Disabled Archers

NABC Organizational Reps,

With the continued thrust to inject crossbows into bowhunting seasons, the NABC steering committee
feels that it is appropriate to further address the issue as it relates to crossbows and the physically
challenged. In our To Whom It May Concern letter/statement (attached) we intentionally did not include
the disabled aspect at that time because the intent of the TWIMC letter was to solely address the
crossbow from an equipment standpoint and how it is not a bow and thus should not be permitted in
bow seasons or archery only areas.

The press release from the April 17-18 National Bowhunting Summit states in part:

“The organizational representatives at the Bowhunting Summit were unanimous in their opposition
to crossbows being allowed in bow seasons. The position taken is that crossbows are not bows and
therefore they should not be allowed in bowhunting only seasons, except where the states already
have exemptions for qualified physical disabilities.”

The above position has not changed at all – the NABC will not stand in the way of present laws/
regulations that allow disabled archers the use of crossbows in archery seasons. We will soon suggest
available alternatives, however, so that disabled archers can enjoy themselves with modern conventional
bows, adapted to their particular disability.

This adaptive equipment approach was presented in detail at our August 6-7 meeting. New York,
Montana and Kansas have already taken it upon themselves to challenge the idea that a crossbow is
always the answer to the disabled archer question. These states have active programs that promote the
use of adapted conventional bows, instead of crossbows, for disabled archers. It is the NABC’s intention
to establish a program that helps disabled archers realize there are additional choices and if they would
like, to help them get properly fitted to an adapted conventional bow. Providing state and provincial
bowhunting organizations with information and a blue print on how to set up this type of program is an
action item from our August meeting.

Denny Ballard
NABC Chairman

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