By John Gibbons
Capital West News
SALT LAKE CITY—Crossbows will be an option for hunters seeking over-the-counter Elk tags in the state of Utah next year, according to Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, who is the sponsor of Crossbow Hunting Provisions.
“The DNR and I agreed on a compromise that they would only put crossbows as an option for the over -the-counter elk tags next year, try it out for a year, and see how it goes from there.”
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Jenkins said that although the crossbow is not a traditional archery weapon, it has had great success elsewhere in the country. “Generally the East is okay with them and West is not, with the exception of Wyoming. Wyoming no longer differentiates between crossbows and bows,” he said, maintaining that statistically they are no different. Indeed, the North American Crossbow Federation has published literature to that effect, showing that crossbows of related width and draw-weight fire at distances similar to their cousin bows.
When asked why this bill is being considered, Jenkins replied, “I’m old and I realized a crossbow would be doable for my back. I thought, I could get an exemption because of that and be able to use a crossbow, but I got talking with some friends of mine in Vernal and I just thought we could change this regulation.”
