Carrying a Gun to a Bowhunt

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I’ve unapologetically lifted this discussion from the Jesse’s Hunting and Outdoors forum, because it raises some interesting questions and I thought I’d see where you all stand.

So here it is, in a nutshell. Many states, like California, do not allow hunters on the provision of an archery tag or hunting during an archery-only season to carry a firearm. The logical rationale for this is that there’s a risk of hunters using the gun instead of the bow, and this makes it difficult for law enforcement to monitor legal take.

So my questions to you all:

Does your state allow you to carry a handgun while bowhunting in archery-season
If you could carry a handgun while bowhunting, would you? Why or why not?

In the two states I know best, California and North Carolina, it’s not legal to have any kind of firearm when you’re bowhunting during bow season. Of course, during regular firearms season you can carry both.

This doesn’t apply to activities such as hog hunting, since there is no archery-only season for them, but for deer and, in some cases, bear, it is is prohibited.

Personally, I don’t have an issue with the prohibition. I don’t see the need for a firearm while I’m bowhunting anyway. I have carried the .44 while bowhunting during turkey season… but that’s because I turkey hunt in hog country, and if I had a chance to pop a wild hog the .44 gives me a lot more range and power than the old recurve. (Now that I’m shooting the compound, that may change.)

Anyway, where do you weigh in on this?

Training Wheels

Reply

Jesse

Posted July 10, 2008 at 12:23 AM

Missouri also does not allow pistol carry while bowhunting. The law you can’t carry a pistol while bowhunting is nonsense IMHO. Wardens have a simple test they can use to detect a bullet hole.

I know one archer named Pete who was stalked right at dark by a cougar at Fort Hunter Liggett that would have enjoyed a pistol much better than trying to hastily nock an arrow.
Reply

Arthur

Posted July 10, 2008 at 3:53 AM

Michigan doesn’t allow you to carry a firearm while bowhunting either, but I honestly don’t have a problem with it. With the increase in black bear in our state, and the definite possibility of cougar in the state, I think that we should be allowed to carry a sidearm for protection if we so choose.

I think that all states should adopt this policy. Why shouldn’t bowhunters be entitled to some form of protection against possible animal predators, and maybe even humans, while hunting?

I think it just makes sense.
Reply

Bret

Posted July 10, 2008 at 6:21 AM

As has been mentioned CA doesn’t allow us to carry a firearm when we have an Archery only tag. The two times I have seen a mountain lion in my life I was bow hunting. Once at Fort Hunter Liggett and once at Camp Pendleton. Although the lion didn’t know I was there in either case I would have felt more comfortable if I had a firearm.

On a side note, at Camp Pendleton a bow hunter hit and only wounded a deer and the game warden there ultimately ended up shooting the deer with his hand gun. When I questioned him on that as it was an Archery only situation I just got a blank stare. I didn’t question it further but I imagine if the hunter had done that a citation would have been issued.

I don’t have strong feelings either way and look forward to an Archery only hunt (A24) this year.
Reply

Tom Sorenson

Posted July 10, 2008 at 7:24 AM

Oregon recently (well, a few years back) started allowing archers to carry a sidearm while hunting archery only seasons. Idaho has allowed it for as long as I can remember. I think banning the carrying of a sidearm isn’t smart – A few years ago, I never used to think of it, but my father had a bear encounter (the area we hunt elk is infested with bear – our record is seven bear sightings in ONE DAY!) Anyways, one particular time, Dad found himself in a very precarious situation with a momma bear – the brush is real thick in there so don’t go givin’ me that be aware of your surroundings crap! Anyhow – since then I’ve realized that there just ain’t any time to knock an arrow if a bear or cougar surprises you with an attack – and wouldn’t do much good even if you could knock an arrow. I’d rather feel the safety and added weight of a .44 strapped to my side than the claws of a bear on my neck.

I understand the Fish and Game’s stance, too though. It was only about ten years ago that a local guy got nailed for shooting an elk with some sort of small rife during hunting season. I was a youngster, so don’t remember all the details surrounding the ordeal, but I can see how it would be tough. However, I’m pretty certain that if the area I was hunting was infested with bears, i wouldn’t care what the law said, I’d carry a sidearm – I’d rather pay the fine than lose my life.
Reply

Josh

Posted July 10, 2008 at 7:40 AM

I’m in California, and I’ve never had a problem with the gun ban during archery season. I think the temptation would be too high for too many folks. Also, I would think a handgun to be pretty poor protection during an attack. I’d prefer a 12 gauge with slugs, or my brother’s .300 wsm. But, I’ve never been attacked, so that’s an uninformed opinion, and one I’d probably change while being mauled.

I’m curious, though. I wonder why this hasn’t come up as a 2nd amendment issue? The actual banning of firearms on a person?
Reply

Phillip Loughlin

Posted July 10, 2008 at 8:58 AM

Josh, the 2nd Amendment question is a good one, but I’m not sure it’s really relevant when it comes to determining the kinds of weapons allowed for hunting.

There’s no outright ban or prohibition on possession, except while you’re in the field, hunting. It’s no different than being told you can’t pack in the workplace (guns in the parking lot is a different argument, however). It’s a “reasonable limitation”… at least as far as the Constitution is concerned. It has been challenged at least once that I know of (in Oregon) on 2nd amendment grounds in the past, by the way, and it stood.

I suppose if someone wanted to make a run at it, they could do so, but I think the best challenge would be the one that was successful in Oregon… and that’s the argument that the Fish and Game Commission doesn’t have the authority to prohibit possession of a firearm that’s not already prohibited under state law. I don’t know how CA compares to Oregon as far as that level of authority, so maybe such a challenge would fail here… but it does open an interesting can of worms.
Reply

dihardhunter

Posted July 10, 2008 at 10:21 AM

North Carolina does not allow archers to carry firearms of any kind (sidearms included)…
Would I if it were legal? If you do kill a trophy, you might have some ‘haters’, no sense in giving them more ammunition. That being said, I don’t live in the Rockies where a grizzly encounter is always a possibility. Probably a different answer from me if that is the situation.
Reply

Phillip Loughlin

Posted July 11, 2008 at 10:03 AM

Just to stir this up a bit, how much safer are you, really, with a handgun strapped to your hip?

I’ve heard many of these stories about people who’ve had close encounters with “dangerous” wildlife, from bears to lions, and use this as justification to carry a gun. Yet the recurrent facts of the stories show that, despite the proximity of the perceived threat, no one actually got attacked or even had the necessity to defend themselves from the threat.

In other words, “You saw a lion or a bear. So what?”

I do know, first hand, of only one case where a bowhunter was stalked and possibly endangered by a lion. I’m not sure of the full circumstances, but suffice it to say the hunter felt threatened enough to take defensive action… and he shot and killed the lion. WITH HIS BOW. If he’d stopped to drop the bow and draw a handgun, and if the lion were truly intent on making a meal of him… things would most likely have turned out better for the cat and worse for the bowhunter.

I’ve heard of (second and third hand) other bowhunters who had to defend themselves… and in every case the defense was successful with the bow. No gun required… and from the sounds of it, there wouldn’t have been time to switch weapons anyway.

In the reported cases of wild animal attacks on unarmed individuals, how many of them could have been prevented or averted by the presence of a handgun?

I do feel a little differently about the risk from grizzly bears and two-legged varmints.

Grizzlies are known to come for humans, and they don’t usually do so from ambush… to reasons that a firearm may be a realistic option for defense. You actually see it coming and may have time to react. I know that if I were bowhunting in grizzly country, I may want to have a backup firearm, either on my person or in the hands of a companion.

Likewise, it does appear to be a fact that drug growers and producers are getting a little more violent. We just had another shooting during a raid here in CA, where one of the growers was killed by deputies in a shootout. Personally, I have yet to experience a confrontation, armed or otherwise, in my accidental discoveries of pot fields, but it does appear to be happening.

So I’m not sure what the answer is.

I know I’m not opposed to people carrying guns while bowhunting, even though I’d probably not do it unless hunting in grizzly country. While I can appreciate the way the law enforcement agencies see it, I don’t think the poaching is really that widespread.

But I also think a lot of folks have attached a dangerously unrealistic sense of security to simply having a firearm “for protection”. In the majority cases of REAL attack, the victim isn’t likely to have time to use the gun in the first place. But if it makes you feel more secure, I suppose there’s value in that.
Reply

Jesse

Posted July 11, 2008 at 10:28 AM

Tell you what, I’ll give you the bow and I’ll take a pistol with 10 rounds when a cat is circling in low light. With a bow you’re gonna get one shot maybe if you’re not in heavy brush where you can’t even draw the thing. A pistol is a much better weapon in close quarters with several quick follow ups possible if you miss in all the high adventure.

As far as it being to tempting for someone to pop a nice buck with a pistol, those types will cheat no matter the circumstance so that arguments doesn’t work. They shoot out of season, before legal shoot time etc. There is also a simple test wardens can use to find bullet holes to weed out the sneaks.
Reply

Matt

Posted July 24, 2008 at 7:28 AM

It’s against the law to carry a firearm while hunting during bow season here in Virginia. The biggest threat I have to worry about while bow hunting is upsetting the neighbors of the small properties I hunt. I think a gunshot would definitely do that, and I’d probably have to give up hunting there soon after.
Reply

Sam

Posted July 24, 2008 at 3:02 PM

I think it would be somewhat safer if we were allowed to “carry” a pistol while bow hunting.
You may be out for Deer or Turkey and you may run into a Mt. Lion or Bear that is hunting you.

I wonder if there are any stats on number of encounters. I Know of a few incidents.

Taking a bear or lion for sport is one thing but shooting one in self defense is another. Guess thats why we can carry a knife?
So you have a bow, I guess you shoot the bear or lion if you are in fear of it attacking you, but either way you don’t have a tag to take it so how do you prove self defense?
Reply

Marcus Lusk

Posted August 13, 2008 at 1:19 AM

Is it illegal to carry a handgun while bow hunting in South Carolina????
Reply

Kevin

Posted August 25, 2008 at 3:37 PM

New York doesn’t allow any handgun of any kind during Archery season. This makes no sense since I could legally hunt other game with my handgun during these times. For example, Turkey season and Deer Archery season are identical dates in some areas. I am missing out on an opportunity to hunt both game. Why should it be illegal just because the DEC “thinks” someone may use their handgun on a deer instead of their bow.
Reply

Kerrmudgeon

Posted January 7, 2009 at 6:28 PM

As a CCW permit holder, I’m more than capable of not discharging my handgun when it would be illegal to do so. The notion that I am abiding by the law that prevents me from carrying it on an archery-only hunt but would otherwise break the law by using it [and drawing a lot of attention] is foolish.

Whether I *need* a handgun is not really something that’s enjoyable to debate. Violent crimes happen, predatory animal attacks happen. The probability it will happen to me is thankfully low, but I prefer to be prepared.
Reply

Jerry

Posted September 6, 2009 at 7:03 AM

Speaking from personal experience, the biggest threat to bow hunters (and all hunters)in California, especially in the Mendocino and Six Rivers National Forest areas, the Yolla Bolly -Middle Eel Wilderness area, all adjacent BLM lands; and all of the surrounding private lands is not from the occasional mountain lion or bear that you will come across, but is most assuredly from the marijuana growers that plague these areas and have been known to shoot at and sometimes kill a wayword hunter who may inadvertantly stumble on their pot gardens. This threat mainly comes from illegal aliens, from Mexico or Central American drug Cartels that are sent of here to live on site, plant, care for, protect and finally harvest this emerald gold. These gardens can be in the most remote areas or close in; you never know. I have come across many gardens especially in the California B zone rifle season. Luckily these had already been harvested and have been abandoned. However, bow hunters hunt early in the year and these gardens have not yet been harvested and the caretakers are still living on site. Therefore, as one who lives in this area, I would and do carry a sidearm with me while I bow hunt. I love my Mathews dxt, but I would not be without my Kimber Ultra Covert II. If I am ever stopped by Fish & Game out in the back country, and the warden is not a reasonable person who understands this danger, I will take the ticket over the risk of being unprotected in the heart of what we call the emerald triangle. (most wardens are fully aware of this risk here, just ask one.)
Reply

Michael

Posted January 13, 2010 at 7:11 PM

I’m probably one of the most unlucky individuals on earth as I’ve had numerous encounters with both predators hunting me and violent circumstances that required me to utilize my self defense weapon or at least display it with a clear understanding of my intentions, the latter referring to perpetrators of course.
While turkey hunting in New Mexico I learned that mountain lions will hunt you with the notion they may enjoy a nice turkey dinner and nearly became that meal. On 2 occasions I had set up to call in a gob just before first light and heard the branches above me cracking and thought it to be turkey roosted above until on both of those occasions a bear fell out of the tree and landed on the ground right in front of me. Apparently this is a pretty common problem bears have(falling out of trees) according to my friend the local game warden and another individual who has seen this happen. My 3 year old son and I were preseason scouting for turkey and during this particular morning I had enticed deer, elk, and even antelope to come into the turkey call when to my surprise a bear with a cub did so and got within several feet of us before fortunatly running away from us.
Now, regarding the issue of self defense things are a little more to be concerned with in my state of Arizona. We live and hunt in the SW part of the state and deal with the constant risk of being car jacked, robbed, murdered and so on while in the middle of no where, and I mean middle of no where. Today we were archery deer hunting 10 or so miles from the Merxican border and only encountered a couple of dozen illegal alliens( a slow day) who will do just about anything if it will help their cause. Drug smugglers are as well a big problem in this part of the state and will murder you just for being in the area of their drop or pick up site. So I do carry all the time while hunting, no exceptions.
My question though, is it legal to carry in Arizona while engaged in an archery only deer hunt? If someone can give me the heads up on that I would appreciate it.
Thanks,
Michael
Reply

Brad

Posted May 5, 2010 at 6:34 AM

In Wisconsin we are permitted to carry firearms while bow-hunting. Whether or not I carry a handgun while bow-hunting depends on where I’m hunting. Typically when I hunt in the northern portion of the state I carry a .357 magnum do to bear and wolves. I’ll probably never need it, but I would rather not need it and have it compared to needing it and not having it. On a separate note I have heard of people in Wisconsin carrying shotguns while bow-hunting when the season overlaps with Turkey season.
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Carrying a Gun to a Bowhunt

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