I don't believe that many states require you to qualify with a bow to shoot on public land. Definately not for private land. I have to qualify to hunt some Federal land and to participate in managed hunts here in MD.

I asked that question when getting my permit from MD DNR last year and their response was that if they made everyone qualify before hunting public land that the number of hunters would drop and then they could not control the deer population. I would also think that a lot of people that did not, or could not qualify would just hunt illegally.

It's sad to think that way. I personaly feel that everyone that hunts public or Federal land should have to qualify with whatever weapon they will be using. I have definately seen a lot of hunters in the woods that do not belong there. I can not count the number of times I have been talking to my friends working at Bass Pro when people come in wanting to get outfitted with a bow, crossbow or gun so they can go out the next day.

Ooops. Didn't I say I was going to stop hijacking this thread?!