, aim, and shoot a bow or crossbow.”
The main reason we oppose this legislation is the weapon is not needed to allow a person with mobility difficulties to hunt in any season. What makes this weapon easier to hold, aim or fire over a crossbow or rifle? This legislation adds another weapon to any season in which a firearm can be used, and any season in which a person with disabilities as stated above is “unable to hold, aim, and shoot a bow or crossbow” to hunt with this special weapon during “bow” season. Manufactures of hunting equipment provide quite a few options to hold and manage both a rifle/shotgun and crossbow as well as compound bows (YouTube Video). These devices are intended to hold the weapon steady until the game is within range or to a specific area. Rifles, shotguns, crossbows, and pistols can be attached to these stands. We have attached a link to “BOG DeathGrip Shooting Tripod” for your reference of just one weapon holding unit.
https://click.pstmrk.it/2s/ads.midwayusa.com%2Fproduct%2F1020678542/PTZa5x8N/yDpU/q-rMlNW0bT
This tripod enables the hunter to have their weapon placed on a steady rest, and the rest allows the weapon to swivel up/down and side to side to enable the hunter to put the target in their sights. Another company named “Be Adaptive Products” also provide a range of similar mechanisms designed to help people with limited use, including paraplegics that cannot hold a gun or crossbow in a shooting position. https://beadaptive.com/products/
In addition to holding a weapon, people with disabilities, the elderly, or young children may have a problem loading and cocking weapons. Another company, and a manufacturer of Crossbows, offers cocking devices: Ten Point Crossbows offers their ACUdraw cocking Device which among other features, reduces the cocking force down to 5 pounds; it is lightweight and is designed to directly attach to a Ten Point Crossbow. With these options and many more, the air gun is not needed, the crossbow or rifle can be easily used, and used within the current laws on the books. Summary: Michigan has complex hunting laws, but plenty of options for every hunter at any level of ability, and another specialty weapon is not necessary because there are many options currently available to fill a need.
Secondly, Page 7 Lines 1-2 state:
(The) “department shall develop and make available for use a certification form under this subsection.”
We have had a few conversations (prior to the COVID-19 pandemic) with law enforcement (Conservation Officers) on the use of weapons in the various hunting seasons. Currently in Michigan we have a complex set of rules for deer hunting. The rules vary by region and time of year. Deer hunters wishing to hunt with a firearm in the lower Peninsula have the following hunting times available: September early doe season (2 days), October Independence hunt (2 days), November Regular Rifle (16 days), December Muzzleloader (10 days), and December Late Doe (20 days in 2021). All seasons combined, one wishing to hunt with a firearm in 2021 can be afield 50 days. In Zone 3 (southern Michigan), a hunter can carry afield any of the following weapons during the Independence hunt: Compound Bow, Crossbow, Shotgun, Straight walled cartridge rifle, Pistol, and Muzzleloader. The basic question, then, is this: Who in the department has the knowledge to develop a form to be used by a physician to determine the individual’s ability to hold, aim, and shoot a weapon or bow—and in particular, this new weapon? Likely, given that they are only 10% of the hunting population, the medical professional (physician, physical therapist, etc.) will have little or no knowledge in the matter. Should we allow an air gun that propels a projectile for the use of a person with disabilities, how will law enforcement be able to determine if the person has the proper paperwork to carry the new weapon afield?—and how will they be able to determine if the person has the disability stated on a permit? Again, it seems unlikely that a Conservation Officer will have the knowledge needed to determine this because these professionals are law enforcement agents and not physical therapists or medical professionals. Above the statute states “certification form” provided by the department. I think you know that our conservation officers have enough to do without trying to decide on these two points. We feel the added weapon in the field will not be monitored/controlled as intended, giving fully able hunters the opportunity to use it. In Summary, this weapon cannot be separated from other unrestricted weapons used in deer hunting, and it will be difficult to oversee access and certification of an individual for the reasons we detail above. If the legislation allowed it to be used only in firearm seasons, the legislation would be less likely to be abused. Also, the number of people hunting with firearms vs pneumatic guns is overwhelming: Hunters with disabilities likely will choose a more efficient weapon anyway.
Lastly, an evaluation of Archery techniques or bows without stocks should be made. (YouTube)
Below are some archers using devices designed to be used for people with severe disabilities. The bows these people are using are commercially available at any pro-shop, big box store, or even online through Amazon. The point here is these people are using existing archery equipment to attain their goals. They did not need to buy anything special other than their shoulder release. They have worked hard to do what they do. These off-the-shelf bows and shoulder releases enable archers to compete and hunt right next to their friends and family without disabilities. We understand that there is no easy button in hunting; one must be where the game is and when the game is there. Many people choose bow hunting because of the challenge. We know that these three individuals (and thousands more) appreciate the challenges that hunting offers, and these people have embraced that challenge and made it happen for them by doing this within their abilities and current legislation. Please look at these three people working hard at their goals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWux678f6xE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0kyo2osLWI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoEb92erBYA
The innovation for each of these current technologies we outlined above should give the person with disabilities hope and challenge. Hunting is not all about “bringing home the bacon”; it is about the journey that the person takes to get to the goal. We can shortcut these journeys only to a certain degree using handling aids, trigger aids, and cocking aids, but that shortcut only levels the hunter up to a standard. These aids give him or her no additional leg up over their counterparts, but simply the technology to attain their goal. Another weapon is not the answer.
After reading this and looking at the attachments, please ask yourself the following:
“Does the airbow make hunting simpler for the Michigan DNR or for law enforcement?”
“Does this weapon enable the disabled or simply add more weaponry for all hunters?”
Respectfully submitted,
The Michigan BowHunter Association