MBA Proposes Modified Archers Permit

The Montana Bowhunters Association’s pro-active proposal for the establishment of a Modified Archers Permit was accepted as a tentative item at the game commission’s Dec. 14 meeting. Being accepted as a tentative item means that it will now go out for public comment starting in early January and the final decision will be made by the commission at its February meeting.

The MBA submitted the Modified Archers Permit proposal as the result of strong membership support of the concept by way of a recent membership survey and after extensive consultation with the MDFWP and Access Montana Outdoors, a group representing disabled sportsmen. The proposal would create bowhunting opportunity by allowing those who are unable to draw and hold a legal hunting bow due to a permanent upper body disability, to use certain modified archery equipment such as a draw-lock device during the archery only season. It preserves the basic fundamental nature of bowhunting and current equipment restrictions. Furthermore, it establishes the testing criteria for certification of the disabled applicant based on performance to prevent abuse and insure enforcement, while at the same time takes measures to protect bowhunting from the use of crossbows.

There are increasing efforts by the crossbow manufacturers to get crossbows legalized in archery seasons throughout the country. Over the years Montana bowhunters have strongly voiced their opposition to crossbows being allowed in our bow seasons. The MBA’s Modified Archers Permit proposal is designed to assist disabled archers in finding alternative means of using conventional equipment, which in turn will serve to head off future initiatives to include crossbows in our archery seasons. Crossbow manufacturers have used the “sympathy tactic” in other state’s legislatures and game departments to get crossbows included in the archery season for disabled persons and then they attempt to expand it later to include all archers. Crossbows are currently legal to use in the general rifle season in Montana and the MBA strongly contends that that is where they should remain. Crossbows should not be allowed in Montana’s archery-only seasons under any conditions.

Stan Rauch, MBA Public Relations Director