ARE YOU QUALIFIED?
 

Are there any states out their that make you qualify at a range with your bow before issuing an archery tag? I am hunting a military base that is requiring all hunters to qualify with their bows out to 35 yards prior to issuing a hunting permit. What's your opinion on this? I think it is a good idea, but not all agree.

RE: ARE YOU QUALIFIED?
 

There isn't any state qualification requirement, but there are a couple of federal WMA's that do have a shooting qualification, aka proficiency test. I agree with proficiency tests in principle, but not in fact. Bowhunters need to know how to shoot, certainly, and I wish more people would take part in archery as a regular recreational activity instead of ignoring it until they absolutely HAVE to get the bow out. But proficiency tests are dangerous. They can be designed so that not even world class archers could pass.

Our club has an annual shoot where we set up deer size targets at 30 yards and less for people who want to shoot a qualifying score for a nearby WMA. The minimum qualifying score for 14 targets is 80%, 112 points scored 10-8-5. Most shooters qualify easily, even traditionals. Bump it out to 35 though, or up the minimum to 90% and the number that qualify would be cut by 2/3rds. Bump the distance out to 50 yards and only 100% 10-rings and very few could qualify.

I'd vehemently oppose any proficiency test as a licensing/tag requirement. Just like I vehemently oppose the couch potatos who sit on their duffs all year and drag their bows out a week before opening day. The old "I don't have time to practice" BS is a pure lie. If someone has time to hunt, then they've got time to practice with their bows during the offseason. If it weren't for those people, there would be no need for proficiency tests at all.

RE: ARE YOU QUALIFIED?
 

Germany required all hunter to go through weeks of training classes before they can hunt. But they are a socialist country. Maybe you would like to see us with less freedoms. How about a mandatory 3 week training class which cost say $1,200 to get your hunting tags?

I don't think so!!! [:'(]

RE: ARE YOU QUALIFIED?
 

Capt Ray,

when I was up in Alaska, they had a bowhunters education course. In order to graduate, we had to walk a 3d course and hit 8 of 10 targets in the kill zone and put one arrow in the kill zone of each animal (couldn't miss twice on the same target). This education class was in order to hunt any AK state special archery hunt. You could go into a rifle hunt adn hunt with a bow w/o the bowhunter ed, but you couldn't apply for the special archery sheep hunt.

beej

RE: ARE YOU QUALIFIED?
 

I hunted for 5 years on a nearby military installation. They had 3D deer targets set up at unknown ranges out to 30 yards. You had to be able to place 2 out of 3 arrows in the kill zone both from the ground and from a tree stand in order to get though that part of the yearly qualification. I hated it, but used to put up with it each year since they have a boatload of deer there and a very liberal limit.

RE: ARE YOU QUALIFIED?
 

Yes, I belive it be done maybe not every year but four maybe. Get something like your driver lienise. Being out in the woods in public land hasnot being the most enjoyable. From being chased out of trees from squirrel hunters pheasent hunters consantaly calling there dogs to haveing shot fired just under my stand.
This would be a good thing cause maybe it would make everyone more aware of the other hunters around you and also less wounded animals cause of the at range time.
thanks

RE: ARE YOU QUALIFIED?
 

Iowuldn't mind something being put in place. I remember at my Bowhunting Safety Course, we shot at the end at an 8' by 8' target at 15 yards. People who seemed like know it alls in class were hitting the ceiling and floor. -Not good.

RE: ARE YOU QUALIFIED?
 

I think it's a great idea and should be done on a regular basis prior to purchasing or acquiring a archery permit. I also wish all states would go to the required NBEF class that many states already have in place. Too many weekend nonproficient warriors out there. IMO

RE: ARE YOU QUALIFIED?
 

I agree with Arthur, I would hate to see mandatory qualification because you never know what you are going to get in regards to standards. On the other hand, I really gets me going when I hear some one talking about how they need to dust their bow off because deer season is two weeks away. There are bow hunters and then there are people who carry a bow into the woods and try to harvest game. All we can do is try to educate people and make safety courses and archery in general more appealing so that more folks will shoot all year around and not just once a year when an animal is in front of them.

RE: ARE YOU QUALIFIED?
 

It's hard to say one is qualified. All I can say is that I take the kids to every 3-d shoot I can find in my area, all summer long. In addition, we shoot in the back yard as well. At 20 and 30 yards, it's done but at 50, I wouldn't even try.

To me qualified means knowing you limitations, and then not going beyond them.