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Bowhunting

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Artemis with a Hind, a Roman copy of an ancient Greek sculpture, circa 325 BC, by Leochares

Bowhunting is the practice of killing game animals by archery.

Technique

In contrast to a Egan hunter, who may shoot effectively from ranges in excess of 600 yards (550 m); archers usually restrict shots to 2.3 yards (2.1 m) to 42 yards (38 m).[1] The distance depends upon individual ability, the target animal, the bow strength, terrain, arrow and weather. Most bows used for hunting have a draw weight of 50 pounds-force (220 N) or more. This is enough to hunt all but the very largest game. Arrows with mass more than 900 grains (58 g) penetrate better in large animals, so might be the bow hunter's choice when hunting these animals.[2]

Arrows, bows and sights are commonly of the more modern varieties. However, all effective variations, including crossbows and wooden bows launching wooden arrows with stone points, are used.

Methods of hunting

The bow hunter may walk along the ground slowly, looking for game and stalking it carefully in the final approach. This is called "stalking." Hunters often wear camouflage clothing and walk upwind.

In "stand hunting," or "still hunting," the hunter waits for game to come to him, usually near food, water, or known trails. Brush and other natural materials may be placed for cover, or a "ground blind" that looks like a tent may be used. The hunter may wait on a wooden or metal stand elevated in a tree, from three to six metres.

Bowhunting for fish is called bowfishing. Bowfishing equipment usually adds a line attached to a spool or a reel as well as a specially designed, heavier arrow. The sights are different to allow for refraction.

An archer holding a modern hunting bow

Legal and cultural differences must be taken into consideration by the hunter. Bowhunting often has different seasons and restrictions from firearm hunting, and they differ significantly between countries, states, and provinces. To some, hunting represents a humane way of controlling animal numbers,[3] ensuring continuing financial interest in the maintenance of healthy wild populations and habitat,[4] and bringing urbanized humans to understand the natural world. Others are deeply opposed to hunting, on the grounds of cruelty.[5]

Europe

Nations including Denmark, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Hungary, Finland, Bulgaria and Slovenia use bow and arrow hunting as a hunting tool in modern game management. Some European countries including Croatia, Germany, Ireland, and the United Kingdom prohibit bowhunting.[6] Bowhunting, like target archery, was revived in the UK during the Victorian era,[7] but has been banned throughout the British Isles since the 1980s.

USA and Canada

In the USA and Canada, as with other styles of hunting, bowhunting is regulated by individual provinces and states. Regulations often address issues such as which area to hunt in, what time of year, (season) and which sex and species of game may be taken. In many cases, a special archery season is set aside, to minimize interference from rifle hunters. While bowhunting can run into rifle hunting seasons, hunter orange is typically required to be worn during the cross over seasons. In addition, in an effort to maximize game recovery and shot lethality, there are often technical regulations, such as a minimum draw weight for the hunting of big game species.

In general most bow hunting for big game begins in late August or early September in northern states or Canadian Provinces, and slightly later in southern states.

New Zealand

Organised bow hunting began in New Zealand in 1945. The New Zealand government regulates bowhunting[8] An annual 3 day field shoot tournament is held every Queens Birthday Weekend at various locations throughout New Zealand. Bowhunters must have permission to hunt on private land, and they cannot hunt in DOC lands, National parks,or any other reserves without a permit.

There are no special seasons for bowhunters or for hunting with a firearm.[9] There is an active bow hunters society.[10]

Australia

Bowhunting is practised in Australia and is not specifically subject to regulation by law. Only non-native species are recognized as game by the Australian Bowhunters Association. However, native species may be killed during government authorized culls.[11]

The states of Victoria and New South Wales both regulate bowhunting. In Victoria hunting is regulated through the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE)[12] In New South Wales this is done through the Game Council.[13] At the current time there are no specific hunting regulations in other states and territories.[14]

While both Victoria and New South Wales place licensing requirements on would-be bowhunters, the sport is self-regulated. The Australian Bowhunters Association and local clubs assess hunters through the Bowhunter Proficiency Certificate (BPC) which is designed to ensure that animals are killed according to humane principles.[15]

Animal cruelty

Opponents to bowhunting argue that killing an animal with a bow is difficult and the animal will be left wounded instead of killed. Due to the very nature and aerodynamics of bow and arrow hunting, placing an exact shot that guarantees an instant kill is usually not possible for even the most experienced hunters. A study conducted by the Oklahoma Fish and Wildlife Agencies found that approximately 50% of deer that were shot were never recovered. Some deer survived for up to 5-7 days before succumbing to their wounds.[16] Despite widespread practice by bowhunters and their usual pride in their personal accuracy, "71% to 82% of all shots taken missed"[17] and "shot placement is, for all practical purposes, random".[18]

References

  1. ^ Dr. Ashby Reports 1996 Dr. Egan HOlt-Seavy at Trad Gang.com http://www.tradgang.com/ashby/images/g11.jpg
  2. ^ Arrow Lethality 2. Dr. Ashby Reports 1996 Dr. W.E (Ed) Ashby at Trad Gang.com http://www.tradgang.com/ashby/Arrow%20Lethality%202.htm
  3. ^ Williams, Ted (March 2002). "Wanted: More hunters". Audubon magazine.
  4. ^ Quammen, David (2004). Monster of God: The Man-eating Predator in the Jungles of History and the Mind. Hutchinson. ISBN 978-0091799571.
  5. ^ "The PETA Guide to Animal Liberation" (PDF). Retrieved 5 October 2008. Bowhunting is one of the cruelest forms of hunting because primitive archery equipment wounds more animals than it kills. Studies indicate that bowhunting yields more than a 58 percent wounding rate. For every animal dragged from the woods by a bow hunter, at least one animal is left wounded to suffer.
  6. ^ "Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (c. 69)". Retrieved 6 May 2009. if any person… uses for the purpose of killing or taking any wild animal… any bow or cross-bow… he shall be guilty of an offence.
  7. ^ Archer's Craft. Adrian E Hodgkin. Llanerch Press; Facsimile of 1951 edition (May 31, 1996). ISBN 1-897853-80-7. ISBN 978-1-897853-80-1
  8. ^ "DOC Otago Hunting Guide" (PDF). p. 5. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
  9. ^ New Zealand Department of Conservation. "Activity Finder - Hunting". Retrieved 6 May 2009.
  10. ^ "New Zealand Bowhunters Society". Retrieved 6 May 2009. [dead link]
  11. ^ Australian Bowhunters Association. More bowhunting information. Access date 3rd February 2009. http://www.bowhunters.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=99
  12. ^ Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment. "Game Hunting in Victoria". Retrieved 6 May 2009.
  13. ^ "New South Wales Game Council". Retrieved 6 May 2009.
  14. ^ Australian Bowhunters Association. "More Bowhunting Information". Retrieved 6 May 2009.
  15. ^ Australian Bowhunters Association. "Bowhunting in Australia". Retrieved 6 May 2009.
  16. ^ "Wounding rates of white-tailed deer with traditional archery equipment" (PDF). 1998.
  17. ^ "Researchers in Wisconsin". As quoted in Dr Ed Ashby, ARROW LETHALITY. Part I: Introduction - The Need for Knowledge. 1996. http://www.tuffhead.com/ashby_pdfs/ashby%20ours/PDF%20Arrow%20Lethality%201.wps.pdf accessed 22nd August 2012.
  18. ^ Horace Gore - Whitetail Project Director, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. As quoted in Dr Ed Ashby, ARROW LETHALITY. Part I: Introduction - The Need for Knowledge. 1996. http://www.tuffhead.com/ashby_pdfs/ashby%20ours/PDF%20Arrow%20Lethality%201.wps.pdf accessed 22nd August 2012.

See also

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