Archery: Encyclopedia II - Archery - Hunting

Archery - Hunting

There is much controversy over hunting with a bow, also known as bowhunting. Many people believe that bows are an acceptable if not preferred way to take game, while others, such as animal rights activists, find the practice objectionable.

In North America, bow hunting is regulated much as rifle hunting. Regulations address issues of where and which animals may be hunted with a bow, as well as technical specifications for "tackle" such as minimum draw weight, arrow weight and arrowhead design. A much more lethal, unbarbed "broadhead" arrow may be required, for example, to minimize chances of wounding (but not immediately killing) the animal. Draw weight requirements strongly encourage the use of compound bows.

Many American hunters prefer using a bow because of the added challenge. While a rifle hunter may take a shot at any distance under 200 yards (180 m), archers must get within 30 yards (27 m). Some localities stipulate that certain types of game, often deer, may only be taken with a bow. In other localities, special bow hunting seasons are set aside for safety and to prevent interference from rifle hunters. Besides deer, many bow hunters shoot feral pigs, small game, or birds. People also occasionally fish with modified bows, a practice called bowfishing.

In certain other areas, including many countries in Europe, bow hunting is considered unnecessarily cruel to animals, and is therefore prohibited. Bowhunting, like target archery, was revived in Britain during the Victorian era, but became outlawed when the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1963 excluded bows and crossbows from its list of permitted hunting weapons. Since 2003, Scotland has been considering the reintroduction of bowhunting as a means of controlling its deer population. France, Lithuania and Finland have reintroduced bowhunting since 2000. Several other European countries are considering its reintroduction.

Using bow to hunt animals requires proper training and practice. Hunting with a bow requires additional training to firearm training. Bow hunting is much different from hunting with a firearm. Proper practice and practical training will increase the odds that an animal can be taken successfully and humanely. An experienced archery hunter can place a shot that will kill an animal just as quickly as a firearm. For example, a whitetail deer can drop on impact from a firearm or a bow. However, most deer or large game, gun or bow, can travel as far as 100 yards, even when hit fatally. An inexperienced shooter may fire a non-fatal shot with a gun or a bow, which could wound the animal and may not kill it. Shot placement is important when hunting an animal and will also increase the chance of a harvest. Proper shot placement also insures an animal will be killed in the most humane way possible.

Compound bows are usually preferred for hunting, although recurve bows are not uncommon and usually legal. Longbows are often used by those who want to make the hunting experience as traditional as possible, but much more skill is needed to get a clean hit from a longbow than from other bows. Crossbows are generally permitted for disabled hunters, and in 2005 many states allowed able-bodied hunters to use crossbows, a move that has been somewhat controversial among bowhunters. Hunting points are traditionally broadheads, which are wide and knife-like in design in order to cut into game.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Hunting", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki