Sidearms in the Archery Season

[robodad]

I was merely trying to point out that you will have a number of folks entering the archery woods who normally would not because the time frame in which the archery season takes place is much better for some folks because there are not as many people (or game wardens) in the woods at the time and it is a much longer and later season. there are folks that will take advantage of the opportunity to carry a firearm and use them during the archery season.

Poachers are gonna poach no matter what that is a given. What bothers me is that more of the poachers will move to the archery season because it will be legal for them to carry a gun.

I know that a bullet makes a different hole in an animal then an arrow but if you use the right gun and place your shot correctly it can be undetectable, I have seen it done. I have also seen a guy quarter up an elk he killed with a .38 (during archery season) and just cut the wound tract away and and left it in the woods. It was 20 or so years ago and I didn't turn him in  but I should have.

I am not saying that the guns are gonna turn good law abiding people into poachers, all I am saying is there will be more poachers in the archery woods and I would rather see it happen.

[Bscman]

Just to throw in my $0.02

I completely agree with carrying a sidearm while bow hunting.
I never have myself, but I have been in a few situations where it would have been nice!!!
(<30yards from cougar, <50yds for LARGE black bear, hiking back to the truck to find a few sketchy thugs with beer in their hands circling the truck, etc).

I believe that sidearms SHOULD be allowed...
I would have absolutely NO PROBLEM if the laws also included that one MUST hold a permit for concealed carry (and follow those laws as well). As long as it is accessible in the need arises, great.

This would take care of several problems.
You wouldn't have to worry about the "image" of bowhunters with guns on their hips. You wouldn't have to worry (as much) about the poaching issue--though I think the "issue" is minimal anyway. The majority of conceald carry weapons are close-range weapons anyway...small, short barrels, etc. This pretty much limits any possible "poaching" to close-range....within the relative distance a bow would be just as effective.

Bottom line--
Poachers will poach regardless of laws.
Cats are stealthy, powerful critters than can sneak up on you faster than you can knock and loose an arrow.
Bears are big...even bigger when they're coming at you.
Johhny law isn't close by to protect you when you're 20 miles from civilization.

[cohoho]

Well said....  Especially the thought on the short range guns.  I guess this can stir another argurment on folks with extreme accuracy at long distances with 2 in barrels... Until then...

[huntnphool]

"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."

Robodad, are you serious? You actually believe archery hunters that are allowed to carry a weapon will cause poaching to increase? LOL I dont think you have thought the whole situation through before making your statements. First of all, I carry a handgun with me at all times, its my constitutional right to do so and I dont care what anyone else thinks about me for doing it. Secondly, poachers obviously have no regard for rules, they are going to poach regarless whether or not a arhcery hunter is packing. Third, have you never read the regs before? maybe you should check out the bear and cougar seasons. They are in the woods the same time archery hunters are, however they can carry any weapon they want, and your worried about some archery elk hunter packing his 9mm semi auto. Seems to me a bear hunter with a 300 win mag would be a bigger threat to a bull elk than a guy with a 9mm, give us all a break.

[ICEMAN]

Damn good point.

The only thing bowhunters do in the woods that really pisses me off is shooting all those trophies before I get a chance at them during modern rifle. Damn archers! 

[robodad]

I am not accusing anyone of being a poacher because they want to carry a gun during archery seasons, I am saying that you will see more poachers take up archery and be in the woods with us during archery seasons because they will be allowed to carry firearms.

Thing is, I have read the regs and I know the seasons overlap and I know there are cougar and bear hunters out there I am not an idiot like you say.

How many times have you been elk hunting and seen another bowhunter ?? now how many times have you seen his buddy packing a rifle and said "I am just bear hunting" You know as well as I do that half of the time it's *censored* and they are really with them to kill their elk. Now if you let the same bow hunter pack a firearm he will just do it himself and won't even need his buddy there.

Where do you draw the line between what size of "sidearm" you can carry and if you are "packing" and happen to kill a bear or cougar you have to have a "lawful big game modern firearm" or you are the one that is going to get a ticket for poaching and for using illegal equipment. I know I know you can use anything on people but not on animals.

This argument is not personal, nor do I want anyone mad at me for bringing up these points, I am just bringing a different perspective to the board for the sake of conversation. It appears you all think I want to take away the constitution and you are wrong, I support it 100% If I felt I were in danger I may pack a sidearm as well but I don't and haven't yet so I won't.

I'm sorry if I gave any of you the impression that I think you are poachers because I don't, I just think that the laws as they are are keeping some of the poachers out of the archery woods.

I am really having a hard time getting my point across and I think I am brushing the dog from the tail up.

Maybe it is a dumb law and maybe I am completely off the deep end but then again maybe not !!   

[bankwalker]

well look at it like that...weather you poach an animal with a handgun or not...

if you are in range to kill an elk or deer or w/e it is you are poacing with your handgun...you are obviously with in range to kill said animal with your bow aswell...

what others do with the sidearms while they are archery hunting is there buisness not mine. and i think it is stupid to say i cant carry my sidearm with me for protection against what ever i feel i need to protect myself again. because some
a-hole MIGHT poach and animal with his sidearm...

thats stupid...and what ever happened to states not being able to make laws that go against our constitutional rights as americans?...i was told that by a couple gamies i know personaly that its a bogus law and 90% of the gamies wouldnt even bother with that paper work to write up a ticket

even though they said that i still wont carry...im not one to break law no matter how stupid and pointless they are.

but its plain stupid...and everyone knows it. weather you are against it or not. its still stupid.

if its legal doesnt mean everyone is gonna start packing...look at how many people carry a sidearm during modern firearm season...i hunt vail one of the highest trafficed hunting areas. and i see maybe 3 sidearms the whole season...

and if needed a sidearm is alot easier to protect yourself with then a big hard to handle rifle...specially at close range.

[Skyvalhunter]

I counted atleast 5 "stupids" used there. Hey everyone has a right to their opinion and not worth calling them names.

[billythekidrock]

What would Forest Gump say?

[Crunchy]

Forest Gump would say "stupid is as stupid does" or something like that.  I would like the option to carry one.  I normally have one with me 70% of the time, and think its stupid to leave it in the truck or hide it in camp.

[huntnphool]

"I am not an idiot like you say."

I never called you an idiot, nor would I ever for speaking your mind. All I said was I didnt think you thought things through before making your statement.

"I am saying that you will see more poachers take up archery and be in the woods with us during archery seasons "

I dont believe that would be the case. Why would they choose a archery tag to be in the woods in September when all they have to do is purchase a bear tag and they can be in there even if they have a modern elk tag? Remember, poachers have no regard for the law, they are going to be in the woods with bad intent anyway, regarless of the seasons. The fact that I carry a 9mm with me is for personel protection only,  always have carried one and always will, I could care less what the fine is.

I seriously doubt I will ever run into another archery hunter that is packing around his gear, bow and a 300 win mag. If I do he is in far better shape than I and thats saying something.

Anyway, go back and read my post, I never called you any names. This forum is for all of us to post our thoughts. We can all agree to disagree at times, no need to make it personal.

[bankwalker]

I counted atleast 5 "stupids" used there. Hey everyone has a right to their opinion and not worth calling them names.

exactly and in my opinion its STUPID! plain and simple. thats MY opinion and im sticking to it. its just a word and if it offends you then close your eyes...if its not worth calling the name then it sure isnt worth getting offended by...hmmm

i wont break that its not worth it to me to deal with all the problems that fallow getting caught. but its a stupid law, and it punishes people who fallow the laws.

after a bowhunter gets killed by a bear, or cougar then maybe that law will change. but if thats what it takes to get it changed...its already to late.

once again thats my opinion...

[billythekidrock]

after a bowhunter gets killed by a bear, or cougar then maybe that law will change. but if thats what it takes to get it changed...its already to late.

..and you don't think that rifle hunters have been attacked and killed by bears or cougars? That's the wrong argument for your your cause. Now if you are worried about illegal grow operations or meth addicts, that is a different story.

[Ironhead]

I would just like to be able to make the choice on my own.         Do I carry today or not?

[Slider]

If it was legal I would carry!!! I've bumped into a couple Cougars and wished I would have had a gun. And now with the Wolves even more so. Lets have a VOTE!!!