New opportunities open up for hunters – Legislation and regulations enacted in recent months has increased opportunities for hunters in the form of new hunting arms, more access to hunting lands and more liberal seasons for both deer and bear.  Perhaps the most historic of these is the inclusion of crossbows as a legal hunting weapon. In the past, except for two seasons, only severely disabled sportsmen were allowed to use crossbows. Now anyone 14 or older who is eligible to hunt can use a crossbow. When you sit around and listen to a discussion of senior citizens, a frequent topic is sore knees, hips and shoulders. Bowhunters in that category whose shoulder ailments no longer allow them to draw back on a bow might welcome the opportunity to continue their hunting with a crossbow.