Ive been shooting bows for many years and would love to have it reintroduced in the UK, even for just small game. Trips to the US, Aus/NZ or SA are massively expensive and not all can afford this.
@@joshuamatthews9302 it's lovely that you made that, but how long do you think it will take to get to 10'000 people in the UK who even care. I mean I don't think hunting with a bow will ever be made legal again for the simple reason that people are either for or against hunting. Of the ones who are FOR hunting. Only a fraction care about what you use to do it. And of that fraction of the (probably minority number) who are FOR hunting want the tool to be bows and arrows. P.S. I just want to say, I'm not against hunting with bows, I'm just pointing out that the number of people who care is very small.
Bow shooting helps the individual to become proficient to stop the unt we just lost out on what was the citizens main way to get game for the table Be it game or dear Most was rabbit & a very skilled shuter to achieve a kill.
So if I was doing a survival weekend I can’t kill a rabbit with a crossbow well that’s bollocks then but I can catch it with a snare and suffocate it to death
Im from Scotland and think this is a very out dated law i feel bow hunting for rabbits ect should be legalised and for deer should be legal during season.
it was introduced because of the gun-law & the inability to control the Bow AS its a right given us down the ages By king's So they band the shooting of game with a bow it , just sent it underground , if there's no control then there is no law & ultimately an aversion to be cort .can leave the enforcer of the bow hunt in deep shit . Becor it band instead of controls. if someone was approached because he was hunting on land he had no permission to Hunt on with a bow That is clearly Ilegal , being banned what would you expect given he would not wish to be cort , REMEMBER YOU HAVE AlREADY MADE HIM A CRIMINAL JUST BEING THERE WITH A BOW . HE is not trespassing until he Takes something that is not his so it fight or flight & the bow is a weapon most suited to flight in a fight In the right hands . MACK IT LEGAL REVUR THE HUNTING LAW WITH A BOW .
you have no idea the amount of farmers/land owners ask me to go out. im like 10 year bro. even they dont know. deer are everywhere. whats retarded. you can use a sling but not a bow. so what if i shoot an arrow from my sling? so a less effective bow ?
The British International Bowhunters run a great example of a qualification course, and if the like was made mandatory for people to legally be allowed to bowhunt I think it would be a great way to ho about it.
I hope things will change one day! I got insulted during a tradeshow in the UK twice for being a Bowhunter, and it was sad to feel that hate. It would be a great county to hunt. Great channel!
That's bad happening at a shooting show considering it's just uneducated ignorance which causes them to insult you like that, the same uneducated ignorance that the hunting community in general gets from the public. They should know better.
That is unfortunate to hear, apologies on behalf of those ignorant people. As for things changing, the issue is that currently bows are completely unlicensed and it would take a massive headache of beauracracy to make a licensing system. So if bow hunting was officially legal and bow licensing not in place, it could encourage a lot of reckless people to be out in every place shooting arrows. For whatever reason there is very little in the way of national pride and community spirit in the UK. Young people in lower income areas tend to often be hooligans and vandals to some degree, tearing around on illegal motorbikes and ATVs for example. And licensing bows would be very very tricky when they are so easy to make at home.
Iron Front we hunt with bows all over rhe world without having to license them. The idea of licensing a bow disturbs me. Though I don’t have to register my guns either
For people who hate, NOT EDUCATED PROPERLY (ignorance) for those who don't understand, What with all the shops closing ,soon they'll be having to go out and hunt for their own food, THEN WHAT! LOL.
I’m a deer hunter who uses a rifle I cannot see much difference with a bow in so far as it’s ability to kill cleanly. I can however see a need for greater skill in getting much closer which surely gives the game we hunt more of a chance As a keen field archer I would love to hunt with a bow
Have done it many time’s both compound and recurve, mostly from high seats stateside, walk n stalk in Australia, & NZ, it requires much more skill than you think, as the distance max’s out at 30-40 yds, pref much less, if your v good such as Cam Haynes or Rinella 60-70 is achievable, if you want to see show boating Tim Wells shoots duck geese and pigeons consistently while flying and I’ve seen him hit 120yd deer and drop them..modern compound bows are extremely accurate and v effective and when arrow placement is good death follows swiftly, the blood trail is good if the broad head and arrow weight is prey suitable & tuned for the bow. Deer are soft compared to pigs, and two totally different arrows weights and broad head styles are required. There is a lot to do when setting up the bow, draw length, draw weight, type of release, correct arrow weight and balance, broad head style is crucial as are the fletching. Practice is essential and time consuming. Muscle memory is required to be consistent. Recurve or flat bow hunting is v different as it’s instinctive and aiming is not done via a sight. A license is required to prove competence before you even start, after that depending on location or state or country additional permits are required and then a tag for the specific animal inc turkeys. Rules are a little different in Aus and NZ, as both countries have species we brits would only ever use a gun on but are regarded as pests specifically Red deer and pigs depending on area. There is a noise we using both types of bows, once the valley is reached with a compound bow it can be held for a little to get steady, upon release depending on quality of equipment there is enough noise to alert the animal, they normally squat a touch as they tense up so shooting over happens more than you think, u can let down on both types ie not shoot..
So shotguns or bows ? What’s more effective for deer, shotguns have same sort of range as a bow for deer ? Deer shooting with shotguns is very poplular in Sweden and others countries but then bow hunting is very popular in places like the USA so
A bow has much more range than anything legal on a section 2, buckshot is very good at killing deer but the range compared to a bow isn't there. Best use for a shotgun in terms of deer shooting is for dispatching them point blank
I have Bowhunted for years in America and Canada and I defiantly think we should have bow hunting in the UK. I think we should have a hunter safety course and a minimum draw weight. And I like what they do in South Africa where you only pay for the animals you kill.
Apparently a big reason that pushed towards the ban was the arrival of cheap weak pistol crossbows. A lot of farmers, gamekeepers and rangers were finding livestock, deer and game with bolts hanging out of the. Modern archery hunting equipment is more than capable of cleanly and effectively killing large animals let alone game. I think that at the very least small game hunting with bows should be phased back in with correct hunting permits and such and perhaps a sales license similar to the UKARA for airsoft players to help regulate whos buying what.
Whilst I concede the majority of your points re. efficacy under the right circumstances there are a number of points to emphasize here: 1) Skill. Shooting a bow accurately and effectively is a skill that takes time and effort to master and constant practice to maintain. Having never hunted with a rifle I cannot attest to how much coaching would be taken to take someone from novice to a capable game shot (I would have to defer to the likes of Mr. Day on that ;) ) but I have shot target rifle and became a capable target shot very quickly. However, I have taught Archery for many years and can attest to how much coaching and practice it can take to become even an average shot. Some never get it and only a small percentage go on to be accurate and consistent competitors. Shooting a bow is difficult, it is much more of an whole mind and body discipline and accuracy is subject to many mental and physical factors that can render a good experienced archer a poor shot on the day. 2) Equipment. The right bow, usually high powered Compound, and arrows capable of delivering an accurate kill shot is expensive from the outset; there is no real 'entry level' kit. 3) Licensing. Thus far in the Sport of Archery we have managed to stay below the radar of Government intervention and regulation. As soon as we start to discuss licensing of Archery for Hunting, we draw the spotlight onto the whole Sport. How DO you differentiate the person who wants to buy a bow to hunt from the thousands who enjoy the Sport of Target or Field Archery today unimpaired by expensive licensing ?
I live in Maryland in the USA. We have an ever growing Whitetail Deer and Sika Deer population. Collisions with cars are commonplace and dangerous. Bow hunting is the only way we can keep the populations in check in suburban areas. Longbows, compounds and crossbows are all legal. Open season is 5 months long.
I'm not sure how the systems in the UK (or US for that matter) work, but here in Canada I feel they have a good system that addresses some of the problems you mentioned in the video of how to regulate bow hunting, and it's ethicacy. In order go get a hunting lisence (called an outdoors card) from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry you need to take a day course from a registered instructor that covers hunter safety and various other elements that promote good hunting practices. After the course you take an exam, and you get your lisence. Now, that on its own ONLY allows you to hunt with a bow/ crossbow (hunting with a firearm of any kind requires an additional course, additional exam, provincial background check, federal background check, etc). The benefit of the way this system works, in my view, is that it clearly outlines regulations on poundage of bow and equipment requirements (I. E. Broadheads) for hunting everything from turkey to large game like elk, moose, and black bear. For example, my friends and I hunt with 65-70lb compound bows, and a good friend harvested a mature black bear last year, on a ~45 yard shot, clean pass through of both lungs, and the animal died within 30-45 seconds. I have friends that routinely hunt whitetail deer with recurve bows 50-60lb, and again are able to kill the animal quickly and ethically. Being taught the limits of your equipment is KEY. You hit the nail on the head early in the video, education is the solution. The way the system works here is enough of a barrier to keep out joe-guy that wants to go grab a bow and start shooting because he saw it in a movie, but enough to give new hunters a base of knowledge on what is required to be successful. The biggest problem I can see would be your land parcel sizes. A 'small' plot of land here in ontario is considered anything under 100 acres (or more depending who you ask), so I can see access becoming a problem, but that just comes down to how nice your neighbours are I guess. Great video!
What stops joe-guy from grabbing a bow and shooting without the course or license? Canada is a big country, it doesn't seem like it would be all that difficult to hunt unlicensed without being caught.
@@hermesten1000 It's a fair question, but that logic can apply to literally everything. Mostly it has to do with the fact that the average person is a lawful citizen and understands the legal requirement and punishments (both monetarily, hunting bans, and potential incarceration) if they do decide to go hunting without a licence. You're correct, Canada is a big place, and I'm sure a minority people DO hunt with a bow (or gun) without a licence, but the existence of a mandatory course or exam elevates that to a crime with penalties that the average person won't risk. Its like comparing it to driving a car without a license, yes some idiots do it, and it makes the roads a more dangerous place, but it's regulated, enforced, and most normally functioning citizens won't risk it.
@@stevep25 I'm not arguing against the system you have, just stating the obvious that it only works to the extent that people are honest and obey the law. We certainly have no shortage of idiots here in the US.
The statement of knowing when not to loose your arrow is so true, I have now been bow hunting for many years and have let down on more good deer then I have shot. Now the ones I have shot were clean kills, it’s all about your skill. What I would suggest is having a bow hunting license and in order to get it have a shooting qualification.
I definitely think bow hunting could and should be brought back to the UK. I think the species of animals we have here are perfect for it also our land, i think lends itself well. Like you say the bows, sights and broad heads you can get now are staggering. I've been doing archery since i was 4, I'm now 32 and I've seen some amazing bits of kit. As long as you are deemed capable by way of something similar to a deer stalking certificate and there is a minimum draw weight for certain size of animals i think it would work great.
We need to get this sorted in the UK it’s so expensive and difficult to get out and hunt in different country’s! We need a licence system and a tag system like in the USA
I think for small game, bows would be perfectly serviceable, I wouldn't quite go up to the size of a deer per se, but would prefer to limit it to something the size of a fox for example. You can guarantee with a good broadhead arrow if a shot is off from my 55lb bow whatever it hits is going to get pinned to the floor or have a clean pass through and cause catastrophic amounts of bleeding that would end it's life quickly. Whereas if I'm slightly off with an air rifle, that pellet possibly will not be life ending quickly, if at all. Look at the harrier that was shot a few weeks ago. 2 pellets and still flying around. The backlash I think would be huge, and I think by highlighting the case of bows we run the risk of losing catapults for instance. Which most would say are probably harder to hunt with that a bow. And don't always achieve clean results. This is all academic really though, as it makes no odds on how many forms or ways to hunt into the community. There just isn't the land access for anyone that doesn't know someone to start. If you look on the forums and groups there are endless chats open in the search for huntable land. Trying to find somewhere around where I am in the NW is next to impossible and I suspect it's the same UK wide. You have to be brought up in the life or know someone who was unless you get lucky.
Started writing some good points from the start of the video, after you said leave acomment... by the time i finished you had mentioned most of my points, mostly around comparing to air rifle hunting and its lack of regulations, lol.
I’d love to be able to hunt with a bow and think it should be allowed in the UK providing you can prove you are competent by passing a archery shooting exam.
That's absolutely stupid, there will be plenty of people bow hunting currently in the UK despite it being illegal, how could you possibly enforce the an archery shooting exam? who is going to know your hunting because bows are silent. Any decent hunter will get the experience needed themselves before they start hunting. If you cant trust yourself and need a pass or license from the state then you don't deserve to live in a free country.
If bow hunting was to become legal in the UK I think it will be heavily regulated possibly more than section 1 firearms. They could look to limit the power like air rifles. The problem with this is might upset people who currently shoot at archery clubs. Love the channel and advice.
Bow hunting would be great here in Northern Ireland as most deer we shoot are within 100 yards and we have to use a high calaber compered to Scotland, so bow hunting would be a lot better here. Even do a corse like a dsc for bow hunting with different levels for say vermin, small game and large game. And when you by a bow over the counter you should fill out a form and if no "dsc" then no bow.
I would argue that death by an arrow is far more humane than the animal would experience in 99.9% of natural deaths. Examples: parasites, starvation, dehydration, predator's which are insanely brutal and so on. Hopes from Kansas in the United States that you guys recover the freedom of bow hunting. God bless.
The things you learn everyday. Had know idea you could not bow hunt in the UK. Your really missing out. Creates beautiful new hunting opportunities! Hope this changes in the future.
Whitetail Deer in Ontario Canada. Am going to start thinking about hunting moose as well in coming seasons. The opportunity for getting an adult license for moose is better in the bow category then gun. Your bow needs to have a draw weight minimum 40lbs for large game with broadheads with minimum two cutting surfaces. Hunting black bear and Turkey with a bow is also popular with many hunters here in Ontario as well.
aoe76, I can see you are passionate about your hunting and I’m all for that, I don’t know about the hunting scene in Denmark,it seems robust and healthy,good ! not sure what the anti situation over in Denmark but in the UK It is quite prolific to say the least and takes very little to get a rise from their quarter.However on the use of bows versus rifle , in my experience when a animal is shot using a rifle and not taken cleanly there is usually a chance for follow up shot on the spot no need for dogs and following blood trails. My point being we have evolved to using rifles because undoubtedly they have proven to be more humane towards our quarry. As I have commented I am not familiar with the landscape of Denmark but I imagine it to have large areas of forest and a smaller density of human population, that’s not the case in the UK our actions would be far more visible. I’m not suggesting that any of your practices should be shrouded as they are perfectly legitimate in your country,I’m just saying it would be far more contentious here in The UK. P.S. I retract my statement of modern Neanderthals which you clearly are not. All the best and good hunting.
I think a big problem with bow hunting here is that the potential to cause serious damage with a bow if you miss your shot is a lot greater than it is with a catapult. I know there's even more risk with guns but firearms are licensed and you need permission to shoot on the land and you can hear when people are shooting firearms and keep out of the way. Not saying I agree with bowhunting being banned but I can see both sides of the argument.
Crazy, a modern compound bow will drop a dear in one hit just like a gun, in my state a lot of people bow hunt and gun hunt, because it makes their hunting season twice as long, so if they don't bag a deer in bow season they can try with a rife when gun season starts.
Very interesting, thorough, and thoughtful. I’m not a hunter, but I have no problem with hunting. I would much rather eat hunted meat than farmed meat. Everything dies, but not everything gets a chance to live.
As someone that has shot bows since 1984 and used to hunt with guns, There are an awful lot of piss poor shots out there.and as an example, we once did a fun shoot with bows at various outdoor targets in the woods, the majority of bowmen were there from an indoor shooting background and while very accurate from the same distance indoors for some reason couldn't hit a barndoor outside? And how many domestic animals like cats would be shot? If you can police it and they have the skill, then fine.
This is an interesting debate. Given that it is currently legal to go hunting in the UK then surely there is room for bow-hunting to be included in the choice of tool used to manage populations? But one of the questions that I feel we need to address relates to training/certification for all hunters. We are one of very few countries in the world that do not require a person hunting live quarry to have undergone some from of certified training. If we are to retain the ability to hunt, with whichever tool/quarry, then isn't this something that we should be taking the lead on rather than wait for the legislators with little or no understanding of what we do tell us?
It's sad how the English speaking world aka UK, AUS & NZ view guns and shooting in general. I live in NYC so I think I can understand some how it feels to be behind enemy lines as a new gun owner and shooter since young.
Sensible and well put across. I have hunted since I was young, but not with a bow (Yet). I have a bow for Sport use and would not be afraid of hunting with it, if the situation was right. Regards JB.
if bowhunting were legalised there shoud be an association of seasoned bowhunters who could assess potential bowhunters and training would be given only when this liscence is valid then each hunter would carry the legal documentation without this liscence it would be illegal
We need to invoke the old english law of folkright, a man should be able to go into the forest to get food for his family, we also need out guns and weapons back in general as the English people are no longer able to rely of our police to impartial enforce the law or keep our people safe.
Given the poverty hitting many people now I strongly suspect that people are doing illegal hunting using many different means not legal or socially acceptable, would I hunt rabbits and pheasants with my bow if I was hungry ABSOLUTELY. Rightly or wrongly people will do whatever is necessary to survive and the law be damned.
Foreign hunters in Europe consider a .22 rimfire being a certified deer cartridge ludicrous. It's the most anemic common cartridge and you realise their point when you consider many people have survived tens of shots from 9×19mm. A 70lb recurve bow and 100grain tip is significantly more powerful than a .22 rimfire and would kill small game instantly or as fast as a .22 at worst from 25m. I fully agree with your suggestion for bowhunting law but the mass populus loves removing their and their brothers freedoms and they don't understand the effectiveness of bows, neither would they want to.
watching gritty's channel, I've seen that bow hunting can be way more effective now and matches even a rifle but is done differently. getting very close. but the power of bows is so great I couldn't believe it. the fella's arrows go all the way through the animal. straight through vitals and out the other side. and the animal was done so quickly. what you said about bows meaning the animal gets hit and runs away then dies slowly, even with expert hunters this happens with rifles too.
Late to the party but I find it crazy I'm allowed to go out with my pocket slingshot and some steel balls and take rabbits but my 40lb longbow is illegal... Crazy UK laws.
Very good video with great points. It would be great to have a group page or forum to try and work towards introducing modern bow hunting to the UK as like you said it has changed night and day since it was banned. One question on what you said about why it was banned, I read that it was because there was no one at to represent Bow hunting at some meetings that classified legal hunting weapons so it didn't get included and it was actually nothing to do with how humane it was seen to be?
I think that small game like rabbits should definitely be allowed. If a rabbit gets hit by an arrow anywhere it's dead. There can be regulations with draw weight and grain of the arrow and what's classed as humane. I just want to be able to go camping on some land and be able to catch a rabbit without setting a snare or using an air rifle.
So I've been shooting bows since I was 7 I'm 29 now and live in the UK and would love to bow hunt. My issue is with the hypocrisy of the government allowing hunters to use hounds to tear foxes to pieces and was legal for many decades but argue bow hunting is inhumane? I'm surprised you didn't touch on this subject.
Great video... thought provoking but sadly, the criminal element using crossbows will no doubt in time ensure legislation for crossbows be extended, and bows implemented. I can't see any type of bow hunting being lawful in the UK - ever.
The Americans have it right, we have certain Natural rights, It's about time more of us English realised that we have Natural Rights, so It would not be bad to do this If you actually needed FOOD, just as It's not bad to defend your self from Aggression using Self Defence as It is a Natural right to be able to do so.
In principle I am for bow hunting where the landscape and biodiversity supports it. But I don’t think our situation in the UK is the same as say, the United States. Worldwide bow hunting ethics needs to be addressed. Bow weight and kinetic energy are poor measures of potential lethality for hunting. Momentum is more important and so minimum arrow weights need to be defined, along with broadhead types. You mentioned this in your overview too. Hunters also need to prove their shooting proficiency under pressure. With a 300fps compound, the only truly deliberate shot you can place is at a maximum of about 25m due to string jump/animal movement. That maximum distance reduces with arrow speed. This is my personal appraisal, but have not seen it discussed much elsewhere. At this critical distance your groupings need to be 2” with a standard deviation no greater than about 1.2”. The statistics of shot analysis is another factor which isn’t taken into account. Simply hitting a 6” target repeatably is good enough for some qualifications. It’s not representative of shot variance which is greater factor. As before, I am pro bow hunting where it can be justified on the basis of conservation, but It’s still lacking in international regulation in terms of Hunter ethics and equipment suitability. I would agree with you that small game is a worthwhile starting position however I’m not sure we’ll ever get past the land/ownership/population density issue. Interesting video, thanks for posting
@@tgsoutdoors Before you can go hunting in Denmark you must pass a written test and a shooting test and the shooting test must be conducted every 5 years. any game with a season can be shot with a bow that lives up to the standards there are
I’ve hunted with both bow and rifle.. much prefer the bow..! Wish we could get out there for some roe deer or fallow.. even the Chinese imported water deer..!
This may be a surprise to those outside the United States but believe it or not much of the United States the law works the same. You may not pursue wounded game across private property boundaries without permission though I'm aware of a few jurisdictions with unique legislation that are rare exceptions to this its generally required to make an attempt to inform and contact the property owner in addition to reporting the incident to local Game Management agencies. Trespassing while armed is never a good idea. Also there are still public lands in certain parts of the western United States but it is not as rich or abundant with game as people think and there is very little public land in the eastern United States and it's become extremely difficult to obtain licenses and tags. With that said less effective methods of take like bowhunting are often sport in the West while in the eastern United States less effective short range methods of take such as Archery, Handguns, Shotguns, Muzzleloaders, and Straight-Wall cartridges are often required by law and rifles are illegal as a safety precaution although somewhat absurd. On the subject safety and ethical take with an objective of making a fast humane and clean kill I've always felt the hunter and their judgement often plays a bigger role then the weapon. There never really has been a great or effective way of managing ethics or safety which is why hunting in the U.S. It is rapidly becoming more expensive and the legislation that governs it is becoming ever increasingly complex and difficult to understand.
Main problem in the UK for bow hunting is a lack of regulation, as you mentioned. Yes, education is easier and you wouldn’t need to worry about those who sought it. Issue would be the Muppets... I’m heavily into archery, the sport and industry as a whole (run an archery shop) and we do have issues in the sport with people who buy a bow on eBay, don’t bother to research and just go shoot it.... at anything they please. That would be an issue multiplied by many if bow hunting were allowed, I fear. At least with firearms you have to jump through some hoops, so are likely to take it seriously. As with most things, the few would ruin it for the many.
In the US I think you need minimum poundage at 40lbs to hunt big game ethically, that likely could help draw a line, but of course muppets would still be muppets ofc.
I give all my thanks to all the staff of the NHS thank you all for looking after us at these testing times. but can we also say thankyou to all the shop workers who are still going to work every day and making sure we still get our food and essentials. I think these people are way more important than we thought they were in the past. hope you all stay safe
Before I say this I'm not planning to atall! But if somone were to get caught bow hunting in the UK, what's the actual charge / charges ? Can't find the answer unfortunately but I'm curious.
God this is fucking mind numbing, a 180 lb crossbow is somehow less dangerous than a 1.7 caliber bb gun. God damn this country needs some serious law reform.
Bit what is legality and illegality? Rules by other men you've never met, written down on paper, backed by force and you're expected to 'obey' it when you never agreed to it in the first place. I have bow and sling shot hunted for a while now (in UK) and will continue to do so, regardless of a politicians opinion. I'm a single man living in the wild 8 months out of the year, in Scotland so my bow is my supermarket. The animal is never wasted and always appreciated very much. Foxes, rabbits, squirrels, etc. The bits I can't eat, my dog does. I don't eat meat everyday either, once or twice a week if I'm lucky.
I think bow hunting should be allowed in the UK, but perhaps only with the use of compound bows. Perhaps it would be a good idea, if bowhunters were required to pass a standardised test to demonstrate that their skill level with a compound bow, and their competence and understanding of the equipment and safety and respect for their quarry, was sufficiently high enough to be granted a license to legally shoot game with their bow.
Bow hunting should be legal in the UK. It is just as humane and inhumane as rifle shooting. If you shoot a deer with a rifle from 400yards with a 15mph crosswind and end up putting a hole in its guts and it dies a very slow painful death, that's inhumane. If you stalk in to 40 yards or sit in a blind/high seat and make a perfect double lung/heart shot with a big broadhead, I would argue it's almost more humane than a rifle. No shot noise to scare the animal. No huge shockwave going through its body. Just a sharp shock and then they will be unconscious in seconds. The tools we use to hunt are not inhumane, it's the idiots behind the tool that do not respect the animal that are.
A fantastic comment. Speaking to many pro stalker I’ve rth years who take out hundreds of clients a year - long follow ups with deer shot with rifles is more common than many would believe. It would also be easier for people to train with a bow at home than it is a rifle and hence proficiency should be higher?
@@tgsoutdoors I'd like to call myself an ethical stalker and I always aim for heart/lung shots but at the end of the day, we are just trying to create enough blood loss that the animal passes out quickly and dies momentarilly. Although a bullet flies very fast, it is also very light compared to an arrow. A broadhead would usually make a very deep would cavity and so long as the shot is good, the animal will pass just as quick as it would with a rifle. After watching your video the other day with the woodsman, I agree with your step program. You and me will never see bow hunting legalised in the UK. We need to work on step one which is getting people to experience nature and realise that hunting is natural. Maybe the next generation of hunters will see step 2.
An ethical hunter wouldn't take that 400 yard shot if he wasn't positive he had the skill to compensate for the crosswind. I think the problem comes down to ethical versus unethical hunters more than to bow or rifle.
@@hermesten1000 exactly. And to be honest I don't care who it is, nobody is skillful or arrogant enough to say they can put a shot in an 8 inch circle at 400 yards EVERY time, therefore the shot is never ethical.
Wow. As someone in the US, I didn’t even realize you couldn’t bow hunt in the UK. That seems kind of crazy. Are there public lands that can be hunted (owned by the government/citizens) in the UK?
My oppinion is it should be made legal for small game with a mandatory ibep test small game not covered by the deer act would not require a huge change to any law and it could then be assessed over a period of a few years as to its suitability and use on deer. There is overwhelming scientific evidence world wide that it is directly comparable to rifle shooting so really personal/public oppinions should not come into the discussion it would be hard to give a good reason not to allow it from an evidence/scientificaly based perspective.
i shoot air gun all my life .and for the last 20 years i shoot shot guns and only shoot rabbits foxes so why cant i use my rc bow . i have plenty of land to shoot .
What about extermination, pest control or farming? In the US these are typically separate from hunting. You can't just go out and trap or poison wildlife here, but rats, mice and some feral animals have no such protections. Where I live airgun hunting is illegal, but killing rats isn't considered hunting. My sister used to have semi-feral peafowl around her house and I would thin the population of those as well from time to time. In some areas there are canned hunts where hunters pay to shoot farmed wildlife. So essentially you're paying to slaughter a farmed animal. I can see a farmer in the UK "raising rabbits" that he then charges for the privilege of "slaughtering".
@@tgsoutdoors like any task, if it is done properly the results are satisfactory, imho it's as stress free for the game as a kill can be done. The bow has tens of thousands of years of putting food on the table, it has credibility. It must be stressed that archery requires that the hunter meets a level of competence that may take considerably longer than learning to shoot a rifle well.
Very thought provoking! I make wooden self bows and would love to be able to use them for hunting, I think as in hunting with a rifle the key words would be education and training as in DSC1 for deer . I have heard that in Denmark 600 people a year apply for a bow licence it is legal there! But only about 60 pass the test that is set for them , different targets at different ranges ect. DSC 1 for bow hunters?
Andrew Lakeman You are wrong. Almost every one passes with a compound bow. First You have a 20 question test where You have to be correct on at least 18 question. Then You have to shoot 6 arrows on 6 different targets. Up to 25 meters wich is as far as You are allowed to shoot in Denmark (when hunting). Normally the targets stand between 10 and 25 meters. You are not allowed to use a range finder. Also You must hit 5 out of 6 targets and be able to hande your bow safely before getting your bow hunting licens. If You want to Hunt with a recurve or a barebow, You have to pay for going to a shooting test once again. One test for every bowtype. A handfull of people in Denmark have a huntinglicence for all 3 bowtypes. It is much more difficult to hit the killing zone reguarly with the recurve and the barebow, so a lot more fail this test. But it is only a small amount of hunters that even go to this test. You also have to take the shooting test every 5 years with each type of bow to get your license reneewed. I hope this make sence. Best regards from Denmark.
I think if hunting with bows were allowed then it would increase the numbers of bows owned in the uk. This would inturn possibly lead to more missuse. And obviously misuse will cause more fatalities etc. If the bows for hunting were to be on an fac or sgc. Then the numbers of new bows would be lower .but then u kill target archery as a sport .
Given a lot of British public school boys would have learnt Archery as part of PE ( I learnt archery through school and as a hobby). It doesn't make sense that you can't hunt with a bow, it seems like they are having to account for the idiots/incapable by banning bow hunting.
I love the TGS content guys but this is misjudged. There is no possible way bow hunting will ever be considered in the UK again, and whilst I applaud the pragmatism, the antis would lap it up and find easy footage to prove their point. There is no place for bow hunting in modern society.
@@danhill6333 Backlash in UK really. There are of course parts of the world where people dont have guns for hunting so bow use is normal. But when there are simpler alternatives in the developed world, there is no place for it.
I cant imagine the sort of fanny that would be attracted to bow hunting in the UK. I would think that careful consideration and proficiency testing would be required. One thought is that you should have bow hunting target clubs that have mandatory attendance and competitive records. Like they do with pistols except that you can use the bow for hunting under the agreed framework.
You can't enforce bows like you can firearms, firearms are loud bows are not, bows can be made with little experience, firearms cannot ( yet ) there is nothing stopping me from going into the woods and dropping a deer with my bow as the law currently stands because who is going to know? you assume there are no bow hunters in the UK? I'm afraid the only alternative is to legalise it and let people be responsible for themselves or keep it illegal... and let people be responsible for themselves haha. What happened to the UK? learn our history, we had the right to bear arms and freedom of speech long before the Americans did and we allowed it to be taken away and now you have people asking for their own subjugation. If your going to live in a society that demands you pay a tax or else citizens must have the right and protect their right to live as unimpeded from the state as possible.
@@stephenmurray2851 yeah, alot of the one's I was looking at ie behinners wooden long bows with 30 - 40lb poundage were sold out too. I'll post back here if I find anything decent.
They shouldn't have banned it, they should have just licensed bow hunting. For pest shooting there's no reason it should be illegal, i'd certainly be more confident shooting foxes, rabbits and hares with a crossbow and certainly with the former using a shotgun. A bow and a crossbow will easily send an arrow straight through small animals
I would love too hunt with one of my bows here in the UK if it was legal and i would be more than happy too pay for a license just like you need a fishing license
Bow hunting is one of the most respectful ways of hunting in my opinion, not only to the animal but to the environment. Thanks for sharing
Ive been shooting bows for many years and would love to have it reintroduced in the UK, even for just small game. Trips to the US, Aus/NZ or SA are massively expensive and not all can afford this.
You can hunt in France..... bow hunting is allowed there
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/333991?fbclid=IwAR3Y_Y6dIS5qRPHs065UmByiKqfxhVAVqgEiMpfF79isDtk4e9aL0ThCKkc
@@joshuamatthews9302 it's lovely that you made that, but how long do you think it will take to get to 10'000 people in the UK who even care. I mean I don't think hunting with a bow will ever be made legal again for the simple reason that people are either for or against hunting. Of the ones who are FOR hunting. Only a fraction care about what you use to do it. And of that fraction of the (probably minority number) who are FOR hunting want the tool to be bows and arrows.
P.S. I just want to say, I'm not against hunting with bows, I'm just pointing out that the number of people who care is very small.
@@eurojigit6881 imagine having less freedom than france
Can you bow hunt on private land? 🤔
Wish we could use bows for hunting in the uk.
me too i can't own a firearm due to a mental condition plus bows are fucking cool
Bow shooting helps the individual to become proficient to stop the unt we just lost out on what was the citizens main way to get game for the table Be it game or dear Most was rabbit & a very skilled shuter to achieve a kill.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/333991?fbclid=IwAR3Y_Y6dIS5qRPHs065UmByiKqfxhVAVqgEiMpfF79isDtk4e9aL0ThCKkc
So if I was doing a survival weekend I can’t kill a rabbit with a crossbow well that’s bollocks then but I can catch it with a snare and suffocate it to death
@@pidgincarcrew7253 what’s a survival weekend? That sounds fun
Im from Scotland and think this is a very out dated law i feel bow hunting for rabbits ect should be legalised and for deer should be legal during season.
it was introduced because of the gun-law & the inability to control the Bow AS its a right given us down the ages By king's So they band the shooting of game with a bow it , just sent it underground , if there's no control then there is no law & ultimately an aversion to be cort .can leave the enforcer of the bow hunt in deep shit . Becor it band instead of controls. if someone was approached because he was hunting on land he had no permission to Hunt on with a bow That is clearly Ilegal , being banned what would you expect given he would not wish to be cort , REMEMBER YOU HAVE AlREADY MADE HIM A CRIMINAL JUST BEING THERE WITH A BOW . HE is not trespassing until he Takes something that is not his so it fight or flight & the bow is a weapon most suited to flight in a fight In the right hands . MACK IT LEGAL REVUR THE HUNTING LAW WITH A BOW .
Ken aye
you have no idea the amount of farmers/land owners ask me to go out. im like 10 year bro. even they dont know. deer are everywhere. whats retarded. you can use a sling but not a bow. so what if i shoot an arrow from my sling? so a less effective bow ?
The British International Bowhunters run a great example of a qualification course, and if the like was made mandatory for people to legally be allowed to bowhunt I think it would be a great way to ho about it.
I hope things will change one day! I got insulted during a tradeshow in the UK twice for being a Bowhunter, and it was sad to feel that hate. It would be a great county to hunt. Great channel!
That's bad happening at a shooting show considering it's just uneducated ignorance which causes them to insult you like that, the same uneducated ignorance that the hunting community in general gets from the public. They should know better.
That is unfortunate to hear, apologies on behalf of those ignorant people.
As for things changing, the issue is that currently bows are completely unlicensed and it would take a massive headache of beauracracy to make a licensing system.
So if bow hunting was officially legal and bow licensing not in place, it could encourage a lot of reckless people to be out in every place shooting arrows.
For whatever reason there is very little in the way of national pride and community spirit in the UK. Young people in lower income areas tend to often be hooligans and vandals to some degree, tearing around on illegal motorbikes and ATVs for example.
And licensing bows would be very very tricky when they are so easy to make at home.
Always be proud to be a bow hunter my friend . 👍👍
Iron Front we hunt with bows all over rhe world without having to license them. The idea of licensing a bow disturbs me. Though I don’t have to register my guns either
For people who hate, NOT EDUCATED PROPERLY (ignorance)
for those who don't understand,
What with all the shops closing ,soon they'll be having to go out and hunt for their own food, THEN WHAT! LOL.
British law in a nutshell: it's legal almost everywhere else in the world!
I’m a deer hunter who uses a rifle I cannot see much difference with a bow in so far as it’s ability to kill cleanly. I can however see a need for greater skill in getting much closer which surely gives the game we hunt more of a chance
As a keen field archer I would love to hunt with a bow
Bow hunting with a traditional bow looks so noble, I love my take down bow
Can you go through and review all the guns in your cabinet during quarantine would be greatly appreciated
The-sneaky-skunk good shout! Or all the guns currently on sale in the shop.
I would say yes, but am gunless at home!
Difficult to do that these days with the youtube policy
Have done it many time’s both compound and recurve, mostly from high seats stateside, walk n stalk in Australia, & NZ, it requires much more skill than you think, as the distance max’s out at 30-40 yds, pref much less, if your v good such as Cam Haynes or Rinella 60-70 is achievable, if you want to see show boating Tim Wells shoots duck geese and pigeons consistently while flying and I’ve seen him hit 120yd deer and drop them..modern compound bows are extremely accurate and v effective and when arrow placement is good death follows swiftly, the blood trail is good if the broad head and arrow weight is prey suitable & tuned for the bow. Deer are soft compared to pigs, and two totally different arrows weights and broad head styles are required.
There is a lot to do when setting up the bow, draw length, draw weight, type of release, correct arrow weight and balance, broad head style is crucial as are the fletching. Practice is essential and time consuming. Muscle memory is required to be consistent. Recurve or flat bow hunting is v different as it’s instinctive and aiming is not done via a sight. A license is required to prove competence before you even start, after that depending on location or state or country additional permits are required and then a tag for the specific animal inc turkeys. Rules are a little different in Aus and NZ, as both countries have species we brits would only ever use a gun on but are regarded as pests specifically Red deer and pigs depending on area. There is a noise we using both types of bows, once the valley is reached with a compound bow it can be held for a little to get steady, upon release depending on quality of equipment there is enough noise to alert the animal, they normally squat a touch as they tense up so shooting over happens more than you think, u can let down on both types ie not shoot..
So shotguns or bows ? What’s more effective for deer, shotguns have same sort of range as a bow for deer ? Deer shooting with shotguns is very poplular in Sweden and others countries but then bow hunting is very popular in places like the USA so
I hunt deer with both in Canada. Bow is definitely more effective in skilled hands.
Bow, as long as you’re a skilled shot.
A bow has much more range than anything legal on a section 2, buckshot is very good at killing deer but the range compared to a bow isn't there. Best use for a shotgun in terms of deer shooting is for dispatching them point blank
I have Bowhunted for years in America and Canada and I defiantly think we should have bow hunting in the UK. I think we should have a hunter safety course and a minimum draw weight. And I like what they do in South Africa where you only pay for the animals you kill.
Hi John I was reading your comment and I was wondering how you done your hunting in Canada and America? Or living there at the time?
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/333991?fbclid=IwAR3Y_Y6dIS5qRPHs065UmByiKqfxhVAVqgEiMpfF79isDtk4e9aL0ThCKkc
Agree with your sentiment here. Unfortunately I feel laws are only going one way in the UK and cannot ever see this happening, no matter the evidence.
F*ck them, truth be told
past time to overthrow your oppressive government! FREEDOM!!!!
@@ronalddunne3413 Fr fr either it’ll collapse itself or we’ll make it collapse goddamit maybe I’ll use a bow in that revolution
Apparently a big reason that pushed towards the ban was the arrival of cheap weak pistol crossbows. A lot of farmers, gamekeepers and rangers were finding livestock, deer and game with bolts hanging out of the. Modern archery hunting equipment is more than capable of cleanly and effectively killing large animals let alone game. I think that at the very least small game hunting with bows should be phased back in with correct hunting permits and such and perhaps a sales license similar to the UKARA for airsoft players to help regulate whos buying what.
Whilst I concede the majority of your points re. efficacy under the right circumstances there are a number of points to emphasize here:
1) Skill. Shooting a bow accurately and effectively is a skill that takes time and effort to master and constant practice to maintain. Having never hunted with a rifle I cannot attest to how much coaching would be taken to take someone from novice to a capable game shot (I would have to defer to the likes of Mr. Day on that ;) ) but I have shot target rifle and became a capable target shot very quickly. However, I have taught Archery for many years and can attest to how much coaching and practice it can take to become even an average shot. Some never get it and only a small percentage go on to be accurate and consistent competitors. Shooting a bow is difficult, it is much more of an whole mind and body discipline and accuracy is subject to many mental and physical factors that can render a good experienced archer a poor shot on the day.
2) Equipment. The right bow, usually high powered Compound, and arrows capable of delivering an accurate kill shot is expensive from the outset; there is no real 'entry level' kit.
3) Licensing. Thus far in the Sport of Archery we have managed to stay below the radar of Government intervention and regulation. As soon as we start to discuss licensing of Archery for Hunting, we draw the spotlight onto the whole Sport. How DO you differentiate the person who wants to buy a bow to hunt from the thousands who enjoy the Sport of Target or Field Archery today unimpaired by expensive licensing ?
As a Canadian it makes no sense that you cannot hunt wildlife with a bow or crossbow in the UK
I live in Maryland in the USA. We have an ever growing Whitetail Deer and Sika Deer population. Collisions with cars are commonplace and dangerous. Bow hunting is the only way we can keep the populations in check in suburban areas. Longbows, compounds and crossbows are all legal. Open season is 5 months long.
I'm not sure how the systems in the UK (or US for that matter) work, but here in Canada I feel they have a good system that addresses some of the problems you mentioned in the video of how to regulate bow hunting, and it's ethicacy.
In order go get a hunting lisence (called an outdoors card) from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry you need to take a day course from a registered instructor that covers hunter safety and various other elements that promote good hunting practices. After the course you take an exam, and you get your lisence. Now, that on its own ONLY allows you to hunt with a bow/ crossbow (hunting with a firearm of any kind requires an additional course, additional exam, provincial background check, federal background check, etc).
The benefit of the way this system works, in my view, is that it clearly outlines regulations on poundage of bow and equipment requirements (I. E. Broadheads) for hunting everything from turkey to large game like elk, moose, and black bear. For example, my friends and I hunt with 65-70lb compound bows, and a good friend harvested a mature black bear last year, on a ~45 yard shot, clean pass through of both lungs, and the animal died within 30-45 seconds. I have friends that routinely hunt whitetail deer with recurve bows 50-60lb, and again are able to kill the animal quickly and ethically. Being taught the limits of your equipment is KEY.
You hit the nail on the head early in the video, education is the solution. The way the system works here is enough of a barrier to keep out joe-guy that wants to go grab a bow and start shooting because he saw it in a movie, but enough to give new hunters a base of knowledge on what is required to be successful.
The biggest problem I can see would be your land parcel sizes. A 'small' plot of land here in ontario is considered anything under 100 acres (or more depending who you ask), so I can see access becoming a problem, but that just comes down to how nice your neighbours are I guess.
Great video!
What stops joe-guy from grabbing a bow and shooting without the course or license? Canada is a big country, it doesn't seem like it would be all that difficult to hunt unlicensed without being caught.
@@hermesten1000 It's a fair question, but that logic can apply to literally everything. Mostly it has to do with the fact that the average person is a lawful citizen and understands the legal requirement and punishments (both monetarily, hunting bans, and potential incarceration) if they do decide to go hunting without a licence. You're correct, Canada is a big place, and I'm sure a minority people DO hunt with a bow (or gun) without a licence, but the existence of a mandatory course or exam elevates that to a crime with penalties that the average person won't risk. Its like comparing it to driving a car without a license, yes some idiots do it, and it makes the roads a more dangerous place, but it's regulated, enforced, and most normally functioning citizens won't risk it.
@@stevep25 I'm not arguing against the system you have, just stating the obvious that it only works to the extent that people are honest and obey the law. We certainly have no shortage of idiots here in the US.
@@hermesten1000 haha yeah, that's a worldwide problem mate. I'm curious if any brits are reading, what's the current penalty for bowhunting in the UK?
The statement of knowing when not to loose your arrow is so true, I have now been bow hunting for many years and have let down on more good deer then I have shot. Now the ones I have shot were clean kills, it’s all about your skill. What I would suggest is having a bow hunting license and in order to get it have a shooting qualification.
I definitely think bow hunting could and should be brought back to the UK.
I think the species of animals we have here are perfect for it also our land, i think lends itself well.
Like you say the bows, sights and broad heads you can get now are staggering. I've been doing archery since i was 4, I'm now 32 and I've seen some amazing bits of kit.
As long as you are deemed capable by way of something similar to a deer stalking certificate and there is a minimum draw weight for certain size of animals i think it would work great.
We need to get this sorted in the UK it’s so expensive and difficult to get out and hunt in different country’s! We need a licence system and a tag system like in the USA
I think for small game, bows would be perfectly serviceable, I wouldn't quite go up to the size of a deer per se, but would prefer to limit it to something the size of a fox for example. You can guarantee with a good broadhead arrow if a shot is off from my 55lb bow whatever it hits is going to get pinned to the floor or have a clean pass through and cause catastrophic amounts of bleeding that would end it's life quickly. Whereas if I'm slightly off with an air rifle, that pellet possibly will not be life ending quickly, if at all. Look at the harrier that was shot a few weeks ago. 2 pellets and still flying around.
The backlash I think would be huge, and I think by highlighting the case of bows we run the risk of losing catapults for instance. Which most would say are probably harder to hunt with that a bow. And don't always achieve clean results.
This is all academic really though, as it makes no odds on how many forms or ways to hunt into the community. There just isn't the land access for anyone that doesn't know someone to start. If you look on the forums and groups there are endless chats open in the search for huntable land. Trying to find somewhere around where I am in the NW is next to impossible and I suspect it's the same UK wide. You have to be brought up in the life or know someone who was unless you get lucky.
I fully agree
Having seen bow hunting for fish in the states I'd love to give it a go looks very skillful.
Certainly an enviable skill
Its a ton of fun, though spear fishing is even better!
Started writing some good points from the start of the video, after you said leave acomment... by the time i finished you had mentioned most of my points, mostly around comparing to air rifle hunting and its lack of regulations, lol.
crossbows can certianly get the job done in a swift clean motion under the right circumstances
Stay safe Johnny Thanks for running videos to keep us saine.
I’d love to be able to hunt with a bow and think it should be allowed in the UK providing you can prove you are competent by passing a archery shooting exam.
That's absolutely stupid, there will be plenty of people bow hunting currently in the UK despite it being illegal, how could you possibly enforce the an archery shooting exam? who is going to know your hunting because bows are silent. Any decent hunter will get the experience needed themselves before they start hunting. If you cant trust yourself and need a pass or license from the state then you don't deserve to live in a free country.
If bow hunting was to become legal in the UK I think it will be heavily regulated possibly more than section 1 firearms. They could look to limit the power like air rifles. The problem with this is might upset people who currently shoot at archery clubs. Love the channel and advice.
Why would you limit the power of a hunting bow? .22 rimfire is already considered inhumane at least abroad because it's so anemic.
Bow hunting would be great here in Northern Ireland as most deer we shoot are within 100 yards and we have to use a high calaber compered to Scotland, so bow hunting would be a lot better here.
Even do a corse like a dsc for bow hunting with different levels for say vermin, small game and large game. And when you by a bow over the counter you should fill out a form and if no "dsc" then no bow.
I would argue that death by an arrow is far more humane than the animal would experience in 99.9% of natural deaths. Examples: parasites, starvation, dehydration, predator's which are insanely brutal and so on. Hopes from Kansas in the United States that you guys recover the freedom of bow hunting. God bless.
The things you learn everyday. Had know idea you could not bow hunt in the UK. Your really missing out. Creates beautiful new hunting opportunities! Hope this changes in the future.
What do you hunt with a bow?
Whitetail Deer in Ontario Canada.
Am going to start thinking about hunting moose as well in coming seasons. The opportunity for getting an adult license for moose is better in the bow category then gun. Your bow needs to have a draw weight minimum 40lbs for large game with broadheads with minimum two cutting surfaces.
Hunting black bear and Turkey with a bow is also popular with many hunters here in Ontario as well.
aoe76, I can see you are passionate about your hunting and I’m all for that, I don’t know about the hunting scene in Denmark,it seems robust and healthy,good ! not sure what the anti situation over in Denmark but in the UK It is quite prolific to say the least and takes very little to get a rise from their quarter.However on the use of bows versus rifle , in my experience when a animal is shot using a rifle and not taken cleanly there is usually a chance for follow up shot on the spot no need for dogs and following blood trails. My point being we have evolved to using rifles because undoubtedly they have proven to be more humane towards our quarry. As I have commented I am not familiar with the landscape of Denmark but I imagine it to have large areas of forest and a smaller density of human population, that’s not the case in the UK our actions would be far more visible. I’m not suggesting that any of your practices should be shrouded as they are perfectly legitimate in your country,I’m just saying it would be far more contentious here in The UK.
P.S. I retract my statement of modern Neanderthals which you clearly are not. All the best and good hunting.
we hunt with catapults, why not bows if the shooter is skilled enough
I think a big problem with bow hunting here is that the potential to cause serious damage with a bow if you miss your shot is a lot greater than it is with a catapult. I know there's even more risk with guns but firearms are licensed and you need permission to shoot on the land and you can hear when people are shooting firearms and keep out of the way. Not saying I agree with bowhunting being banned but I can see both sides of the argument.
Crazy, a modern compound bow will drop a dear in one hit just like a gun, in my state a lot of people bow hunt and gun hunt, because it makes their hunting season twice as long, so if they don't bag a deer in bow season they can try with a rife when gun season starts.
Very interesting, thorough, and thoughtful. I’m not a hunter, but I have no problem with hunting. I would much rather eat hunted meat than farmed meat. Everything dies, but not everything gets a chance to live.
As someone that has shot bows since 1984 and used to hunt with guns,
There are an awful lot of piss poor shots out there.and as an example, we once did a fun shoot with bows at various outdoor targets in the woods, the majority of bowmen were there from an indoor shooting background and while very accurate from the same distance indoors for some reason couldn't hit a barndoor outside?
And how many domestic animals like cats would be shot?
If you can police it and they have the skill, then fine.
This is an interesting debate. Given that it is currently legal to go hunting in the UK then surely there is room for bow-hunting to be included in the choice of tool used to manage populations? But one of the questions that I feel we need to address relates to training/certification for all hunters. We are one of very few countries in the world that do not require a person hunting live quarry to have undergone some from of certified training. If we are to retain the ability to hunt, with whichever tool/quarry, then isn't this something that we should be taking the lead on rather than wait for the legislators with little or no understanding of what we do tell us?
If it was made legal in the UK the rich will highjack it and make sure it's so expensive so only they can do it just like other sports
It's sad how the English speaking world aka UK, AUS & NZ view guns and shooting in general. I live in NYC so I think I can understand some how it feels to be behind enemy lines as a new gun owner and shooter since young.
In poland you need a gun license, then you can buy an automatic shotgun, rifle or handgun. Gun crime in Poland is extremely rare.
Should be legal.. it’s been the way for thousands of years we used spears and all sorts
Great video lots to consider. I'm for the bow returning to UK as a hunting tool. 👍
Sensible and well put across. I have hunted since I was young, but not with a bow (Yet). I have a bow for Sport use and would not be afraid of hunting with it, if the situation was right. Regards JB.
Everything fun is taxed, illegal or requires a licence here
Gov needs piss off
Also, we have bowhunting licences here in Canada. You have to pass a wreitten and shooting test.
Fail
I really don't agree with bowhunting being illegal.
It's such a shame that you are not allowed to hunt with a bow, especially in England
We lucky breathing is legal in UK to be honest
if bowhunting were legalised there shoud be an association of seasoned bowhunters who could assess potential bowhunters and training would be given only when this liscence is valid then each hunter would carry the legal documentation without this liscence it would be illegal
We need to invoke the old english law of folkright, a man should be able to go into the forest to get food for his family, we also need out guns and weapons back in general as the English people are no longer able to rely of our police to impartial enforce the law or keep our people safe.
Given the poverty hitting many people now I strongly suspect that people are doing illegal hunting using many different means not legal or socially acceptable, would I hunt rabbits and pheasants with my bow if I was hungry ABSOLUTELY. Rightly or wrongly people will do whatever is necessary to survive and the law be damned.
Foreign hunters in Europe consider a .22 rimfire being a certified deer cartridge ludicrous. It's the most anemic common cartridge and you realise their point when you consider many people have survived tens of shots from 9×19mm.
A 70lb recurve bow and 100grain tip is significantly more powerful than a .22 rimfire and would kill small game instantly or as fast as a .22 at worst from 25m.
I fully agree with your suggestion for bowhunting law but the mass populus loves removing their and their brothers freedoms and they don't understand the effectiveness of bows, neither would they want to.
watching gritty's channel, I've seen that bow hunting can be way more effective now and matches even a rifle but is done differently. getting very close. but the power of bows is so great I couldn't believe it. the fella's arrows go all the way through the animal. straight through vitals and out the other side. and the animal was done so quickly. what you said about bows meaning the animal gets hit and runs away then dies slowly, even with expert hunters this happens with rifles too.
Late to the party but I find it crazy I'm allowed to go out with my pocket slingshot and some steel balls and take rabbits but my 40lb longbow is illegal... Crazy UK laws.
Bow hunting in Spain is pretty good, otherwise a trip to South Africa isn't too expensive, I go once a year to get my fix.
Very good video with great points. It would be great to have a group page or forum to try and work towards introducing modern bow hunting to the UK as like you said it has changed night and day since it was banned.
One question on what you said about why it was banned, I read that it was because there was no one at to represent Bow hunting at some meetings that classified legal hunting weapons so it didn't get included and it was actually nothing to do with how humane it was seen to be?
I think that small game like rabbits should definitely be allowed. If a rabbit gets hit by an arrow anywhere it's dead. There can be regulations with draw weight and grain of the arrow and what's classed as humane.
I just want to be able to go camping on some land and be able to catch a rabbit without setting a snare or using an air rifle.
So I've been shooting bows since I was 7 I'm 29 now and live in the UK and would love to bow hunt. My issue is with the hypocrisy of the government allowing hunters to use hounds to tear foxes to pieces and was legal for many decades but argue bow hunting is inhumane? I'm surprised you didn't touch on this subject.
Great video... thought provoking but sadly, the criminal element using crossbows will no doubt in time ensure legislation for crossbows be extended, and bows implemented. I can't see any type of bow hunting being lawful in the UK - ever.
Bowhunting is part of being human, we did it for many thousands of years and should be able to do it now. The yanks don't seem to have any problems...
The Americans have it right, we have certain Natural rights, It's about time more of us English realised that we have Natural Rights, so It would not be bad to do this If you actually needed FOOD, just as It's not bad to defend your self from Aggression using Self Defence as It is a Natural right to be able to do so.
Bowfishing is something I'd love to be allowed to do in the UK.
Much agreed
In principle I am for bow hunting where the landscape and biodiversity supports it. But I don’t think our situation in the UK is the same as say, the United States.
Worldwide bow hunting ethics needs to be addressed. Bow weight and kinetic energy are poor measures of potential lethality for hunting. Momentum is more important and so minimum arrow weights need to be defined, along with broadhead types. You mentioned this in your overview too. Hunters also need to prove their shooting proficiency under pressure.
With a 300fps compound, the only truly deliberate shot you can place is at a maximum of about 25m due to string jump/animal movement. That maximum distance reduces with arrow speed. This is my personal appraisal, but have not seen it discussed much elsewhere.
At this critical distance your groupings need to be 2” with a standard deviation no greater than about 1.2”. The statistics of shot analysis is another factor which isn’t taken into account. Simply hitting a 6” target repeatably is good enough for some qualifications. It’s not representative of shot variance which is greater factor.
As before, I am pro bow hunting where it can be justified on the basis of conservation, but It’s still lacking in international regulation in terms of Hunter ethics and equipment suitability. I would agree with you that small game is a worthwhile starting position however I’m not sure we’ll ever get past the land/ownership/population density issue.
Interesting video, thanks for posting
What about a compound bow with reel for mullet and sea bass. Always wanted to use one around my moring
hunting from the land prevents the government from taxing your money from what meat you've bought from the shop
In a nutshell
We should have a petition
Are air bows legal in the UK obvoiusly not for hunting as the law stands but that would I suspect be likely to decrease the rate of wounding.
Brilliant talk.... Thanks.. Thinking off getting a bow.. Open my eyes to good information ... 👌👌
Now you can again look at how it is in Denmark just like with steel shot
Tell us more?
@@tgsoutdoors Before you can go hunting in Denmark you must pass a written test and a shooting test and the shooting test must be conducted every 5 years. any game with a season can be shot with a bow that lives up to the standards there are
Omfg. I had no idea bow hunting was illegal in UK. I thought those guys were so cool…
I’ve hunted with both bow and rifle.. much prefer the bow..!
Wish we could get out there for some roe deer or fallow.. even the Chinese imported water deer..!
This may be a surprise to those outside the United States but believe it or not much of the United States the law works the same. You may not pursue wounded game across private property boundaries without permission though I'm aware of a few jurisdictions with unique legislation that are rare exceptions to this its generally required to make an attempt to inform and contact the property owner in addition to reporting the incident to local Game Management agencies. Trespassing while armed is never a good idea. Also there are still public lands in certain parts of the western United States but it is not as rich or abundant with game as people think and there is very little public land in the eastern United States and it's become extremely difficult to obtain licenses and tags. With that said less effective methods of take like bowhunting are often sport in the West while in the eastern United States less effective short range methods of take such as Archery, Handguns, Shotguns, Muzzleloaders, and Straight-Wall cartridges are often required by law and rifles are illegal as a safety precaution although somewhat absurd. On the subject safety and ethical take with an objective of making a fast humane and clean kill I've always felt the hunter and their judgement often plays a bigger role then the weapon. There never really has been a great or effective way of managing ethics or safety which is why hunting in the U.S. It is rapidly becoming more expensive and the legislation that governs it is becoming ever increasingly complex and difficult to understand.
Main problem in the UK for bow hunting is a lack of regulation, as you mentioned. Yes, education is easier and you wouldn’t need to worry about those who sought it. Issue would be the Muppets... I’m heavily into archery, the sport and industry as a whole (run an archery shop) and we do have issues in the sport with people who buy a bow on eBay, don’t bother to research and just go shoot it.... at anything they please. That would be an issue multiplied by many if bow hunting were allowed, I fear. At least with firearms you have to jump through some hoops, so are likely to take it seriously. As with most things, the few would ruin it for the many.
In the US I think you need minimum poundage at 40lbs to hunt big game ethically, that likely could help draw a line, but of course muppets would still be muppets ofc.
I give all my thanks to all the staff of the NHS thank you all for looking after us at these testing times.
but can we also say thankyou to all the shop workers who are still going to work every day and making sure we still get our food and essentials.
I think these people are way more important than we thought they were in the past. hope you all stay safe
Thanks to Mr. Boris Johnson for the herd immunity and over 30k deaths in UK
what has this comment to do with the topic?
crossbowman here, i'd rather die from hemorage than shock
I’d rather die of old age related diseases.
What is your thoughts on crossbow hunting?
Before I say this I'm not planning to atall! But if somone were to get caught bow hunting in the UK, what's the actual charge / charges ? Can't find the answer unfortunately but I'm curious.
God this is fucking mind numbing, a 180 lb crossbow is somehow less dangerous than a 1.7 caliber bb gun. God damn this country needs some serious law reform.
bow hunting in the uk was still legal for all small game and vermin into the eighties after which it was outlawed all together
Bit what is legality and illegality? Rules by other men you've never met, written down on paper, backed by force and you're expected to 'obey' it when you never agreed to it in the first place.
I have bow and sling shot hunted for a while now (in UK) and will continue to do so, regardless of a politicians opinion.
I'm a single man living in the wild 8 months out of the year, in Scotland so my bow is my supermarket. The animal is never wasted and always appreciated very much. Foxes, rabbits, squirrels, etc. The bits I can't eat, my dog does.
I don't eat meat everyday either, once or twice a week if I'm lucky.
I think bow hunting should be allowed in the UK, but perhaps only with the use of compound bows. Perhaps it would be a good idea, if bowhunters were required to pass a standardised test to demonstrate that their skill level with a compound bow, and their competence and understanding of the equipment and safety and respect for their quarry, was sufficiently high enough to be granted a license to legally shoot game with their bow.
Not legal here in Ireland either. Pity.
Can I and my son target shooting with bone and arrow in the Fields?
Bow hunting should be legal in the UK. It is just as humane and inhumane as rifle shooting.
If you shoot a deer with a rifle from 400yards with a 15mph crosswind and end up putting a hole in its guts and it dies a very slow painful death, that's inhumane. If you stalk in to 40 yards or sit in a blind/high seat and make a perfect double lung/heart shot with a big broadhead, I would argue it's almost more humane than a rifle. No shot noise to scare the animal. No huge shockwave going through its body. Just a sharp shock and then they will be unconscious in seconds.
The tools we use to hunt are not inhumane, it's the idiots behind the tool that do not respect the animal that are.
A fantastic comment.
Speaking to many pro stalker I’ve rth years who take out hundreds of clients a year - long follow ups with deer shot with rifles is more common than many would believe.
It would also be easier for people to train with a bow at home than it is a rifle and hence proficiency should be higher?
@@tgsoutdoors I'd like to call myself an ethical stalker and I always aim for heart/lung shots but at the end of the day, we are just trying to create enough blood loss that the animal passes out quickly and dies momentarilly.
Although a bullet flies very fast, it is also very light compared to an arrow. A broadhead would usually make a very deep would cavity and so long as the shot is good, the animal will pass just as quick as it would with a rifle.
After watching your video the other day with the woodsman, I agree with your step program. You and me will never see bow hunting legalised in the UK. We need to work on step one which is getting people to experience nature and realise that hunting is natural. Maybe the next generation of hunters will see step 2.
Well said
An ethical hunter wouldn't take that 400 yard shot if he wasn't positive he had the skill to compensate for the crosswind. I think the problem comes down to ethical versus unethical hunters more than to bow or rifle.
@@hermesten1000 exactly. And to be honest I don't care who it is, nobody is skillful or arrogant enough to say they can put a shot in an 8 inch circle at 400 yards EVERY time, therefore the shot is never ethical.
Wow. As someone in the US, I didn’t even realize you couldn’t bow hunt in the UK. That seems kind of crazy. Are there public lands that can be hunted (owned by the government/citizens) in the UK?
Josh Newton no
@@jamesellis3078 You can only hunt on private land you own or with permission of the owner?
My oppinion is it should be made legal for small game with a mandatory ibep test small game not covered by the deer act would not require a huge change to any law and it could then be assessed over a period of a few years as to its suitability and use on deer.
There is overwhelming scientific evidence world wide that it is directly comparable to rifle shooting so really personal/public oppinions should not come into the discussion it would be hard to give a good reason not to allow it from an evidence/scientificaly based perspective.
i shoot air gun all my life .and for the last 20 years i shoot shot guns and only shoot rabbits foxes so why cant i use my rc bow . i have plenty of land to shoot .
i agree with you on that son .
What about extermination, pest control or farming? In the US these are typically separate from hunting. You can't just go out and trap or poison wildlife here, but rats, mice and some feral animals have no such protections. Where I live airgun hunting is illegal, but killing rats isn't considered hunting. My sister used to have semi-feral peafowl around her house and I would thin the population of those as well from time to time.
In some areas there are canned hunts where hunters pay to shoot farmed wildlife. So essentially you're paying to slaughter a farmed animal. I can see a farmer in the UK "raising rabbits" that he then charges for the privilege of "slaughtering".
Coming from NZ bow hunting is permitted, now living in the UK I say field archery should be illegal.... it's too much fun.
Is it effective and humane?
@@tgsoutdoors like any task, if it is done properly the results are satisfactory, imho it's as stress free for the game as a kill can be done. The bow has tens of thousands of years of putting food on the table, it has credibility. It must be stressed that archery requires that the hunter meets a level of competence that may take considerably longer than learning to shoot a rifle well.
Very thought provoking! I make wooden self bows and would love to be able to use them for hunting, I think as in hunting with a rifle the key words would be education and training as in DSC1 for deer . I have heard that in Denmark 600 people a year apply for a bow licence it is legal there! But only about 60 pass the test that is set for them , different targets at different ranges ect. DSC 1 for bow hunters?
Andrew Lakeman You are wrong.
Almost every one passes with a compound bow.
First You have a 20 question test where You have to be correct on at least 18 question.
Then You have to shoot 6 arrows on 6 different targets. Up to 25 meters wich is as far as You are allowed to shoot in Denmark (when hunting).
Normally the targets stand between 10 and 25 meters. You are not allowed to use a range finder. Also You must hit 5 out of 6 targets and be able to hande your bow safely before getting your bow hunting licens. If You want to Hunt with a recurve or a barebow, You have to pay for going to a shooting test once again. One test for every bowtype. A handfull of people in Denmark have a huntinglicence for all 3 bowtypes. It is much more difficult to hit the killing zone reguarly with the recurve and the barebow, so a lot more fail this test. But it is only a small amount of hunters that even go to this test. You also have to take the shooting test every 5 years with each type of bow to get your license reneewed.
I hope this make sence. Best regards from Denmark.
I think if hunting with bows were allowed then it would increase the numbers of bows owned in the uk.
This would inturn possibly lead to more missuse. And obviously misuse will cause more fatalities etc.
If the bows for hunting were to be on an fac or sgc. Then the numbers of new bows would be lower .but then u kill target archery as a sport .
Encouraging words that won't change a thing when it comes to UK hunting laws.
Given a lot of British public school boys would have learnt Archery as part of PE ( I learnt archery through school and as a hobby). It doesn't make sense that you can't hunt with a bow, it seems like they are having to account for the idiots/incapable by banning bow hunting.
I love the TGS content guys but this is misjudged. There is no possible way bow hunting will ever be considered in the UK again, and whilst I applaud the pragmatism, the antis would lap it up and find easy footage to prove their point. There is no place for bow hunting in modern society.
Just curious on that last sentence. Is that because of the backlash it would get in the UK? Or are you saying that has no place anywhere in the world?
@@danhill6333 Backlash in UK really. There are of course parts of the world where people dont have guns for hunting so bow use is normal. But when there are simpler alternatives in the developed world, there is no place for it.
I cant imagine the sort of fanny that would be attracted to bow hunting in the UK. I would think that careful consideration and proficiency testing would be required. One thought is that you should have bow hunting target clubs that have mandatory attendance and competitive records. Like they do with pistols except that you can use the bow for hunting under the agreed framework.
You can't enforce bows like you can firearms, firearms are loud bows are not, bows can be made with little experience, firearms cannot ( yet ) there is nothing stopping me from going into the woods and dropping a deer with my bow as the law currently stands because who is going to know? you assume there are no bow hunters in the UK? I'm afraid the only alternative is to legalise it and let people be responsible for themselves or keep it illegal... and let people be responsible for themselves haha. What happened to the UK? learn our history, we had the right to bear arms and freedom of speech long before the Americans did and we allowed it to be taken away and now you have people asking for their own subjugation. If your going to live in a society that demands you pay a tax or else citizens must have the right and protect their right to live as unimpeded from the state as possible.
@@Dolmio24 you can make a black powder revolver with relative ease if you have intermediate metalwork tools .
If I were to buy a bow and arrow or crossbow can you practice shooting outdoors?
Your garden or private land with the owner's permission.
@@Solaar_Punk Aye. I think I would just go in the woods. Out of sight, out of mind. I can't get anything anyway. They are all sold out.
@@stephenmurray2851 yeah, alot of the one's I was looking at ie behinners wooden long bows with 30 - 40lb poundage were sold out too. I'll post back here if I find anything decent.
I should imagine there will be a lot more bleeding with an arrow
They shouldn't have banned it, they should have just licensed bow hunting. For pest shooting there's no reason it should be illegal, i'd certainly be more confident shooting foxes, rabbits and hares with a crossbow and certainly with the former using a shotgun. A bow and a crossbow will easily send an arrow straight through small animals
I say suitable, you say shootable, lets call the whole thing off.
I would love too hunt with one of my bows here in the UK if it was legal and i would be more than happy too pay for a license just like you need a fishing license
Wow this video is great I would love to try bow hunting and in the uk would be amazing keep up the good vids