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Bow usage during Iowa Shotgun seasons

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Miles Coffin
I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I would think some headway could be made to make this a legal weapon to use during shotgun season. I can think of several reason's why.

1: What's the difference if you are sitting in a tree with orange on with a shotgun or a bow? (other than it being somewhat of a disadvantage to the bow hunter)
2: I would think some land owners would be more open to somebody hunting with a bow vs a shotgun. Less chance a cow or building are going to get hit with a stray arrow than slug.
3: Most land owners and managers would prefer to limit "Things that go Boom" on their properties to keep the stress levels down on their deer populations and create a "Deer Haven" type of environment.
4: If a bow is legal during late muzzle loader and the January Antlerless season, why not make it legal during the Shotgun seasons??

I would think that if the normal shotgun regulations are followed as it pertains to wearing Blaze Orange that there is no reason a Bow couldn't be used during Iowa's Shotgun seasons.

Thoughts? Am I missing some obvious reason they shouldn't be used during that season?
 
Safety
Safety
and Safety...

I would never support this. I think the seasons are set up fine the way they are, and don't think this would do anybody any good. Take the few weeks off during shotgun and get back at it for 22 days after shotgun has ended. All of October, November, half of December and a third of January oughta be enough in my opinion

:way:
 
It wouldn't be bother me a bit IF and ONLY IF, said person had purchased a shotgun tag where a bow was a legal weapon. I would not support continuing the bow season into shotgun season. I doubt many hand guns that are used during shotgun season are much more effective range than bows.

I can't imagine how many people that only gun hunt would simply buy a bow tag and fill it with a gun during the gun season if bow season was allowed during gun season. That way they could get their two bucks.
 
Yes, I wasn't suggesting that a bow tag would be utilized during that season. A gun 1 or 2 tag would be required. Just make a bow legal to use during that time.. As far as safety goes, a lot of guys I know sit in their bow stands during gun season anyway..
 
Why? Either hunt bow season with a bow, or shotgun season with a gun. There's no real reason to get a shotgun tag and hunt it with a gun. Unless u were on a buck and needed another week to get it...then maybe. But honestly, I think the seasons are fine the way they are. No real need to add the bow to use during shotgun season.
 
Bows during a gun season

Safety issue? I have lived in MN for 43 years and I have never once heard of a bow hunter being shot during the gun season? We are allowed to use bows during the gun season here, not an issue at all.

If you prefer to bow hunt, I don't see why this would be a problem??
 
The biggest issue I can see is non-resident bowhunters applying for the gun tags. I think that has something to do with it. I know a bunch of guys who would be hunting here every-year durring the second shotgun season with a bow if that was legal.
 
Have to agree with the OP. Everyone that I know sits in one of their Bow stands anyway during shotgun. Not much of a safety difference if they had a bow in their hand or a shotgun...

The advantage is that it would allow hunters to access some 'bow only' areas during shotgun. Deer are being pushed around and there is a very good chance they would head towards one of these 'shotgun sanctuaries' that doesnt get pressured.

Of course this is just one more thing the CO has to watch out for....because you know there is some yahoo out there that is going to take a pistol or shotgun into a bow only area.:thrwrck:

The real problem is SNOWMOBILERS cruising around during shotgun. HOW STUPID are these guys!?!?!?! We had several snowmobiles all over the land that we hunt season 1. If a snowmobile has been through the area....the dear are likely long gone. Not only is there a chance of them getting shot but they could also be using a motor vehicle to herd deer towards blockers. It should be illegal to ride a snowmobile during the 2 gun seasons.:mad:
 
Im ok with it, especially if its on private ground. I would like to see private landowners have more control over hunting on their own land.

Blaze orange should be worn anytime gun hunters are in the field, as I wear it even when i'm Squirrel Hunting. I don't think that shotguns make a season dangerous, I think that party hunting makes it dangerous.

Snowmobilers are nothing, how about yuppies in Snowshoes!
 
If you own your own land and would rather use a bow....why not......it makes no sense to me.......wear orange, follow the regs.....I am for it.
 
Todd, I'm not up to speed on the NR regs, but if they can get a statewide shotgun tag today, what's the difference if they use a gun or bow??? I assume they can apply for a statewide bow season tag as well as a gun season tag today. What is the diff if they choose to use a bow in a season that they can use a gun?
 
I dont like the idea, of encouraging more people sitting in the woods as "organized pushes" go on.

A bow hunter on said pushed property or the neighbors could be easily overlooked (as could the guy sitting in the stand with a gun). I just wouldn't encourage the idea.

I for one am against driving deer, and I do get a doe tag and sit on my butt and wait for the unlucky slick to wonder by. But I wouldnt encourage people like me to sit on public or ground where they dont know what is going on around them?

Make sense? Do as I say, not as I do kinda deal. I just dont like people taking risks over deer, and shotgun season to me, in "most" scenarios is just that, even for the most ethical and responsible groups. Just an opinion, not right or wrong.
 
Hardwood11 said:
Safety issue? I have lived in MN for 43 years and I have never once heard of a bow hunter being shot during the gun season? We are allowed to use bows during the gun season here, not an issue at all.

If you prefer to bow hunt, I don't see why this would be a problem??
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I totally agree. There is a lot of landowners that only allow bow hunting on their property. These properties become unhuntable during the gun seasons. Also, these properties could be a gold mine for bow hunters with all of the gun hunters pushing the deer around.
 
If you allow bows during shotgun seasons why not let anybody who wants to use a crossbow fill either a bow and/or a shotgun tag? You’re kinda openin the door by asking that bows be allowed during shotgun. And by “anybody” I mean the hunter using a crossbow would not have to have a DNR issued permit for crossbow usage. I’m thinkin that’s a door best left closed.
 
Fishbonker said:
If you allow bows during shotgun seasons why not let anybody who wants to use a crossbow fill either a bow and/or a shotgun tag? You’re kinda openin the door by asking that bows be allowed during shotgun. And by “anybody” I mean the hunter using a crossbow would not have to have a DNR issued permit for crossbow usage. I’m thinkin that’s a door best left closed.
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Filling a bow tag with a crossbow would be looked at as an advantage to some people while filling a gun tag with a bow is more difficult. While I doubt I would do it, I would have no problem with the bow becoming a legal weapon during either of the shotgun seasons provided such hunter is still required to wear the blaze orange while doing so.
 
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I would love it if bow season stayed open during gun season. Just make us wear orange like the gun hunters. I might get to see a deer & may get to shoot at it.
 
Handcannon said:
I would love it if bow season stayed open during gun season. Just make us wear orange like the gun hunters. I might get to see a deer & may get to shoot at it.
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I don't like the idea of bow season staying open during shotgun seasons. I do, however, have no issue with the bow being a legal weapon during the season using the gun tag.
 
I totally agree. There is a lot of landowners that only allow bow hunting on their property. These properties become unhuntable during the gun seasons. Also, these properties could be a gold mine for bow hunters with all of the gun hunters pushing the deer around.
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I could see this working both ways. A bow hunter that already tagged their big buck wants their property to be a santuary during gun season. Since the season is over for them they could even be feeding the deer to keep them on their property. I know several properties that would fit this scenario. That person wouldnt want to hunt their property which would be fine for them, but for others who would, the party hunters would drive the deer right to them or their scent would keep the deer moving to the party hunters. Win win in my mind
 
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