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Bowhunting accuracy test

Hardcorehunter

Hardcorehunter

UL Shelter/Stove Geek
Saw this on another forum and it drew quite a bit of controversy. Would you be in favor of an accuracy proficiency test to secure a bowhunting permit in your state? While I am not fond of some idiot that drags his/her bow out once a year and can't hit the broadside of a barn, I am not in favor of any more government regulations, let alone more hunting regulations, more fees, and more hoops to jump through in order to go bowhunting. I don't need more government regs. Mandate it or not in your state?
 
Fun can of worms... in my humble opinion I would be in favor of a yearly proficiency test, would also like to see everyone have to take a bowhunter safety course once in their life as well.

Good discussion possibilities.
 
I do like the idea of someone having to show that they can shoot accurately, but I don't know how they could test tens of thousands of people. Would it be a yearly thing? Is there a state that does do this?
 
the real test would be getting 75% of the people to pass the test when a 170+ is coming in fast
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the real test would be getting 75% of the people to pass the test when a 170+ is coming in fast
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You said it all there!
 
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in my humble opinion I would be in favor of a yearly proficiency test, would also like to see everyone have to take a bowhunter safety course once in their life as well.

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That would take alot $$$$ You looking for job?
 
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in my humble opinion I would be in favor of a yearly proficiency test, would also like to see everyone have to take a bowhunter safety course once in their life as well.

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That would take alot $$$$ You looking for job?

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The safety course would be fairly easy to implement. One of my fellow instructors mentioned it to me on the last class. Our plan, as soon as I get time to complete the requirements, is to give the students the option to stay after the regular hunters ed class for further instruction. Looking at the dnr sight, bowhunters ed covers more treestand safety, blood trailing, game care and such.

Proficiency test, well you get enough volunteers(maybe tough), to get bowhunters ed certified. Then they could run the proficiency tests. Maybe offer the volunteers a free anlerless tag per yr that they do it??? Supply a target for them to use, space shouldn't be an issue for most. Perhaps even start them the first year with a test upon completion of the bow ed course.
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in my humble opinion I would be in favor of a yearly proficiency test, would also like to see everyone have to take a bowhunter safety course once in their life as well.

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That would take alot $$$$ You looking for job?

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I agree it would take a lot of dollars. Never said it was feasible to test everyone, just that in my opionion I'd like to see it done.

Now, that being said, if they want to pay me $45-50,000 a year to teach bowhunting safety with full bennies and 5 weeks paid vacation I wouldn't turn it down!!
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Why just bowhunting? Why not guns too?

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DITTO

How many injuries or deaths a year from an arrant bow shot?

How many injuries or deaths from an arrant gunshot?
 
Not saying it's not a good idea but why? I know several people that have just recently got their Hunters ed and they are no more ready to be out hunting than a 5 year old. What would be the purpose? To generate money? I say leave it alone, the more you get the government involved the more they want to get involved! That means more regulations and fee's. Also I didn't like the comment about people only taking their bow out once a year. I have hunted all my life and hunt several different animals. I would put my bow hunting skills up against anyones.
 
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While I am not fond of some idiot that drags his/her bow out once a year and can't hit the broadside of a barn, I am not in favor of any more government regulations, let alone more hunting regulations, more fees, and more hoops to jump through in order to go bowhunting. I don't need more government regs.

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There's a couple guys bowhunting a public area I use that pretty much go by the mindset that you just keep shooting until you can find one. One guy was rumered to have gut shot 5 bucks one season. Those guys have to deal with their own problems and I believe it will catch up with them down the road. It's B.S., but I can't bring myself to wanting more regulations. Have to agree with HCH on this one.
 
The first I heard about this was in an article about bowhunting in city limits about 4 years ago. A group of hunters who wanted to put property owners (perspective hunting permission granting owners) a warm fuzzy feeling that they wouldn't be subjected to having wounded animals limping through their backyards. Good idea in that instance. These are seasoned hunters who want to break the ice in any way possible to the non-hunting community. They set up these accuracy tests and went through a course and had some kind of certificate saying they had passed. It was presented to the landowners to prove they are a great shot.

Like I said, good idea in this case. However, all I have been hearing about is how we need to get young people,etc into the sport. Without new recruits, our hunting lifestyle may not last. If we throw a mandatory test at them, it may deter prospects. Hunters safety classes (IMO) do a pretty decent job on the safety side of things. Know what is beyond your target before pointing a weapon or firing a weapon. If you miss and know there is nothing behind the target, what was hurt?

One other thing, an accuracy test does nothing but prove that you are capable of making a good shot (and that you have taken the time to site in your bow or gun). Put this same hunter in an actual hunting situation with a deer in front and you can throw out any kind of back-yard accuracy testing. That comes with experience. I think it's easy to sit back and think of these things now that we are all crack shots. Think about when you were growing up and first got your hands on a bow. Now comes the day when you have to stand in front of someone and put 5 arrows inside a pie plate at 20 yards (or whatever the requirements would be). Unless you shoot 3D regularly, that's a lot of pressure when your hunting rights are on the line. Hell, it would make me nervous, I know that!
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Not sure if all of the city antlerless hunt tests are the same, but the one we have is 5 arrows in a 9" area at 20 yards.
 
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5 arrows in a 9" area at 20 yards.


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I've heard of those type of requirements also. I'm not for a test to begin with and when was the last time any of us had 5 shots at a deer? If a test was to be implimented, in my opinion it should be one shot. Period!
 
Good topic but I think the point made about being able to hit a paper plate at 20yds and shoot your first deer at 20yds is completely different, I know I was shaking like a leaf on my first bowkill and it has taken years and years of bowhunting to find a way to calm myself even today before making a shot. Now if some game preserve wants to volunteer all of its game for us to get certified on so that way there is some pressure as you are shooting at an animal, I might be for that
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Also, I think a lot of people feel that the testing would be for hunter safety reasons, which in most cases I feel is not true, rather it is for ensuring that you won't cripple a deer. If that is the case I don't think we should start with bowhunters as there are many many more gun hunters and alot more deer get crippled when they are getting blasted at running at 100yds then when standing at 20. More regs on one group would just open up the can for more regs on another group of hunters.
 
I bet that 95% of the gut shot deer by 'bowhunters' each year are due to guys taking too long of shots. Just because you can put a couple of shots into a pie plate at 20 yards doesn't mean you should be shooting 40 yards at a wild whitetail.

The fact is you CANNOT regulate what a hunter chooses to do when nobody is around..... that is when a man's character and ethics are developed.
 
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The fact is you CANNOT regulate what a hunter chooses to do when nobody is around..... that is when a man's character and ethics are developed.

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Well said Dennis......
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