Hunting

There is much controversy over hunting with a bow. This practice is known as bowhunting. Some people believe that bows are an acceptable, if not preferred, way to take game, while others find the practice abominable.

In North America, bow hunting is usually legal and often encouraged over rifle hunting. Many American hunters prefer using a bow because of the added challenge. While a rifle hunter may take a shot at any distance under 200 yards (180 m), archers must get within 30 yards (27 m). Some localities stipulate that certain types of game, often deer, may only be taken with a bow. In other localities, special bow hunting seasons are set aside to prevent interference from rifle hunters. Besides deer, many bow hunters shoot feral pigs, small game, or birds. People also occasionally fish with modified bows; this practice is called bowfishing.

In certain other areas, including many countries in Europe, bow hunting is considered unnecessarily cruel to animals, and is therefore prohibited. However, in Britain the ban on hunting with bows is due to the fact that Medieval poachers used bows to hunt royal deer, and so a ban on using bows for hunting prevented the poaching. Although there may be archers who disagree with these bans on hunting with bows in Europe, the law will not change and they have accepted that and continue to practice archery in the legal manner.

A bow requires substantially more training than a rifle to use successfully and humanely. An experienced archery hunter can place a shot that will kill an animal in a second; an inexperienced archer may fire a non-fatal shot which an animal may carry for a long time.

Compound bows are usually preferred for hunting, although recurve bows are not uncommon and usually legal. Hunting points are traditionally broadheads, which are wide and knife-like in design in order to cut into game.