would you stalk with a bow if it was legal?

[bogtrotter]

I do use bows both re curve and compound, but hunting deer with a bow is not for me rabbits and the like maybe, but not large game, just a personal thing I would not feel comfortable with it.

However as far as this country is concerned the question is rhetorical as I doubt that there is any chance of the law ever being changed.

 

[Paul at Fechan]

In this country I chose what gives me the greatest capacity to cleanly despatch my chosen quarry in most situations. Never have I been in a position where a bow could be considered either a more efficient or practical tool over a rifle to do this. Now having said that, given the opportunity to hunt with a bow, I would not turn my nose up at it even though I have great reservations about it. There is certainly a stronger connection between you the hunter and your quarry the closer you get to it before making your shot.

 

[Harry mac]

You can't get more up close and personal than bow hunting.

Can we stop using this idiotic phrase please? I don't need to smell a deer before I shoot it, or wrestle it to the ground. It's a deer, not a bloody German sentry!

 

[Selous]

No I wouldnt use a bow, just as I wouldnt use a 22lr for deer. You can do it but there are better tools out there for the job in hand

 

[Caberhill]

No I wouldnt use a bow, just as I wouldnt use a 22lr for deer.

Why not? In the right hands you can get 'Up close and personnel', shoot the deer in the head with a .22LR stinger at 15 yards and it'll go down like a lead balloon... No of course not I'm kidding that stupid (but it probably would kill it).

What's with all this bow hunting nonsense popping it's ulgy head up on this site on a regular basis now?

Why the need to get up close and personnel? What about stoning rabbits? or clubbing seals? I bet you I could kill a seal with a bloody big stick quicker than you could kill a deer with a fecking bow. And there is no chance clubbing seal's would ever happen even despite the rapid growth of the grey seal and our subsequent decline in ocean running fish.

Bow hunting is an archaic form of huning any way despite the advances in fancy tips or what have you.

If Bow hunting was legalised in the UK, where the hell would it take part? As it stands there are already more stalkers than ground avalible to stalk on.

I was going to type fair play and each to their own but I'm not. Sod it. Its against the law. Bow huntings a stupid idea.

 

[Bill Bartlett]

Not me - takes me all my time to shoot them right with a rifle. The margin for error I feel would be too great.....

 

[longlowdog]

You wouldn't shoot a deer with your first shot of a rifle....would you? To denegrate the majority of bow hunters who practise till their skill level is acceptable is to question the right of a person who uses a rifle without demonstrating their ability. Poachers and unskilled shots are common in the world of rifles and presumably would be in the bow hunting world. Must we only legislate against the bad guys or could we not bring more freedom/choice/challenge to the informed and utilise the power of the law against wrong doers.
I'm not good enough to get consistantly into bow range so I would prefer a rifle but I know guys who stalk like Gurkhas on a mission.
There seems to be a huge divide between pro and anti bow. I wonder how much of an uproar there would be if stalkers could have pistols for hunting. I would bet that the ecconomy would take a major boost as folk tried the idea even if they never stuck with it.
In America/Canada more states are permitting bow hunting, if the hugely powerful anti hunting lobby had any proof this activety was inhumane then it would be closed down by the time it took to write this reply.
Each to their own, know your limits and live and let live.

 

[JAYB]

This thread was resurrected by someone who I feel has a hidden agenda, it may not be the case but I am locking the thread anyway as it serves no useful purpose and just causes arguments and insults. Look on it as my good deed for the day

John