I am an avid bow hunter and sport shooter. I spend all season 

 practicing and shooting my bow. I would like to see everyone 

 that hunts with a bow to spend enough time with his (or her) bow 

 to get good at shooting it. The animals you hunt deserve it. 



The main thing I am concerned about todays archery is wounded and 

 lost animals. Even friends of mine that are better than average 

 hunters seem to hit quite a few animals they don't get. We need 

 to make archers much more serious . 



In 1987 I was in close and spooked four different bulls but they 

 were right back the next day. There were at least six bulls and 

 approx. forty cows that stayed in the drainage I was hunting all 

 bow season. Opening day of rifle season I was back again at 8:30 

 am. I shot a 5x5 bull with one shot and the elk pretty much 

 disappeared from the drainage. Due to this experience and 

 similar experiences in the last five years, I don't believe 

 archery hunting spooks elk out of an area. 



I would like to see archery hunter certification required. I 

 believe that would thin out the ones that don't practice and 

 can't hit the broad side of a barn. 



As a first year archery hunter I didn't attempt to take an elk 

 with a bow. My self convindence wasn't as such as to take the 

 risk of a wounded animal because as a guide for Montana I know 

 the importance of a good clean kill, maybe next year. 



I strongly feel that a bow hunter education class is needed. The 

 nature of bowhunting makes it very easy for an animal to be 

 wounded and left. Only responsible people should be allowed in 

 the field. It should be harder to pass the bowhunter education 

 class than the hunter safety class. 



To acquire reasonable accuracy with a bow requires a lot of 

 practice. It would be nice, but probably impossible to keep 

 unskilled archers from attempting shots at game that is out of 

 their accurate range, of course the same thing applies to rifle 

 hunting. 



Would really like to see all hunters (bow) attend and pass bow 

 safety and ettiquette course. I had several trips and 

 opportunities ruined by ignorant and rude hunters. 



I would also be in favor of a managed muzzle-loader season. 



Although I've never killed an elk with my bow, I enjoy bowhunting 

 twice as much as rifle hunting. There is a need for archery 

 education class that provide safety, proper equipment and proper 

 hunting techniques, so we can reduce wounded animals and personal 

 injuries. 



