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Archery Hunting - The Mark of a Gentleman
by Caleb Liu Many people regard bow hunting as something of a barbaric and uncivilized sport. However nothing could be further from the truth. As a matter of fact, those in the know regard it a the mark of a gentleman. Further investigation will reveal that this sport embraces many rules of ethics that other pastimes do not. Are these rules restraining? Yes. Do bow hunters grumble about them? Absolutely not. They understand that these rules were born of necessity, and as a matter of fact, sustain the sport.
Although you might not realize it, archery hunting is an extremely popular pastime. Like rifle hunting, it falls under each state's hunting regulations. Incorporated into these regulations are such things as what locations are permissable, during which months hunting is allowed, and what the bag limit is. In some cases bow hunting has an advantage over firearms hunting; opening day is days earlier, allowing archery hunters a wide open field without the distraction (and danger) of gunfire.
There is a great deal of difference between the way bow hunting and rifle hunting are practiced. Rifles of course, launch a bullet which is a very high speed projectile. That, coupled with a sight with top quality optics, allow the rifle hunter to nail his prey from a distance of up to 200 yards. Nothing so easy for the bow hunter though. Even with a powerful crossbow, the farthest effective range is seventy yards. Other bows without so much horsepower, such as the formidable longbow, are best used at a maximum of a mere 20 yards. This means that bow hunting is even more a sport of stalking and stealth. The goal is to make the kill as quickly as possible to eleminate suffering of the prey and the necessity of tracking the wounded animal to finish off the job.
This leads to a rule that both rifle hunters and bow hunters must follow without exception. Any prey that is shot and wounded must be found and finished off. This can mean tracking the animal for hours and miles and bear in mind, the hunter must still bring the animal home. That is why the bow hunter must be so skilled - it is much harder to make a first kill with an arrow than with a bullet.
Why do bow hunters follow this rule so religiously? Because it is a code of conduct handed down from generation to generation and it is what makes it a honorable activity.
Now you can see why archery hunting is a pastime for a gentleman. In fact at one time it was the pastime of the king, and commoners were not allowed to hunt in the King's forest. Now however, all are welcome to practice this regal sport.
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If you found this information on Archery Hunting useful, you'll also want to read about Archery Target.
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