Bow hunting V Rifle hunting debate;

[wildrover77]

Surely the greatest leap in animal welfare could be the training and licensing of birds or prey and foxes to use firearms! They combined must tear apart alive many animals every year. Much more tramautic than a bullet or even an arrow.

 

[jthyttin]

When you hunt with a flat bow or recurve you have to stalk to forty yards preferably less with all the skills you have learned over the years of your hunting life which gives a great satisfaction to a successful hunt, with the new type of compound bows available today you are capable of extending the distance to sixty yards or there about with a lot of practise

Here in Finland hunters using traditional bows usually claim to restrict the distance to 10 meters plusminus, and compound bow users 20 meters plusminus. Even then it's not a thing anyone can do with minimal training, when striving for perfect shot placement. Around 20-40 yards/meters is the "don't shoot zone" according to experienced US bow hunters (animal reaction, "string jumping"), and some that practice a great deal may shoot from greater distance if the situation demands.

Talking about distances, to make it more dramatic I refer to horizontal distance using a tree stand. When I shot my first whitetail deer in 2017, closest deer was at 1 meter, next one 3 meters and the one I took 11 meters. Only the one I took reacted to the shot. Having the animal at 10 meter or so feels like you can reach out and touch it, very different to rifle hunting.

It's true that bow hunting brews kind of elitism, it just feels using rifle is too easy. You just have to understand it's whole different ball game, and enjoy also rifle hunting albeit in a different way. Late 2018 I got very frustrated in bow hunting, mostly since I also wanted to film so I had a lot of gear to carry around and set up. Next season I plan to stop if I get one shot on film and go light after that. Of course per species, I plan to take beaver again in spring and whitetails in the autumn. Maybe try for some raccoon dogs, jack rabbits and pheasant if I get the spark.

EDIT: Oh I forgot the moose. If moose gets bow legal I definitely make an effort to get one next autumn. I've already selected although not purchased the arrow and broadhead (more weight and penetration) and will be using my heavier draw weight bow that's currently reserved for beaver.

 

[tusker]

I have had a bow now for 3 years and practice often when the weather is ok. I hope to hunt with it on my next trip to Namibia. There are days when I am not so good that I am pleased I cannot use it in the UK, however when I do take it to hunt you can bet I will have practiced enough to make a killing shot. I personally would not be happy shooting over 30 yrds.
Tusker

 

[finnbear270]

My surprise at this thread still being here, I'll qualify it , Usually this subject descends faster than a lead balloon into the "Thread closed" department, because of the inability of some to discuss said subject in a mature manner.

 

[jthyttin]

I never go bow hunting without taking a practice/test session first. If planning ahead I first warm up in the morning (work day) or before packing up. Then just before leaving it's the moment of truth, I won't go or take a rifle and go to different place if I'm not happy with my performance.

I also try to shoot at least few arrows each day during season but they can be more leisure style. Often my friend visits since he cannot shoot on his own yard. And I've tried to include dry firing few shots before going out with rifle also.

 

[Dunwaters]

Personally, why use a bow when you can use a rifle. Number one priority is humane and effective despatch, not how much satisfaction you get etc. There may be circumstances where bow hunting is a better option in terms of safety, such as deer in built up areas.

If I remember correctly the South Africans conducted an experiment shooting animals with bow and rifle and comparing results. Their conclusion was that the bow was no less deadly when used properly, equal to a 30/06 rifle, so the humane dispatch argument may not be water tight, particularly given the current passion for long range .
Archery might also open up areas to stalking that not suited to firearms.

Stay safe.

 

[User00047]

In quite a few places, that’s about the only way you can hunt them. I thought using cameras to pattern bucks was a thing U.K. rifle hunters do. I read about it all the time on this site.

Yes, some people use trail cameras, but I don’t know anyone using them to target specific animals. More for getting a general idea of what deer are visiting their ground etc.
I don’t even own a trailcam myself. I like to do my own homework in the field as much as possible.

 

[landkeeper]

My surprise at this thread still being here, I'll qualify it , Usually this subject descends faster than a lead balloon into the "Thread closed" department, because of the inability of some to discuss said subject in a mature manner.

well we are all grown adults here , maybe this can continue as a sensible conversation amongst fellow hunting types , lots of things i don't particulaly care for in the shooting /hunting/fishing world but i'd not lambast anyones sport

 

[User00003]

As an Iron sight hunter who shoots a fair number of deer between 10-25yds, I personally feel that bow hunting would be acceptable if done correctly and would be equally exciting to hunting with rifles.
The game I’ve had the pleasure to see harvested at close range with bows have expired as quickly or close to as with firearms. At these distances, placing a good shot isn’t difficult.

I would enjoy the option to hunt deer with bow if it was legal tbh. However, like shooting deer with a shotgun in certain countries require a max distance of 20m, the same should apply to bow hunting

On the bright side chaps, once firearms legislation becomes a sport destroyer, we can make our tools from the garden like we did many moons ago, lol

 

[JTO]

I do not think there is quite the same satisfaction from hunting with a rifle as there is with a bow, but we do not have a choice in this country unfortunately, you can hunt in France/Spain and most of Europe,so are we missing out?
What is your opinion ?

I think you should go abroad.

 

[Klenchblaize]

As an Iron sight hunter who shoots a fair number of deer between 10-25yds ......

That's worthy of a SD lifetime ban.

K

 

[User00003]

That's worthy of a SD lifetime ban.

K

I’m gunning for that!

 

[Cootmeurer]

I've been a successful archery hunter for over 40 years. It is a tool and method like any other. My only concern over efficacy is the proliferation of crossbows. On average, based on my experience, the average bow hunter is quite a bit more skilled than the average gun hunter. They know they cannot just pick it up and walk out the door and be successful. On the other extreme - it is quite common to see rifle hunters in the US that don't practice and pick up a rifle only for opening weekend of deer season. Then they may clean it, and put it back in the safe until the same time next year.

Why I worry about the crossbow is that these are often legal to use during archery only seasons, but they do not require the perishable skills of an archer to be maintained. They can also be put away for a year and picked up the night before opener - and still expect to maintain a similar point of impact.

A little history about US Archery. When deer were first starting to increase and seasons were expanded, often you got a single deer tag - and sometimes you had to choose if you wanted an archery tag or gun tag. Archery season was often 2-4 months long, while gun season was often a 3 day weekend. The serious hunters often gravitated towards archery as a way to spend more time afield and perfecting their art. Gun hunters often had a reputation of boorish nimrods that left the cities and suburbs to head to the country for a weekend of manly pursuit of "killing something". I partook in both of these activities - and came away a staunch advocate of archery.

As to the efficacy for killing - it is definitely comparing apples to oranges with firearms. Archery kills by blood loss, whereas firearms kill by hydrostatic shock. There was a wounding study done at a large Eastern US Military base, entirely under high fence and they determined that a wounded deer was much more likely to recover from an archery wound than a bullet wound. Poorly placed bullets often turned gangrenous and caused slow lingering death. Archery wounds that did no penetrate the gut either caused death by bleeding out or recovery - because if the surgical sharp blades of the head did not cut anything vital, the flesh could often heal.

 

[scrumbag]

Taking the life of an animal is really not about your satisfaction to be honest. To make it. More difficult than it needs to be to satisfy your own needs is pretty poor to be honest.

That's ego getting in the way of a clean humane, kill and a bad idea. You can limit your kills to stalking within 50 or 30 yds with a rifle...

 

[mereside]

it's pretty clear that those not in favor have no idea on how effective or humane the bow is with a fixed blade broad head and is in no way any different to killing with a rifle. also amazes me how people who hunt are the first to distance themselves from bow hunting and say how more effective the rifle is over the bow, To actually get inside bow range and take a deer takes far more skill and real practice to hit where you want it to go, there are far more wounding with a rifle than would ever be with a bow, then take into consideration a follow up bow hunters know that they can't rush in and bump the deer into the next county unlike rifle shooters who wade in straight after the shot, if it ever became legal here it would be no different to other country's with tests to prove you are capable of reaching a standard,To hunt abroad uk bow hunters have to pass tests to again show the required ability,regards wayne

 

[Pedro]

I think if the welfare of the prey is taken into account and there's no real difference there, then I would have nothing against any competent person bow hunting. But personally, it's not something that I would do.

It's all very well to say that successful bow hunting has been done by many before the advent of firearms, but it is significant that when firearms became readily available, bow hunting became a minority thing. There's a reason for that.

Here's something to consider though: How about hunting deer with a .22LR? I would guess that pretty much everyone on here would hold their hands up in horror. But, like a bow, if you stalk close enough and are accurate enough, you would achieve a clean kill. (before you think otherwise, I don't advocate .22LR for deer). So where's the difference?

 

[mchughcb]

Old Karl does it again with the recurve.

I think if the welfare of the prey is taken into account and there's no real difference there, then I would have nothing against any competent person bow hunting. But personally, it's not something that I would do.

It's all very well to say that successful bow hunting has been done by many before the advent of firearms, but it is significant that when firearms became readily available, bow hunting became a minority thing. There's a reason for that.

Here's something to consider though: How about hunting deer with a .22LR? I would guess that pretty much everyone on here would hold their hands up in horror. But, like a bow, if you stalk close enough and are accurate enough, you would achieve a clean kill. (before you think otherwise, I don't advocate .22LR for deer). So where's the difference?

 

[mchughcb]

A 22lr will almost not penetrate enough to get the vitals. A sharp broadside will penetrate well.

 

[howa243]

it's pretty clear that those not in favor have no idea on how effective or humane the bow is with a fixed blade broad head and is in no way any different to killing with a rifle. also amazes me how people who hunt are the first to distance themselves from bow hunting and say how more effective the rifle is over the bow, To actually get inside bow range and take a deer takes far more skill and real practice to hit where you want it to go, there are far more wounding with a rifle than would ever be with a bow, then take into consideration a follow up bow hunters know that they can't rush in and bump the deer into the next county unlike rifle shooters who wade in straight after the shot, if it ever became legal here it would be no different to other country's with tests to prove you are capable of reaching a standard,To hunt abroad uk bow hunters have to pass tests to again show the required ability,regards wayne

To say that rifle shooters behaviour is a reason to use a bow is a bit sad.

Be interested to know how much bow 'hunting' is from a blind. Much of what i have seen has been.

 

[sauer]

To say that rifle shooters behaviour is a reason to use a bow is a bit sad.

Be interested to know how much bow 'hunting' is from a blind. Much of what i have seen has been.

And I know some stalkers who don’t stalk but only sit in high seats

What’s the difference ?



Paul