Everyone has their own dimension of time. Someone lives from vacation to vacation, from weekend to weekend. And for someone this time is measured by the long-awaited expectation of a new hunting season. Many Americans are waiting for this with a special thirst. Looking forward to that very morning, when there will be an opportunity to go outside with a cup of coffee, see the morning landscapes dressed in a variety of colors and breathe in the fresh air. Check that the car is loaded with everything you need and go on the road, to the forest, to unite with nature and ancestors who hunted long before we were born. And to feel it even more vividly, someone in his trunk carries not a rifle and other types of firearms, but a bow and arrows.
Bowhunting in the USA
It would seem that in our era of modern technology, progress, when new and improved models of rifles appear every year, a bow for hunting is considered to be a very strange choice. Especially when it comes to such large game as deer. In addition to the fact that the hunter must understand the anatomy of the animal in order to get to a specific point on the deer’s body and ensure a quick death, attention should be paid to the choice of quality weapons to achieve the above goals. However, someone still prefers the bow.
It is hardly possible and even logical to compare a rifle and a bow. In deer hunting, success can be achieved using both options. Moreover, when we talk about the bow, we mean modernized models, not those that were removed from the ceiling of the historical museum. The main thing here is that this kind of hunting is just a matter of preferences and habits. And several factors push to try this type of weapon.
In hunting it is extremely important to be invisible. And it is the extra noise that can become the reason that you will return home empty-handed. After all, a loud shot of your rifle will simply scare the animal and you will have to track it again.
A shot from a throwing weapon is also more ethical in relation to the animal, because unlike a bullet, an arrow does not form a temporarily pulsating cavity, there is no pain shock – with an accurate shot, the arrow passes through the animal, and the animal actually loses consciousness due to a sharp drop in pressure or as a result of pneumothorax.
There is no denying that the bow is more demanding on your physical fitness, the number of hours you have to allocate for training also increases. In addition, it requires more expenses, reduces the distance between you and the prey. But according to observations, those who have tried this kind of hunting, are not in a hurry to give it up despite certain disadvantages, because they claim that they really feel this craft, and adrenaline is constantly pulsating in the blood.
When asked whether it is legal, the answer is: “of course it is”. But there are restrictions, in general, as in all US laws concerning hunting. Every hunter, especially a beginner, should know where and when he can hunt livestock. After all, this applies not only to the bow. Before you go to the forest for prey, you should carefully study all the restrictions that you may encounter in your region. But if you encounter specific prohibitions, for example, in your state you can not hunt with a bow, it does not mean that this idea should die. It just means that your hunting season can be more interesting and exciting and away from home. Of course, only after you find a region where it is allowed, and draw up all the necessary documents for this. After all, in case of non-compliance with these rules, you risk going to jail.
Where to hunt with a bow in the USA?
Now we propose to consider the specific states in which you can hunt with firearms, and the conditions that must be observed in order not to meet with undesirable consequences.
Let’s start with the states of the central part of the USA. These include: North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota. There are three main hunting seasons: spring bear season (from the second Saturday of April to the last day of May); spring turkey season (first Saturday of April to the last day of May); autumn turkey season (first Thursday of November to the last day of December). People aged 14 and older already have the full right to get to work and start their way in hunting, using a bow and arrow. And most importantly without worrying about permits.
States of the northeast: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. In these states, it is mandatory to comply with specific guidelines before the start of the hunting seasons, and mostly you can kill big game. By the way, you can get a permit in these regions after 12 years. And any hunting equipment, even arrows, must be signed (address and name of the owner).
The Southeast region includes the following states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee. Here you can hunt big and small game. Hunters are required to have a valid license issued by the state. And children have the right to hunt only with a special permit.
In such states as Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, i.e. the Midwest region, as well as Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming (Rocky Mountains region) hunters regardless of age are required to have a permit issued by the state for the right to hunt with a bow and arrow in this territory. This applies to both big and small game.
In California, Oregon and Washington, the season is open during the same period as in the states of the central region, and the same restrictions are observed.
The Arctic-Alaska region. There are interesting hunting conditions that you should know about. Firstly, it is allowed to hunt large, small and fur animals. However, without a permit and the appropriate certificate, which is valid for two years and confirms the education of a bow hunter (of course, every two years if necessary, you update it) – hunting is prohibited.
So, as you can see hunting conditions vary depending on the state you are in. Somewhere there are certain restrictions, somewhere there are almost none. The main rule that you have to highlight for yourself is to check the laws before each trip. Because no one guarantees that there will be no innovations next season. Contact the government agencies and take care of your documents yourself.
