This is fun stuff!
If you ask 10 hunters their opinion on any subject, you're going to hear 10 different responses on why their answer is the way things should be. Here's my thoughts...
Technology - Help or hurt? It depends... Cell Cams can help you understand what deer you're hunting while you're not hunting, which can help you spend your time more wisely or efficiently. Cell Cams can also hurt you if you become obsessed with a specific animal. You neglect the important things in life (family, freinds, etc) by fixating on how, when, where you might be able to kill a deer.
Technology - Help or hurt? It depends... Box Blinds can help introduce new people to hunting or keep older hunters in the game. They can help hunters of all ages stay comfortable, significantly reduce getting winded, and create an enjoyable experience observing wildlife. Box Blinds can also hurt you by becoming reliant on hunting the same spots, not adapting or staying active to what changes are taking place in the deer woods. They can create laziness.
Long-range weapons:
- Muzzleloaders - Inline with scope and rifled barrel = Yes
- Muzzleloaders - traditional blackpower, ball & patch = No
- Crossbows - No, just because they can shoot out to 100 yards doesn't mean they can kill effectively at that range. The same thing can be said of modern compound bows.
Does increased technology = decreased opportunity? No. Decreased habitat = decreased opportunity.
I think the question really becomes, what is your own personal line when it comes to technology? How far are you willing to either push boundaries (75 yard shot with a crossbow?) or place boundaries for the sake of your own ethics (keep shots under 40 yards with a bow)? How obsessed with technology do you want to be (GPS on a dog), or how traditional (bell on the dog's collar)? Heck, even the bell could be considered a technological advancement at one point in time, so again, the question comes down to your own personal line and what you want out of the experience.