Bowhunting

Bowhunting is the practice of taking game animals by archery.

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Legal and cultural considerations

Legal and cultural differences must be taken into consideration by the hunter. Bowhunting often has different season and game restrictions than does firearm hunting, and they differ significantly between countries, and even between states/provinces. Bowhunting is illegal in some nations including Ireland and the United Kingdom. Some regard it as grossly inhumane and unacceptable. For others, hunting represents a humane way of controlling animal numbers, ensuring continuing financial interest in the maintenance of healthy wild populations and habitat, and bringing urbanized humans to understand the natural world.

Europe

Some European countries consider bowhunting unnecessarily cruel to animals and prohibit the sport. 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 implements. 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.

North America

In North America, as with other hunting methods, bowhunting is regulated by individual provinces and states. Regulations often address issues such as where (hunting unit), when (season) and what type (male/female) of individual animal species may be taken. In many cases, a special archery season is set aside, to minimize interference from rifle hunters. 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.

Game hunted by archers includes all of the North American small and big game species. Generally in North America, bow hunting season "Bow Season" occurs either several months preceding or following the "Gun Season" for the same species.

In 2005, several states allowed able-bodied hunters to use crossbows, a move that has been very controversial among bow hunters due the operational similarities between crossbows and guns. Some states restrict crossbows to special hunting seasons.

New Zealand

Permits are required to hunt on Department of Conservation land - these apply to hunting with a rifle as well as bowhunting. There are no special seasons for bowhunters or for hunting with a firearm - hunting is available year-round. Legal quarry are introduced species and are usually considered vermin. The Department of Conservation imposes various restrictions depending on location. Advice is to contact the local area office. A separate license is required for hunting gamebirds, obtainable through the Fish and Game Council New Zealand. It covers the whole of New Zealand.

The New Zealand government regulates bowhunting

• Bowhunters must use a hunting bow with a minimum peak draw weight of 22.5 kg and

broad head arrows comprising no less than two cutting edges.

• The arrow head shall be unbarbed and the distance between opposing cutting edges at the

widest part shall be not less than 25 mm (1 inch).

• The use of arrows with any poison, explosives, or other chemical substances on, or in the

head or shaft is prohibited.

There is an active bowhunters society which organises DOC permits, hunts, and competitions.

Australia

There is an active bowhunting scene in Australia. Regulations prohibit the harvesting of native species. Australia is home to a large number of introduced species, (deer, feral goats, pigs, foxes, rabbits, hares etc) which are a threat to native species. Governments and landowners view hunters as partners in controlling these introduced species. The states of Victoria and New South Wales both regulate bowhunting. In Victoria hunting is regulated through the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE). In New South Wales this is done through the Game Council. At the current time there are no specific hunting regulations in other states and territories. Whilst both Victoria and New South Wales place licensing requirements on would-be bowhunters, the sport is in fact self-regulated through the Australian Bowhunters Association and local clubs which assess hunters through the Bowhunter Proficiency Certificate (BPC). The BPC is designed to ensure that animals are harvested according to humane principles.