Re: Hunting for Food: A Primer
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2023 7:31 pm
I'm resurrecting this thread to share some information about my hunting pursuits. My situation is on the other end of the spectrum compared to @theanimal's. I'm in a densely populated area on the east coast and recently discovered that some local counties have an urban archery deer management program. Deer population density is highest in urban and suburban areas, which results in lots of vehicular injuries as well as destruction of local gardens. So, the county has a program that takes groups into public parks and private lands in a special early archery season for deer. To apply, I have to have a hunting license and go to a local range to demonstrate proficiency with an arrow grouping at 20 and 30 yards.
I've been surfing listings of used crossbows in my area and it looks like I found a good option. I don't have the time or interest to learn how to shoot with a compound bow, so it seems that a crossbow is the more reasonable choice for my situation. In every state that I have an interest in hunting in, crossbows are legal during the entire archery season. Although I've never shot a crossbow, my understanding is that they are almost exactly the same as shooting a firearm in terms of accuracy. So if I can pick up a crossbow this weekend, then I can get to work hitting up nearby ranges for practice so I can complete my qualification before the application is due in the next month or so.
I do also plan on using the crossbow for deer hunting on public lands because that fits into my web of goals. However, I'm hopeful that I'll get accepted by the county program because it seems like a much cleaner solution for a relative newbie. From what I've heard, it's not uncommon for each hunter to hit their tag limit in a few short hours, without having to do really any tracking or extended preparation. I'd like to build up to hiking into multi-day hunts in backcountry State and National Forests, but I think for now this is a good starting point. Backcountry hunting on the east coast isn't anything compared to the western states, however there are many areas that are off the beaten path because most hunters are not willing to hunt areas with limited vehicle access.
I've been surfing listings of used crossbows in my area and it looks like I found a good option. I don't have the time or interest to learn how to shoot with a compound bow, so it seems that a crossbow is the more reasonable choice for my situation. In every state that I have an interest in hunting in, crossbows are legal during the entire archery season. Although I've never shot a crossbow, my understanding is that they are almost exactly the same as shooting a firearm in terms of accuracy. So if I can pick up a crossbow this weekend, then I can get to work hitting up nearby ranges for practice so I can complete my qualification before the application is due in the next month or so.
I do also plan on using the crossbow for deer hunting on public lands because that fits into my web of goals. However, I'm hopeful that I'll get accepted by the county program because it seems like a much cleaner solution for a relative newbie. From what I've heard, it's not uncommon for each hunter to hit their tag limit in a few short hours, without having to do really any tracking or extended preparation. I'd like to build up to hiking into multi-day hunts in backcountry State and National Forests, but I think for now this is a good starting point. Backcountry hunting on the east coast isn't anything compared to the western states, however there are many areas that are off the beaten path because most hunters are not willing to hunt areas with limited vehicle access.