I generally keep out of these debates simply because I do see both sides and it's never a happy outcome.
I know archers who I would trust to hit everything they aim at....and that's to within a mark smaller than my palm, and I have small hands.....every single time.
I also know a heck of a lot of complete and utter cretinous idiots who think that shooting a crossbow at ducks and swans in the river is 'fun'
the RSSPCA and the RSPCA would be happy to supply statistics if asked.
I also know a heck of a lot of people who feel themselves to be capable when in reality they lack the practice and skill to be accurate, but would be best described as 'haunless'.
At heart I think it's a problem of a mostly urbanised population in great numbers on a restricted landmass.
Bluntly not everyone should have access to any projectile weapon.....and I'm not really sure why there's a link to a youtube carnage by an automatic gun purporting to be 'hunting' on the thread.......but then we have the huge issue of who and why and where and when, re the allowed folks.
I don't know the answer; I suspect that it might come through clubs and education and qualifying certification. I can also see major rammies about that too though. Who decides who qualifies others however ? The stalkers perhaps ?
or the police ? who pays for that though ?
When I make clothing for reenactors I measure the armscye while asking them to make the movements of heaving a rope, of drawing a bow, of throwing a spear, of using an axe, of digging with a spade, of pulling on an oar, or climbing onto a horse, and if the measurement girds anywhere it needs to be adjusted. I take for granted that bows are part of life for humanity for most of our 'humanity', iimmc. There's a lot of fun to be had going roving
and it's amazing how quickly some can become very, very, skilled.
I do know though, from very clear archaeological evidences, that even those who only had the bow as their sole hunting method, that many animals are not killed outright, or quickly, or cleanly, and that even those hunters lost badly injured quarry.
Can't see that going down well with a mostly non hunting population, can you ?
Good stalkers make a decisive point in finding injured beasts and finishing the job cleanly when they are unfortunate enough to have a poor shot as a client.
I have no issue with good archers; I do have issue with cretins given free access to any projectile weapon in our overcrowded islands. Ah, but, y'see, that's
my definition of cretins, I can bet that it wouldn't be their's.
It would be appreciated if the topic could be kept to the bowhunting laws of the UK please. It's contentious enough a topic as it is.
atb,
Toddy