Some states allow it...others don't. Get a read from your Fish and Game folks before you start getting all wound up... It seems you're already looking for an excuse not to do something before you even give it a try... I'm sure there are a slew of bow hunters in OK that get by just fine, whatever the laws are.
Sharps Model 1874 - "The rifle that made the west safe for Winchester"
I've already emailed my Ok state F&G for clarifications on bow hunting with sidearms on one's person. I asked about handguns for personal security during archery seasons. Please stay tuned for their answer. If their answer is no handguns on one's person during archery seasons, then I will put aside this notion of taking up bow hunting altogether and address my state legislature about this. I can see not being allowed to use a gun during archery season to kill game, but being not allowed to have one for personal defense is a nother horse of a nother color.
I really don't want to launch arrows at paper targets or foam 3D targets without the ultimate goal of putting something in my freezer via an airborne arrow. Until I get conformation that I can lawfully pack a pistol during archery seasons, I will set my sights on gun hunting only, no pun intended.
I do understand the importance of target practice with a bow and with a gun to be an ethical hunter. I don't care to have to rely on archery equipment alone for self-defense. If I'm bow hunting and a rabid dog, a hog or a cougar attacks me, I want to be able to pull out a Smith & Wesson in that scenario. As far as I know, Smith & Wesson doesn't make pepper spray or archery bows.
Traditional bowhunter here, or used to be. Longbows and recurves only. I haven't had a compound bow in over 35 years.
Also, I was the editor of Primitive Archer for five years or so. Dealt with wooden/natural bows and arrows.
The way to learn shooting a bow is to get some basic education on shooting a bow form and then do it...forever and ever. Someone mentioned holding a bow at full draw while you aim, but with a traditional bow, you don't need to hold draw more than a second or two.
To me, compound bows are ugly, if that's important...and I think that's one part of shooting a bow. Humans relied on non-compound bows for thousands of years to kill animals, wooden arrows with sharp heads. You don't need 60 pound draw weight bow to kill anything with four legs...except big-ass bears. And for hunting, think close range...if you can hit a paper plate at 20 yards w/out a sight, you're good to go. I wouldn't use a sight even if I could; it's not the way I learned to shoot. Will it make you hit targets or deer better. Yes, it probably will but it takes away for the versatility of a bow, at least for me.
I've made a number of bows out of Osage and yew and hickory and black locust and enjoyed making and shooting them. They're not speed demons but they're capable of doing anything you need to do with a bow. And they look great.
The Leatherwall is a site for traditional bow talk. I haven't been on there lately but I believe it's a fine site.
As for learning, it's a bit like learning chess...you can learn the moves in a few minutes but it will take years to figure out how to apply those rules. And as for a mentor, great if you can find one. I've never seen this happen, at least formally, but you hang around shooting events and learn from them. There are two magazines for traditionalists; Traditional Bowhunter and Primitive Archery (wooden bows and other natural bow materials.)
I have three recurves all around 40 pounds, a longbow that's 50, and my selfbows, which I don't remember the weight, probably around 60.
My advice is to not get a hunting weight bow as your learning bow...you'll be over-bowed. Start at a manageable weight, say 30 pounds or so, and learn the basics on that then move up. Shooting a bow develops and requires back muscles you don't need for any other sport I know of and if you get a bow that's too heavy you will develop bad habits for life.
Concealed carry is for protection, open carry is for attention.
Here is an answer from Mr. Erdman of the ODWC (Oklahoma game agency) regarding handgun carry during archery seasons:
"Yes, you can carry a pistol for personal defense only. It can not be used in the hunt in any way. If hunting on any federally owned lands check with them first. If you have any other questions please let me know. Thank you."
I thanked him for such a prompt reply so early on a Monday morning. Now I'm glad to know I can take my trad recurve bow out for deer and have Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson guard me from any hungry cougar or pack of coyotes that happens to catch scent of my fresh-killed doe. I will have to learn how to dispatch a down wounded deer with an archer's bow safely. It sounds like using a gun for this purpose is still a no-no.
If you put a bullet hole in a deer during archery season or a archery only area, and get caught, it will cost you.
Patience is something you will need to develop when archery hunting, as it seems you lack that in other areas.
You can shoot an animal again with a bow, just like you can with a firearm.
I am pretty sure you will have at least one knife with you when hunting .
Can't a broadhead be fired between the eye and ear of a down wounded deer for a humane dispatch? Is there a better shot placement than that to kill a down wounded animal. Ideally, I would want a well-placed hemorrhaging shot the first time.
If the deer is immobilized (spine shot) I prefer to use a knife. If I’m worried about the deer getting up and absconding, I’d just put another arrow in the chest if possible.
The brain is difficult to hit, especially with traditional equipment.
"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
Maybe another chest shot is better for me. I'm too squeamish to kill with a knife. Damn laws that say I can't finish a wounded archery season deer with a gun!
An arrow or bolt kills by laceration. IE you are cutting things to have them bleed out. That takes time.If it is far enough gone that you are willing to use a knife, then it is probably just about there.
It's boring, and your lack of creativity knows no bounds.
Here is an answer from Mr. Erdman of the ODWC (Oklahoma game agency) regarding handgun carry during archery seasons:
"Yes, you can carry a pistol for personal defense only. It can not be used in the hunt in any way. If hunting on any federally owned lands check with them first. If you have any other questions please let me know. Thank you."
I thanked him for such a prompt reply so early on a Monday morning. Now I'm glad to know I can take my trad recurve bow out for deer and have Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson guard me from any hungry cougar or pack of coyotes that happens to catch scent of my fresh-killed doe. I will have to learn how to dispatch a down wounded deer with an archer's bow safely. It sounds like using a gun for this purpose is still a no-no.
I'll say this for you...you take flights of fantasy to a whole new place...the odds of you being attacked by a pack of coyotes is about as likely as you getting run over by a city bus while you're walking around in a pasture...
Sharps Model 1874 - "The rifle that made the west safe for Winchester"
Very well. It's up to each and every individual bow hunter (or long gun hunter) to decide whether to pack a sidearm for whatever legitimate reason provided the law OK's it.
I might have an accident and cut a finger off or stab myself. The knife blow might not be powerful or deep enough to be humane. Is using a knife to kill game even lawful?
If you are actually as fearful as you express yourself in words, maybe hunting in nature is not for you, whether it is with a bow, or even a gun. It may be better for you to hunt for your meat inside your local grocery store.
You can even have your groceries delivered to your house now, if you so desire.
I might have an accident and cut a finger off or stab myself. The knife blow might not be powerful or deep enough to be humane. Is using a knife to kill game even lawful?
Nobody said anything about stabbing the deer to death.. This is normally accomplished by severing the carotid artery and accelerating the bleeding out process...
How are you going to handle field dressing?
And yes...hunting hogs with a knife (and dogs) happens...
Sharps Model 1874 - "The rifle that made the west safe for Winchester"
I might have an accident and cut a finger off or stab myself. The knife blow might not be powerful or deep enough to be humane. Is using a knife to kill game even lawful?
It’s lawful to dispatch a wounded deer (taken by legal means) with a knife in Texas. Been doing it for decades. But, I was just on the phone with a warden friend on an unrelated matter and I confirmed it with him just to be sure.
"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
Replies
For example in NC during bow and arrow deer season you can only use a .22 rimfire handgun.
Federal regs for duck prohibit handguns.
It means don't have it in possession either.
Get a read from your Fish and Game folks before you start getting all wound up...
It seems you're already looking for an excuse not to do something before you even give it a try...
I'm sure there are a slew of bow hunters in OK that get by just fine, whatever the laws are.
I do understand the importance of target practice with a bow and with a gun to be an ethical hunter. I don't care to have to rely on archery equipment alone for self-defense. If I'm bow hunting and a rabid dog, a hog or a cougar attacks me, I want to be able to pull out a Smith & Wesson in that scenario. As far as I know, Smith & Wesson doesn't make pepper spray or archery bows.
Also, I was the editor of Primitive Archer for five years or so. Dealt with wooden/natural bows and arrows.
The way to learn shooting a bow is to get some basic education on shooting a bow form and then do it...forever and ever. Someone mentioned holding a bow at full draw while you aim, but with a traditional bow, you don't need to hold draw more than a second or two.
To me, compound bows are ugly, if that's important...and I think that's one part of shooting a bow. Humans relied on non-compound bows for thousands of years to kill animals, wooden arrows with sharp heads. You don't need 60 pound draw weight bow to kill anything with four legs...except big-ass bears. And for hunting, think close range...if you can hit a paper plate at 20 yards w/out a sight, you're good to go. I wouldn't use a sight even if I could; it's not the way I learned to shoot. Will it make you hit targets or deer better. Yes, it probably will but it takes away for the versatility of a bow, at least for me.
I've made a number of bows out of Osage and yew and hickory and black locust and enjoyed making and shooting them. They're not speed demons but they're capable of doing anything you need to do with a bow. And they look great.
The Leatherwall is a site for traditional bow talk. I haven't been on there lately but I believe it's a fine site.
As for learning, it's a bit like learning chess...you can learn the moves in a few minutes but it will take years to figure out how to apply those rules. And as for a mentor, great if you can find one. I've never seen this happen, at least formally, but you hang around shooting events and learn from them. There are two magazines for traditionalists; Traditional Bowhunter and Primitive Archery (wooden bows and other natural bow materials.)
I have three recurves all around 40 pounds, a longbow that's 50, and my selfbows, which I don't remember the weight, probably around 60.
My advice is to not get a hunting weight bow as your learning bow...you'll be over-bowed. Start at a manageable weight, say 30 pounds or so, and learn the basics on that then move up. Shooting a bow develops and requires back muscles you don't need for any other sport I know of and if you get a bow that's too heavy you will develop bad habits for life.
"The Un-Tactical"
"Yes, you can carry a pistol for personal defense only. It can not be used in the hunt in any way. If hunting on any federally owned lands check with them first. If you have any other questions please let me know. Thank you."
I thanked him for such a prompt reply so early on a Monday morning. Now I'm glad to know I can take my trad recurve bow out for deer and have Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson guard me from any hungry cougar or pack of coyotes that happens to catch scent of my fresh-killed doe. I will have to learn how to dispatch a down wounded deer with an archer's bow safely. It sounds like using a gun for this purpose is still a no-no.
"The Un-Tactical"
"The Un-Tactical"
This is normally accomplished by severing the carotid artery and accelerating the bleeding out process...
How are you going to handle field dressing?
And yes...hunting hogs with a knife (and dogs) happens...
"The Un-Tactical"
Y'all crazy.
It’s a °IIIII° thing 😎