Sidearms in the Archery Season

[fairchaser]

Checking to see how you feel about allowing sidearms to be worn, for protection, in the Washington State Archery Season.  Some pros might be 2nd amendment rights, feeling safer in the woods while archery hunting and that is will have no negative impact on bowhunting in Washington State.  Some cons might be that there will be more gunfire in the woods during archery season with some archery hunters just taking some target or recreational shots, impacting the  PUBLIC image of a bowhunter from that of a primitive weapon user to a pistol packing bowhunter (the public will probably not know it is for protection only) , diminishing the true bowhunting experience by creating a safety net in the form of a gun or that there is no safety issue in Washington at this time.  You probably have your own reasons.. pro and con.....let hear them!

[Ray]

I'm all for the right to bear arms. I don't carry it to safeguard me from the critters but instead for the crackheads and derelicts out in the sticks. It's all about the 2nd Amendment to me.

Should we add a poll to this discussion?

[robodad]

Well the way I see it is archery is not much more then reenacting a traditional hunt using traditional/modern equipment and the use of a firearm would defeat the purpose.

When the folks that we are reenacting went hunting they did not have access to firearms or they would have used them instead of the bow, and so they had to use their skills to protect them in the woods instead of firearms.

If you need more protection in the woods while bow hunting then pick up some better skills or pepper spray.

That's what I think !! 

[Ray]

They also didn't have meth heads with guns running around.  It's just like bringing a knife to a gun fight.

Now as far as the re-enactment discussion is concerned... I am not re-enacting anything. I also don't believe that someone else with a compound bow is either.

[ICEMAN]

I say carry the gun. I personally have found a pot grow operation during modern rifle season, and had I been hunting bow, I would have been facing off with drug growers. I would carry. Some laws are made to be broken (never thought i would hear myself say that    ) but your personal defense trumps state law in my opinion... 

[Ray]

They've had grow operations and tons of crooks up the north fork snoqualmie river road. Talk to some of the tow truck drivers in north bend. They know just as much as the cops about all the  crooked things that go on out there. I realize that isn't the only hunting area in Washington state but that alone is enough for me to say that I would carry for personal safety as you mentioned iceman.

I think the important distinction is whether or not you are hunting with that firearm.

[saylean]

I posted something like this on another thread, but here goes again. I actually contacted the NRA ILA about this topic. I got a response the next day...this was middle of last month or so. I dont have the exact response, but it sounded like they are looking into taking this issue to court. So here is hoping...


Saylean

[wastickslinger]

I would pack if it were legal. Like everyone else has said, protection against that that idiot watching his September grove you stumble on. I have come across 3 fairly large groves in the last two years. I dont feel very safe with my bow only. Also, does a broad head hole and a bullet hole look so similar that it would be that tough to tell if someone had finished one off with a pistol? That has always puzzled me. 

[robodad]

More needs to be done about the Meth and pot growers then, keep the guns out of the archery woods. you think poaching is bad now, holy crap just wait till archery guys get to carry guns too  

There is little or no enforcement the way it is and with everyone packing a gun the odds are that more and more "idiots" will get away with shooting their critter with their "protection" and not their bow.

I totally agree that we are not reenacting anything but the state has set it up to where we are only allowed to use "traditional" equipment. Traditional equipment may be a bad choice of words but there are restrictions on our equipment for a reason.

You and I and all the good ethical hunters on this board are NOT the only folks in the woods. If allowed to carry guns during archery seasons everyone would be there. It is just a bad idea.

If you need to carry a gun in the woods, hunt during the modern season !!

[Ray]

robodad,

I hear your argument but I figured we should rehash it with the actual reasons why it was put in place. It's not far off from your mindset as far as I can tell. You are entitled to your opinion that I will never agree with. Your reasoning seems to center around the idea that people will harvest many of their animals with their pistols.

It's not hard to tell if someone killed their animal with a bow or a rifle. The problem with that mindset you have from my point of view is that it leaves no room for personal safety from the two legged critters. I don't think you or anyone else has the right to tell me I cannot carry while the 2nd Amendment is still intact and crooks are on the loose unchecked. Personal safety trumps any silly bow hunting regulation put in place for the reason to regulate how people harvest animals or even how tough guys think they might be because they did it with sticks and stones only and no backup. Simply stating that more needs to be done about the meth and pot heads growing is really not much of practical response.

Times change and I don't believe they had the same problems back in the 70s as we do today.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,1345.msg13264.html#msg13264

This law was enacted back in the early '70's through the efforts of a very active WSAA Bowhunting VP and his bowhunting commitee who disliked watching bowhunters walking around with side arms on their hips. At that time it was not so much a matter of them being used illegally, but rather a matter of appearance. That, and the idea that if you had a bow, why did you need a gun? Against an animal, you probably don't.

However, I totally agree with what transpired in Oregon on this issue. The issue is maintaining one's ability to defend oneself in a life threatening situation.

I believe that it should be illegal to use a firearm in the harvest of game while bowhunting in a bow unit during bow season. But I also firmly believe there to be no reason why we shouldn't be allowed to carry a firearm during bow season.

Simply carrying a firearm during bowseason should not be equated with using that firearm illegally. Using such logic it could then be assumed that no one should allowed carry a firearm anywhere because they "might" use it illegally.

Carrying a firearm in the woods has to do with maintaining one's ability to protect oneself and family in a remote setting. That is a priviledge and a right which should be allowed

[wastickslinger]

The guys dumping deer with pistols are going to do it no matter if it is legal to carry a pistol or not. That is the same argument that people use about outlawing guns. If we make it illegal to own a gun then no one will get murdered anymore.    These laws only make good guys bad.

[DOUBLELUNG]

I'm for it.  Though I share Robodad's concerns, I agree with the 2nd Amendment rights argument, and HATE the idea of making it illegal to carry a firearm LEGALLY, because it might be used illegally (talk about scary ramifications!).  

I think that concerns about dirtbag archers shooting game can be addressed with a truly scary penalty for illegally taking game with a firearm during a primitive weapons hunt - say, automatic loss of 5 years' hunting AND fishing privileges, and a prohibition against associating with anyone in the act of hunting or fishing during that time.  

And, on the bright side, any archery season hunter bold enough to poach an animal with a firearm, will have to consider the 20,000 or so other camoed and silent archery hunters, out there in the good ol' crowded game fields of Washington, toting digital cameras and cell phones, all vying for the chance to get 10 big game points for turning that sorry POS in to those sucky game wardens!

[robodad]

I have absolutely no problem with the constitution and no problem with anyones right to protect themselves and their property, The thing I have a problem with is poaching  Nothing pisses me off more then to hear about a poaching incident and not being able to do a damn thing about it and I think that if guns are allowed into the archery woods there will be more poaching done because there is no enforcement to speak of.

I have hunted public land all my life and have never had a need for a sidearm for protection, I have always had to walk and talk my way out of any conflict. In fact I don't know anyone personally that would have shot someone if they had "protection". No one I know has said "Man if I had a gun I would have shot that sob" It is ridiculous,

I guess if it makes you feel bigger then perhaps you need one !!

These laws only make good guys bad

And bad guys worse !!

[Ray]

I guess if it makes you feel bigger then perhaps you need one !!

Well there are plenty of people that would fall for the trap you are trying to set but I'm not even smart and will bypass it.

It's not about feeling bigger or better. I know people that have lived their entire lives without incidents where they had to protect themselves from a physical scuffle. Whether that be in a bar, alley or school. Good for them. However I believe that people do in fact encounter other crafty folks and have the right. You're basically speaking with a forked tongue here as far as I can tell.

I have absolutely no problem with the constitution and no problem with anyones right to protect themselves and their property

I have hunted public land all my life and have never had a need for a sidearm for protection

[robodad]

No traps are being set here, I am just arguing for those folks that don't want to see guns in the archery woods and you are arguing for the ones that need them.

These comments are by no means directed at you personally Huntwa I just think it is a bad idea and hope they are not allowed that's all.

Just because I believe in the constitution and have no problem with it does not mean I have to carry a gun, What are you talking about "forked tongue" 

Our opinions clearly differ in this case which is fine that is what discussions are about !!