Comments on: Carrying a Gun to a Bowhunt

By: Brad

Brad — Wed, 05 May 2010 14:34:28 +0000

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.
http://www.thehuntandfishblog.com/

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 03:11:52 +0000

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

By: Jerry

Jerry — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 15:03:06 +0000

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.)

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By: Kerrmudgeon

Kerrmudgeon — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:28:07 +0000

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.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:37:30 +0000

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.

By: Marcus Lusk

Marcus Lusk — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:19:06 +0000

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

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:02:58 +0000

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?

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:28:36 +0000

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.

By: Jesse

Jesse — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:28:04 +0000

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.