Hunting bows

Does anyone use one of these?
I am thinking of buying one. I am a pretty good shot with a hunting slingshot and fancy going up market a bit.
What do you look for in a bow? How do you teach yourself to shoot?

I thought hunting slingshots were illegal in NZ? Can't help with the Bow question but wonder why you would want to kill an animal (presumably) with a bow (unless death is instant?) when a gun will do the job quicker and faster - i would have thought - but happy to be corrected.

Didi. A bow is silent. well, mostly so compared to an unsilenced rifle. it's also the challenge of the stalk, having to get so close to kill something, as opposed to standing off so far you may as well be using a cruise missile

I don't use a bow myself, but there are a few on the fish n hunt forum who do... www.fishnhunt.co.nz/forum/YaBB.cgi you'll get a LOT more response on there I suspect than on here

Not a bow hunter but as a target archer I would strongly suggest you join an archery club and get some instruction before trying to hunt. Good technique is essential for accuracy and it is easy to make mistakes if trying to do it yourself.

Didi slingshots are freely available for purchase in NZ. They are only good for small animals obviously. You aim for the head, stun it and then kill it by other means. I haven't killed anything with it, as I only recently found a place to buy the metal shot for it here, so could only practice with with pebbles which don't have enough weight.

Bows if used correctly will kill just as quickly as a bullet. And just the same as a gun, if your aim is crap, then the animal will suffer.

thanks for that link kiwi303, will check it out.

Powerguy, no worries about me going out and randomly trying to kill something. I was planning on practicing on the lawn for quite some time before even thinking of trying to kill so much as a rabbit. And without a wouldn't know where I was allowed or was a good place to hunt.

A friend of mine uses a bow for hunting as well as guns. I could ask him if its ok to give you his email if you like. He also owns a gun shop and i think they sell bows too

thanks devan, but only trouble him if he has a shop in chch.

Gidday

We got plenty rabbits for you to come and shoot.

moggy;281420 wrote: Powerguy, no worries about me going out and randomly trying to kill something. I was planning on practicing on the lawn for quite some time before even thinking of trying to kill so much as a rabbit. And without a wouldn't know where I was allowed or was a good place to hunt.

That is exactly what I am cautioning against. If you develop a bad habit then it will be very hard to overcome it later. Also, with poor technique you may become frustrated at not being able to shoot consistently. You will need advice on posture, anchor point, release, sighting etc and that is not something that you can develop just with practise. Please join a club and get some good instruction first.

Moggy, do they still do archery between tai tap and motukarara? would be nice and close for you.

I don't know. I know there is still something called the rifle range, which i am guessing might be the place you are thinking of, but i have no idea who uses it. Any other details would be welcome.
I should add that even if I got a bow tomorrow, not planning on going out hunting any time soon or without someone who knows a lot more than i do.

Sorry Moggy, I really don't know anything about it...just used to see them at it shooting arrows down the paddock. must be a club you can contact...ask Mr google?
good luck, sounds like fun!

powerguy;281559 wrote: That is exactly what I am cautioning against. If you develop a bad habit then it will be very hard to overcome it later. Also, with poor technique you may become frustrated at not being able to shoot consistently. You will need advice on posture, anchor point, release, sighting etc and that is not something that you can develop just with practise. Please join a club and get some good instruction first.

tbh, I am not that much into joining clubs. If I can't shoot consistently I will no doubt just give up and sell the bow. I won't go out trying to kill anything if I am not confident I can take it down with one shot, that would be just cruel. If I can't get the feel for it then no matter how much I like the idea of archery it isn't for me.
Years ago I started wood turning. I struggled, I made some stuff, but it was not easy. I paid for a days tuition. The guy said lift your arm up. It cost me 90GBP to hear that phrase but it completely changed how I could turn wood.
It probably will be the same with archery. I will teach myself 90% then if the other 10% does not happen automatically I will seek help.