Hunting Sense

I prefer hunting with a bow and arrows to hunting with a gun because I feel that the animal and I are on a more level playing field by doing so. Despite this fact, I still find myself sometimes struggling with whether or not this gives me too much of an advantage. Does the level of technology of the weapon and equipment I use negate any perceived level of fairness I think there is?

My bow is a Jennings Buckmaster with fiber-optic sights, overdraw, and a stabilizer, and I use a mechanical release and graphite arrows. All of these are fairly recent innovations that can greatly increase an archery hunter’s chances. Their skills still play an important role though, no matter, but does that justify the use of these newer technologies?

Personally, I believe it does.

Granted, it can be argued that from the time the first person picked up a club to use as a weapon to aid in hunting, we have had an unfair advantage over our prey. And that advantage has grown with each advancement we’ve made in weaponry. Looked at from that perspective, the only fair tactic is to dispose of anything other than our bare hands to hunt with.

Weapons will continue to evolve; making their use easier than those that came before them. Deciding at what level of advancement you choose to hunt with and what seems the fairest falls to personal choice. Hunters will have a different opinion of which is right for them and what fits into their beliefs and ethics.

Even though I sometimes think going more traditional archery, using a recurve bow for instance, I am ok with using my compound bow. It’s the skill involved, no matter the weapon of choice.

That’s my thoughts, what’s yours?

hunting, archery, traditional, technology, ethics