10. inexperienced/unqualified bow hunters, sportsmanship, bow 



HUNTER certification/education. WOUNDING OF WILDLIFE. 



This was my first year hunting with a bow and I like it. I 

 wouldn't shoot a cow or calf and never had a real good close shot 

 at a bull . The thing that bothers me the most is the amount of 

 elk that are hit with a bow and lost. I know of 11 elk among 

 some of the people I know that were shot and lost. 



I only get archery license so I can be out in woods get exercise 

 and check out animals. Half of the time I don't even take the 

 bow. Too many inexperienced bow hunters running around; shooting 

 and crippling animals, 75 yards or further. 



Bowhunting is becoming very popular. There seams to be a large 

 amount of inexpierenced hunters afield. This leads to hurt 

 animals bad publicity for bow hunting. 



Some sort of proficency test should be set up so people can't go 

 out and buy archery license and equipment and be archery hunters 

 the day before the season opens . 



Education for the unseasoned hunter is a must. 



I work for USFS and was in Calif, on fire assignment for the 

 entire month. I usually average 15+ days hunting for elk and 

 deer. The district I hunted most was 300 in 1986. I spent 

 approximately $1000 on archery hunting in 1986. In 1986 I hunted 

 in HD's #300, 302, 325, 328, and 329. Hunting District #324 

 should never have been closed. 



Need to education bowhunters . Too many "bow shooters" take 

 unethical shots. Especially at elk. Need to educate these 

 people on what is required for a killing shot! Close range (< 30 

 yds.) + proper angle = dead elk. Hunters should not have too 

 choose between weapons since they are only allowed one animal. 

 Bow hunters pay twice the price to have privledge to hunt with 

 bow, but don't harvest any additional animals for that license. 



I think there are too many archery hunters out there who just 

 hunt during archery season so they can hunt longer per year. 

 Alot of these hunters don't take the time to practice shooting 

 their bow and honing their hunting skills. I personally hear of 

 a lot of bad shots taken every year by unskilled bow hunters. I 

 also hear about a lot of wounded animals. I would like to see 



the hunters have to choose archery, or gun. As per #8(B) of 

 the questionaire. Or as per #8(A). 



Many people think that archery is just taking pot shots at 

 animals hoping to get one. I have spent many hours perfecting 



