Hunting game animals by using bows and arrows and archery techniques is called bowhunting. It has been widely practiced throughout history in every country where bows were made and used. Hunting was considered a sport of royalty and nobility from ancient times to medieval times, and a matter of prestige for those who practiced it. It is one of the reasons why cheetahs became extinct in India. Recently, due to the lethality of available weapons, declining wild animal populations, and increased animal rights campaigns, bowhunting is regulated in most countries and banned in some.
Today bowhunting is often legally practiced and regulated in many countries. Animal rights organizations like PETA are working hard to ban hunting of all kinds for animal rights reasons. Bowhunting in particular has a wound rate of 58% or more, meaning for every successful kill, there is one wound. However, hunting is considered a sport even in modern society. It takes a lot of practice and a permit too to become a decent bow hunter.
Bowhunting can be done with several different types of bows. The range of a kill can be anywhere from 20 to 30 yards, depending on experience level, gear, target, and weather. Beginners using bows intended for beginners typically have lower range and accuracy. Smaller, faster targets are harder to kill. Weather affects filming by means of mist and fog. On the other hand, the rifle hunters range could be over 200 yards. Also, the lethality of rifles is higher. ‘
Today modern compound bows are the preferred weapon for hunting, due to their greater durability and the speed and accuracy of the arrow. Recurve bows are also used and are often legal. Traditional longbows are often quieter and slower than modern bows. Crossbows are sometimes allowed, but are controversial due to their similarity in operation to firearms.
Hunting seasons are often different for bowhunting and rifle hunting, as riflemen have a significant advantage over archers with regards to shot accuracy, range, and lethality. Bowhunting also has a different set of restrictions than hunting with firearms.
Bowhunting is considered by some to be cruelty to animals, as it involves killing healthy animals in wild populations, usually for sheer pleasure. However, it is also a way to control animal populations and interact with natural habitats, especially for urban people. In Australia, native species not normally killed for game may be killed by bowhunters during government-sanctioned culls.
Some European countries like Germany, Croatia, UK and Ireland have banned bowhunting. Others use it as a hunting tool in modern game management. In the United States and Canada, it is regulated by individual states and provinces. Hunting regulations are written quite meticulously, determining the hunting season, the hunting grounds, and the type of animal, including species and gender. To improve the lethality and recovery of shots, the technical guidelines determine the parameters of the equipment involved, such as the minimum draw weight, especially for large game species.
