Is traditional archery hunting unethical?

[MattB]

Hunting with trad gear is not unethical. Shooting beyond one's effective range is. It has been my experience that some people use trad gear as an excuse for exceeding their effective range. That is on the shooter, not the equipment.

 

[StupidLightweight]

Well said, MattB. Lest anyone think I'm anti traditional archery, my mission this year is to practice with an old recurve I was gifted and see how hard it is to gain proficiency. With two young kids, I don't leave home often, but I can practice in the backyard this spring and summer to see what all the excitement is about. I'm not saying I'll hunt big-game with it, but the passion for trad archery in this thread does intrigue me. Thanks to everyone who shared their insights into this ancient tool.

 

[1Canvas]

I have struggled with this a bit myself and waited two years of almost every day practice to be very precise at 17 yards and under.
Over that I will use a compound. That said, there is nothing like hunting with traditional gear and the reward after a good kill is nothing like any other hunting.

 

[Geytre88]

The question of ethics in this topic is relative to the effort being put forth by the shooter, confidence in themselves knowing they put in the work and the limitations of their gear. Be reasonable and respect the game you’re chasing.

 

[Beendare]

This thread is still cooking?

Dang after not shooting for a couple months..... I'm an unethical stick bow guy and I proved it on 3D animals today....

I can pick up my compound after not shooting for many months and be pretty accurate- it's like riding a bike. Not so with Stickbows...at least for me.

 

[cck311]

This thread is still cooking?

Dang after not shooting for a couple months..... I'm an unethical stick bow guy and I proved it on 3D animals today....

I can pick up my compound after not shooting for many months and be pretty accurate- it's like riding a bike. Not so with Stickbows...at least for me.

Yeah, I went and got my compound hunt ready over the long weekend "just in case". Blows my mind how easy it is compared to a stickbow. Feels like cheating haha.

 

[Beendare]

Yeah, I went and got my compound hunt ready over the long weekend "just in case". Blows my mind how easy it is compared to a stickbow. Feels like cheating haha.

Same here....compound IS like riding a bike.

I did start shooting a little and my form is starting to come back.

I set up a lighter bow-46# and that sure helped.

I'm starting to think;
Why I even shoot heavier than that is silly.

 

[cck311]

Same here....compound IS like riding a bike.

I did start shooting a little and my form is starting to come back.

I set up a lighter bow-46# and that sure helped.

I'm starting to think;
Why I even shoot heavier than that is silly.

You know as well as I do that little 46 pounder will get it done.

 

[Gun]

Last years Bull. 43# Bear TD. Down in 40yds

 

[Arizona_archer73]

Whew! Just read through this thread. Interesting opinions by all! Trad bows are ethical IMO. (I hunt with a Bear takedown recurve.)

But if one goes solely by weapon efficacy, and excludes reasonable self judgement of proficiency and restraint when needed, then:

The only ethical weapon is the best possible technology that exists, and is legal to use. A.270 with irons wouldn't be ethical for elk deer or elk when a .308 with a scope exists by that line of thinking.

And anyone who considers trad bows unethical would have to extend the logic to conclude all forms of bow hunting are unethical since rifles exist.

Hunting is a sport, and misses will happen, even with the best technology and intentions and judgement. Only the hunter knows if they were ethical; hunting within their ability to make the shot, and physically able to recover the animal.