Quote:
Originally posted by Tj Craig
ratt,
Would you take a .22 cailber rifle RHINO hunting ?? hippo?Elephant ? Probably not but what if someone you knew did ? what would you think ? Lets say a guy would take a 40 recurve whitetail hunting and he uses a 200 grain arrow just to get some more speed and he uses a Mechanical broahead to get some more blood trail?, In my opinion his choice of equipment has made him UN-ETHICAL, jmho. But what if the bowhunter used a 40# recurve and 480-500 grain arrow and a cut on impact head like a zwickey or magnus ? wouldn't this latter set-up be a better ethical choice?
Tj
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Hi TJ...
I used to be a great admirer of Capstick, well still am actually, and in one of his books on African hunting and game, regaled his readers of a bet between a couple of Dutchmen I think it was, about how one of them could drop an elephant with a 22, and the bet was on. Caveat, I"m not sure exactly what kind of 22 they were discussing but in fact the deed was done. This points out two things. 1) One must know one's equipment and capability. 2) One must know ones own ability.
A 35 pound recurve is legal for hunting in Hawaii. I'm not up on carbon arrows and the like cuz I use wood exclusively. But back when I used to sell stuff for compounds and such, it was typical that you would see an order for arrows that usually went around the AMO suggested 6 grains per pound of peak weight. But eastman will suggest arrow weights of 150 grains for lightweight recurves, and with fletching and broadhead would barely make 300 grains at say a 25" draw length. But what I'm saying is, and I'm not arguing here, well I'm advancing an argument maybe... oh well...
Anyways... On Lanai, they harvest deer at night with Jack Lights for the Hotels. They use 22's for the mission.. that be 22 Mag. This is a USDA deal before you all start in about fair chase etc...
Their rules require all sorts of stuff that I'm not going into, except the 22 part. Highly effective with no losses. To me this is ethical.
Its the shooters capability and decision making that makes one ethical. It may be that a 200 grain arrow, if you could manufacture such a thing and still get your 40# from the bow... and I'm thinking maybe an 80# or Higher in order to achieve this at what has to be a minimal draw length, but assuming all this is achievable, if you are accurate with this setup, why wouldn't it be ethical for that shooter to use it hunting? And what about expandable blades for a better blood trail... I'm not sure that is the case, but if it was why not?
Getting back to your comment on the 400-500 grain arrow with the 40 pound bow.. yes.. that is what I WOULD USE. But does that mean that you have to also?
I understand and respect your opinion on this. Your ETHICS demand that YOU would use equipment that YOU feel is the right choice. As long as you are capable of killing an animal quickly and humanely with this setup you use, then I applaud your use of it.
However, it is not really up to us to impose our opinions or our capabilities on others. I know hunters that routinely go pig hunting with 223's and 243's. I personally don't feel that these calibers are adequate hunting calibers for big game, but I have seen some big deer dropped with the .243 on lots of occasions.
I don't know anyone who goes pig hunting with a 30# compound and ANY kind of an arrow, but I've a friend who goes hunting with his wife frequently and she uses a 45# compound and short arrows and 3 bladed MA-3 with holes drilled through them to lighten them up for good arrow flight, and she is D E A D L Y with that setup and her martin compound.
The 223 to me is an inadequate caliber for anything but squirrels.. but still, I've seen pigs dropped with them too... Are they unethical calibers... well in some hands they clearly are. In others it might be grey, and in a few, not at all.
Some states might legislate minimum draw weights and arrow weights. Some may also impose let off restrictions in the quest for fair chase ethics, but none of this really addresses the capability of the individual archer.
I go pig hunting usually with a minimum of 66#'s, but mostly it is 80+.
I get what you're driving at, I just feel that equipment is not the issue. Exploding heads might be, but 300 grains is not if in capable hands.
We all know our limitations.. or we should know them. Effective range means you can always put 10 out of 10 arrows into a certain diameter. Hunt within that range with a sharp broadhead and you will be successful on game... assuming you can get close enough to them that is...
Aloha...
