Bow only season... why?

[Smart]

I'm not sure if you are addressing my original post or not, but never have I said that I wanted to CHANGE anything. I am simply looking for the reasons why we have the archery only season and the justifications. I'm all for it since I am a bowhunter.

Todd

Not addressing you specifically....many have come in here and other forums asking the same thing....specifically OOSers, rifle hunters and crossbow hunters.....

I guess I will ask if you are all for it, why bring it into question and why do you need justifications?? Just curious that's all...

[BoneDigger]

Not addressing you specifically....many have come in here and other forums asking the same thing....specifically OOSers, rifle hunters and crossbow hunters.....

I guess I will ask if you are all for it, why bring it into question and why do you need justifications?? Just curious that's all...

I work for TPWD and I do a lot of outreach types of events for hunters and non-hunters alike. In the course of my presentations I am sometimes asked questions about hunting seasons, regulations, etc. For the obvious questions I have multiple copies of the Outdoor Annual that I can give to people to answer their questions. For the not-so-obvious questions, such as "Why?" then I don't always have a good answer.

My original question was two-fold. First, from my own personal perspective I was (and still am) interested in how the special season came about and why it is defended so veraciously by archers. In other words, aside from it being a good idea for archers, does it also serve another purpose, such as herd management? What was the original argument for it?

The second reason for the post was simply to gather information that I can pass along to people who ask. I can make up a bunch of stuff, but I'd rather know the REAL reasons for the season and how it came about.

I have learned a lot from this discussion.

Todd

[BoneDigger]

Not addressing you specifically....many have come in here and other forums asking the same thing....specifically OOSers, rifle hunters and crossbow hunters.....

I guess I will ask if you are all for it, why bring it into question and why do you need justifications?? Just curious that's all...

What's an OOser?

Todd

[Mike Murphey]

Smart, what you see here is the same thing the LSBA sees, only a small percentage of bowhunters are bowhunters year round, no rifle hunting, only bowhunting. That percentage will always be small, (compared to rifle hunters/muzzleloaders/shotgunners.etc...). some folks will never be a bowhunter only. Not that this is bad, only that TBH and LSBA and all other state/local/national organizations will not be able to get there membership over that minimum amount. But getting back to the original statement, the bowhunters that hunt with bows and guns will always be the ones asking these questions.....

[MountainMan]

What's an OOser?

Todd

Out Of Stater...

[Artos]

...i have never heard any gun hunters down this way complain about bow season (only) in any way. It certainly doesn't bother me nor do I think they have any right. (buy a freaking bow and get after it)

It's just hard for me to get excited about it when I can be wing shooting. It almost never cools off in deep south tx until after Halloween. Sweating it out in a pop up is not near as fun as burning up a barrel over a tank with doves attacking.

I'm for anything that gets friends and family out in the sticks & enjoying the outdoors. I don't officially know 'why' bow hunters have their own season but I suspect it's tied to $$$$$. It's all good.

[Smart]

But getting back to the original statement, the bowhunters that hunt with bows and guns will always be the ones asking these questions.....

Be a bow preferred and basically bow only unless you count turkey season myself, I would think it would be more of the pure rifle guys asking these questions wanting to be able to hunt in October.

[tinman]

I don't officially know 'why' bow hunters have their own season but I suspect it's tied to $$$$$.

Nah, believe it or not, it was actually the sportsmen of Texas who fought and brought (rather than bought) about the change to create this season.

Now, for an important question....can somebody in green please stop those **** Lakers tonight?!?!?

[Bowtechlady]

Maybe the same reason there is a muzzleloader only season in certain parts of the state??? It shoots bullets, right?

[acearrow]

I have seen several states where the archery season lasts much longer than their rifle season. Look at the season dates in Arkansas. They have a very short gun season. They have an early archery season and then again archery season opens for the whole months of January and February. Texas established the early archery season to increase hunter opportunities without adding an excessive impact on the deer heard. This provided a time where more people could get out and hunt during a time when the deer are not overly spooked from all the rifles going off. From where I stand, it has worked out quite well. I personally enjoy going out in October and not having to contend with overly spooked deer. The hunter opportunity with low impact would have to be my argument for having an archery only season.

[tbobhill]

X2

X3

[RedneckHippy]

Last year was my first year Bow hunting and I haven't hunted since I was about 18. Due to work I wasn't able to get out to our land for the archery only season but did get there opening day of general season. Our Land is 80 acres of low fence out near Breckenridge TX. Twice on that weekend I had drawn down on a doe only to be twarted by the roar of rifles going off. Only saw a few more deer the rest of the season and most of them were after dark.

Archery only season gives people a reasonable chance of obtaining a Harvest

[BoneDigger]

Good answers folks. You have basically answered my questions.

Todd

[jbitt4x4]

Good thread Todd...at first I thought it was gonna turn out to be a thread that would be shut down...learned alot.

Good answers folks. You have basically answered my questions.

Todd

[axisbuck24]

Good thread Todd...at first I thought it was gonna turn out to be a thread that would be shut down...learned alot.

x2...and glad it is still up for us to read. An educational conversation at the campfire.