I am not proud to admit this but there is a guy that I hunt with and he has wounded 4 deer this year with bow. I want feedback to print and show him because he won't listen to me about this serious issue. Any feedback greatly apprecited....

If he won't listen to you, he probably won't listen to me, but here goes: If he doesn't work to improve his shooting, stop hunting with him. Or better yet, tell him to stop hunting all together, or at least til he gains some respect for the animal he is hunting.

Tell him that we don't need slob hunters out there wrecking it for us that are responsible. If he can't have enough respect for the animal and the sport, then he should not be out there hunting. It is his responsibility to make sure he shoots accurately or not shoot at all.

If he is hunting on land that you both have permission for, you could get yourself booted off the land by the owner, if he finds out about this guys irresponsibility. I would tell him that if he can't square up, then I would not hunt with him.

Hopefully he will seek some help from a pro or a better shooter who is also a good teacher. Wounding and loosing isnt something to be proud of with any weapon, it does happen but there is a limit to what could be considered acceptable by anymeans. Sometimes being humbled is the hardest lesson learned and until that day comes, unfortunatly nothing will change and will probably worsen until a confrontation eventually happens which is good for no one! Its only when one can look at themselves from the outside, things will change.

wounded animals happen from time to time, but 4 in one year is crazy. I don't know if he just won't practice, doesn't tune his equipment or what, but he needs help!! There is just no excuse for that kind of shooting unless he kills over 100 deer a year!!

TAKE YOUR KIDS HUNTING AND YOU WON'T BE HUNTING FOR YOUR KIDS

Is it bad shooting or bad tracking? What kind of equipment is he useing? Will he not practice with you?

Rick [img]http://photos.imageevent.com/mdbohuntr/holding/icons/sig%20pic%20bow.jpg">

onlybow he is doing something wrong, either he is shooting beyond his range, he is not stopping the deer before he releases or he has no idea how to track. No matter what the problem he needs to stop hunting until he can correct it. You need to sit him down and explain to him that he is showing no respect for the deer and is harming all bowhunters reputations by continuing to hunt until he corrects what ever his problem is. All I can say is I am glad I am not in your shoes, but you have to do something, even it it means not hu8nting with him any more.

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club

If I were in your shoes I would be furious. He is affecting your hunting area. Once he mouths about this to his friends (which he will if he doesn't care) you may be considered to be doing some of the same thing just by association with this fool. And to make matters worse stories change as they go from person to person. Surely you are aware how mad this will make some people. Maybe you should be one of them. If the guy is willing to practice and try and get better I'd lighten up. If not I'd bear down even harder. I too would not want to be in your shoes, I would be minus one hunting buddy.

J. Shoot

Searching

Getting mad at him won't accomplish a single thing. If he's truly a friend you need to educate him, even if it takes a long time. Whatever you do, don't abandon him. He'll just keep doing what he's doing and there will be one less friend who might be able to sway his attitude.

The future of bowhunting lies with non-hunters, particularly women non-hunters. They are the largest voting segment of non-hunters and their opinions will sway legislation that could outlaw our sport. I think it's safe to say that women will not tolerate undue suffering for animals and that a sport that appears to have more than it's share of wounded but not recovered animals, will not be supported in their views. Don't think that it can't happen. It can and probably will some day. We have to delay this as long as we possibly can by showing true concern for a quick kill.

In 32 years of bowhunting whitetails, I have never wounded a deer that I didn't recover (90% died within a minute). I hold more pride in that accomplishment than any buck I've ever killed or ever will kill. When I take a shot, I know it's a dead deer and that it will die quickly and with little stress. I like it that way.

Maybe your friend should imagine that it's a pet (many out there do consider them pets) and he has to put it down. Now, is he going to just fling arrows from long distances, hoping to stick one in a good spot, or is he going to get real close and put the barrel in it's ear? Quick, easy kills are the result of hard work and having respect for the animal's death. We need your friend to start showing some empathy for his quarry if the future of bowhunting is to have a chance.

Onlybow,

I have to be honest, if it was me I would no longer hunt with this fool. If he does not realize that something is wrong with his hunting skills(out of range, bow not tuned correctly etc.), then he has a seriuos problem. I assume that you are a serious hunter, you must realize that your friend is not. If you stay aquainted with this idiot then its "your bad" also. I would also consider it a direct insult to you that this bum has disregarded any previous communication from you. My last suggestion is to tell him to buy a hunting video game, then mabe he will occupy his time with that and not continue to hurt some of gods greatest creatures.

hunt on hunt hard eat well