Bowhunting is the practice of killing game animals

Game (food)

Game is any animal hunted for food or not normally domesticated. Game animals are also hunted for sport.The type and range of animals hunted for food varies in different parts of the world. This will be influenced by climate, animal diversity, local taste and locally accepted view about what can or...

 by archery

Archery

Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...

. It has been a normal use of archery in every culture that had bows.

Technique

In contrast to a rifle hunter, who may shoot effectively from ranges in excess of 600 yards (548.6 m); archers usually restrict shots to 2.3 yards (2.1 m) to 42 yards (38.4 m). The distance depends upon individual ability, the target animal, the bow strength, terrain, arrow and weather. Most bows used for hunting have a draw weight of 50 pound-forces (222.4 N) or more. This is enough to hunt all but the very largest game. Arrows with mass more than 900 gr penetrate better in large animals so might be the bow hunter's choice when hunting these animals.

Arrow

Arrow

An arrow is a shafted projectile that is shot with a bow. It predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.An arrow usually consists of a shaft with an arrowhead attached to the front end, with fletchings and a nock at the other.- History:...

s, bows

Bow (weapon)

The bow and arrow is a projectile weapon system that predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.-Description:A bow is a flexible arc that shoots aerodynamic projectiles by means of elastic energy. Essentially, the bow is a form of spring powered by a string or cord...

 and sights are commonly of the more modern varieties. However, all effective variations, including crossbow

Crossbow

A crossbow is a weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles, often called bolts or quarrels. The medieval crossbow was called by many names, most of which derived from the word ballista, a torsion engine resembling a crossbow in appearance.Historically, crossbows played a...

s and wooden bows launching wooden arrows with stone points, are used.

Methods of hunting

The bow hunter may walk along the ground slowly, looking for game and stalking it carefully in the final approach. This is called "still hunting." Hunters often wear camouflage clothing and walk upwind.

In "stand hunting" the hunter waits for game to come to him, usually near food, water, or known trails. Brush and other natural materials may be placed for cover, or a "ground blind" that looks like a tent. The hunter may wait on a wooden or metal stand elevated in a tree, from three to six metres.

Bowhunting for fish is called bowfishing

Bowfishing

Bowfishing is a method of fishing that uses specialized archery equipment to shoot and retrieve fish. Fish are shot with a barbed arrow that is attached with special line to a reel mounted on the bow. Some freshwater species commonly hunted include common carp, grass carp, bighead carp, alligator...

. Bowfishing equipment usually adds a line attached to a spool or a reel as well as a specially designed, heavier arrow. The sights are different to allow for refraction

Refraction

Refraction is the change in direction of a wave due to a change in its speed. It is essentially a surface phenomenon . The phenomenon is mainly in governance to the law of conservation of energy. The proper explanation would be that due to change of medium, the phase velocity of the wave is changed...

.

Legal and cultural considerations

Legal and cultural differences must be taken into consideration by the hunter. Bowhunting often has different seasons and restrictions from firearm hunting, and they differ significantly between countries, states, and provinces. To some, 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. Others are deeply opposed to hunting, on the grounds of cruelty.

Europe

Nations including Denmark, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Hungary, Finland, Bulgaria and Slovenia use bow and arrow hunting as a hunting tool in modern game management. Some European countries including Croatia, Germany, Ireland, and the United Kingdom prohibit bowhunting. Bowhunting, like target archery, was revived in the UK

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 during the Victorian era, but has been banned throughout the British Isles

British Isles

The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...

 since the 1960s.

USA and Canada

In the USA and Canada, as with other styles of hunting, bowhunting is regulated by individual provinces and states. Regulations often address issues such as which area to hunt in, what time of year, (season) and which sex and species of game may be taken. In many cases, a special archery season is set aside, to minimize interference from rifle hunters. While bowhunting can run into rifle hunting seasons, hunter orange is typically required to be worn during the cross over seasons. 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.

In general most bow hunting for big game begins in late August or early September in northern states or Canadian Provinces, and slightly later in southern states.

New Zealand

Organised bow hunting began in New Zealand in 1945. The New Zealand government regulates bowhunting An annual 3 day field shoot tournament is held every Queens Birthday Weekend at various locations throughout New Zealand. Bowhunters must have permission to hunt on private land, and they cannot hunt in DOC lands, National parks,or any other reserves without a permit.

There are no special seasons for bowhunters or for hunting with a firearm. There is an active bow hunters society.

Australia

Bowhunting is practised in Australia and is not specifically subject to regulation by law. Only non-native species are recognized as game by the Australian Bowhunters Association. However, native species may be killed during government authorized culls.

The states of Victoria

Victoria (Australia)

Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....

 and New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. 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.

While both Victoria and New South Wales place licensing requirements on would-be bowhunters, the sport is self-regulated. The Australian Bowhunters Association and local clubs assess hunters through the Bowhunter Proficiency Certificate (BPC) which is designed to ensure that animals are killed according to humane principles.