It really isn't the concern about effect on harvest or even the efficacy of the weapon. As a member of Montana Bowhunters Association, I am aware of the lengthy difficult process MBA went through to establish the current archery only season in Montana. That organization and others are concerned about crossbow and muzzleloader groups piggybacking onto the hard work of MBA and being included, even having separate seasons. We Montana hunters acknowledge that we are spoiled by the advantage of lengthy hunting seasons and are very protective of what we have enjoyed for so long ... but what seems to work. A general fear is that hunting access, seasons structure, and weapon preference rules would follow the trends of Colorado in that Montana would suddenly have Ranching for Wildlife, seasons for crossbows, muzzleloaders, and archery weapons becoming three separate seasons during what is now Archery Only, and thus "choose your weapon". Admittedly that seems self-directed, but it's real and it is a result of much advocacy on behalf of hunting, hunting access, and on behalf of wildlife.
