Bowhunters are the most narcissistic hunters of them all. They need to feel justified in their hunting handicap. How many bow killed animals have you seen without the bow in the picture? It's the most important thing about the picture. The hunter has to make sure everyone knows that the animal was killed with a bow. How else could we possibly know just how difficult it was to kill that animal... I mean other than it's dead and it must not have really been that hard after all or they wouldn't have killed it.

They don't want crossbow hunters stealing that limelight even though the "difficulty" of both is basically the same. I know a number of crossbow hunters, and none of them are shooting 100 yards their ranges are pretty much equal to archery guys. As Greenhorn pointed out, there isn't really a difference anyway. You want to bowhunt then make it traditional... but then it would be way too hard for most bowhunters.
The older I get the more I think we should just have one season. No special hunt times, handicap yourself all you want... but that will never happen.
Id put money on it, that succes rates on mature bull elk are equal or higher for archery compared to rifle. Given the choice, I'd pick hunting rut stupid bulls in September every day of the week over October/November rifle hunts. I've had way, way more encounters with big bulls in September vs Nov, probably 10:1?