Archery Proficiency Test????

[ghost hunter]

Interesting question.

 

I've felt that way for a long time. First time I went on an archery elk hunt, I could not believe the number of people I ran into that started their story, "ya I got a shot at 75 yards, 95 yrs, (what ever) and I hit it in "the neck, the leg, the jaw, etc, and it ran off". They just couldn't believe it.

 

As some of you have said, there are both rifle hunters and archers who are guilty of taking shots and making poor hits that they shouldn't have.

 

I've wondered how many of the successful archery elk hunters are really gun hunters who just decided to 'give it a try' because the draw odds are better.

[TAM]

It seems like a lot of people today feel the need to put laws in place that govern every bit of our lives. Much of what they want to regulate should be regulated by our own consious and or common sense. I don't think we need more rules or laws, we simply need to use good judgement. As mentioned above, common sense seems to be on the decline these days. Many people don't think of the consequences their actions may result in before they do it.

[DesertBull]

Interesting question.

 

I've wondered how many of the successful archery elk hunters are really gun hunters who just decided to 'give it a try' because the draw odds are better.

 

 

Archery elk hunts now have worse odds than many late season rifle hunts. Wasn't like that a few years ago.

[TAM]

Aside from the early rifle bull tags, I'll bet percentage wise there are more big bulls shot during the archery hunts then during the late rifle bull hunts. Just my guess.

[DesertBull]

Aside from the early rifle bull tags, I'll bet percentage wise there are more big bulls shot during the archery hunts then during the late rifle bull hunts. Just my guess.

 

 

 

That's because it is too cold in November for the road hunters to get out of the truck.

 

[newbee]

I didnt read all the posts but I would agree a bowhunters saftey course card, and @ that time they could make sure you can shoot it- I cant tell you how much I cringe to see a rifle hunter turned bow hunter talk about hunting and all of their strategy is rifle based, or go to the range and some one is there with a new bow that doesnt even fit them that they can barely draw back let alone correctly throw a few arrows down range and walk away thinking they are ready to go. and then the comment it dont matter when you slit thieir throat(ref. game) has any one here been able to slit the throat of a paunch shot deer?!lol

I encourage every one to pick up a bow,it was one of the best decisions I think Ive made but I cant tell you how much time and research I put in before I did , as well as range time. the over the counter tag draws alot of poeple over to archery which can help and hinder our sport. its the same guys that burn up and down on quads and jump off to chase a deer or bump one and make a hastey shot- which leads to injured, suffering , lost game.

If you pick up any thing to harvest game learn as much as you can about proper employment of that item before you go out and take a pop shot at game, you owe it to the game you are hunting and to your fellow hunters

my.02

[ThomC]

What you really want is to separate the wheat from the chaff people wise. It can't be done. How to minimumize the ever growing chaff? That is going to be the question of the next century.

[TAM]

Every time the topic of proficiency testing comes up everyone automaticly starts thinking archery. What about all the rifle and muzzleloader hunters out there that can't hit what they're aiming at either. Why do the archery hunters always get singled out?

[bobbyo]

Every time the topic of proficiency testing comes up everyone automaticly starts thinking archery. What about all the rifle and muzzleloader hunters out there that can't hit what they're aiming at either. Why do the archery hunters always get singled out?

 

Exactly TAM, There is a bias against archery. Test for everybody or test for nobody. I was out this weekend for the early rifle hunt. The majority of the time when there was shots, it would be three, four, five shots in a row. How proficent are these rifle hunters? How many people out there can hit a running shot at a coues with a rifle at 200-300 yards? Alot of people were trying.

Bob

[mulie hunter]

Every time the topic of proficiency testing comes up everyone automaticly starts thinking archery. What about all the rifle and muzzleloader hunters out there that can't hit what they're aiming at either. Why do the archery hunters always get singled out?

 

Exactly TAM, There is a bias against archery. Test for everybody or test for nobody. I was out this weekend for the early rifle hunt. The majority of the time when there was shots, it would be three, four, five shots in a row. How proficent are these rifle hunters? How many people out there can hit a running shot at a coues with a rifle at 200-300 yards? Alot of people were trying.

Bob

Right on Bob, same thing in 35a heard many 3-5 shot groups, even talked to 2 hunters who wounded deer and never recovered them. I think more animals are wounded in rifle hunts than archery.

[runningbird]

well I think the test would be worthless. with the bows today almost anyone can go out and buy a bow shoot for a week and hit a paper plate at 25 yards.

I will admit to this, I am a very good target shooter, even at unknown ranges, I also hunt and stalk pretty darn good. BUT I get the worst case of buck fever known to mankind. I have missed so many times it makes me sick. luckily my shots always go high or low and not left to right so my misses are clean. I doubt I'll ever get the fever under control, but it sure is exciting.

If they were to put a test into effect it should be for every one, not just archers

[JohnFriddle]

BAAAAAAAD IDEA!!!! Most animals are are wounded because of taking bad shots, i.e. running, bad position, etc. Skill has little to do with that... Anyone who would suggest game and fish take on something else, hasn't hunted around here very long... They can't handle whats on their plate now... If you start excluding folks from hunting because they can't shoot what YOU think they should be able to shoot, whats next??? What if they say you have to be able to hit pie plate at 100 yards or 200 yards 9 out of 10 times? What if a rifle hunter has to hit a quarter at 600 yards 9 out of ten times or they can't hunt? PETA would love that rule...

[mulie hunter]

BAAAAAAAD IDEA!!!! Most animals are are wounded because of taking bad shots, i.e. running, bad position, etc. Skill has little to do with that... Anyone who would suggest game and fish take on something else, hasn't hunted around here very long... They can't handle whats on their plate now... If you start excluding folks from hunting because they can't shoot what YOU think they should be able to shoot, whats next??? What if they say you have to be able to hit pie plate at 100 yards or 200 yards 9 out of 10 times? What if a rifle hunter has to hit a quarter at 600 yards 9 out of ten times or they can't hunt? PETA would love that rule...

How about if they just take a hunter ed. course and maybe learn good hunting ethics. Know your limits as a hunter, don't take bad shots. Just because someone can hit a deer @ 400 yards doesn't mean I can, know your limits.I could keep going but I'll stop.

[mattys281]

I'm not opposed to the test. I see it as being the same as testing to get a drivers license. You should be able to demonstrate your proficiency with a weapon (regardless of what type you use), even though the target/hunting scenarios are different. Besides, being tested may not apply the same pressure as shooting at a buck, but the pressure of having someone watch and evaluate you is a lot different than flinging arrows at the range with your buddies. I also have known rifle hunters who bought bows & archery tags just to get an "extra season", so perhaps a test would keep them out of the woods & leave more deer for me. Greedy, I know!

[JohnFriddle]

BAAAAAAAD IDEA!!!! Most animals are are wounded because of taking bad shots, i.e. running, bad position, etc. Skill has little to do with that... Anyone who would suggest game and fish take on something else, hasn't hunted around here very long... They can't handle whats on their plate now... If you start excluding folks from hunting because they can't shoot what YOU think they should be able to shoot, whats next??? What if they say you have to be able to hit pie plate at 100 yards or 200 yards 9 out of 10 times? What if a rifle hunter has to hit a quarter at 600 yards 9 out of ten times or they can't hunt? PETA would love that rule...

How about if they just take a hunter ed. course and maybe learn good hunting ethics. Know your limits as a hunter, don't take bad shots. Just because someone can hit a deer @ 400 yards doesn't mean I can, know your limits.I could keep going but I'll stop.

 

 

 

All great ideas... All things everyone should do... Make them laws? How would you enforce them? While hunters ed courses have value, I don't think they should be mandatory... I really didn't learn any more than I had been taught by my family over the years... I enjoyed the class and was glad to take it but I don't think it should be mandatory...