SWEDEN TO ALLOW BOWHUNTING IN 2008

[Brian Krebs]

Sweden has decided to allow bowhunting in 2008; but has limited it to hunting deer size and under animals; and .....only compound bows- no traditional equipment.

 The Swedish hunting association- has in the past put  traditional bowhunters on the spot; once asking them on to the television hunting show; to have them show traditional equipment.  Then- had the unfortunate traditional shooter - shoot the bows: to show how well they shot... this despite the archer insisting the bows and the arrows were not matched. His shooting display made everyone laugh; and although bowhunting is now allowed; the idea of traditional bows being effective is still laughed at.
 Additional restrictions make legal only bow and arrow setups that produce a certain amount of kinetic energy.
 Although a bowhunting season is a good thing; having gun hunters decide- what is and what is not- lethal; has proven to be lethal to traditional bowhunters.
 I am not sure what if any our approach should be to this; I do think there is a lesson in this.
 Bowhunting was outlawed long ago in Sweden with the passage of laws prohibiting the use of harpoons and spears for killing whales; and bowhunting and the use of arrows somehow fell under this law.
 It is legal to use dogs for hunting moose and deer. The dogs catch and kill the deer; and grab the moose by the nose or keep them at bay. It is common and quite legal for a dog to grab a moose by the nose; and for the hunter to hit the moose with a hammer on the head to kill it.
 But until now; bowhunting was not considered sporting.

[tomh]

My fiancee is from Norway and I got looks of absolute horror and disgust from her family when I mentioned that I bowhunt. I really don't mind if they think me a savage. But it was an awakening to see what can happen if we don't keep our rights to hunt in the method we choose. When I asked them why it was not legal to use a bow in Norway, the only answer I got was- "because it is cruel, of course."

[vermonster13]

It's a start at least. Laws based on KE for equipment are a poor choice and a model we don't want to spread to here.

[Alex.B]

I think that nowhere in Western Europe, except maybe in France, will bowhunters ever be in charge of their future.

[bkupris]

Yes a start, I hope the politicians here in the UK take note.

[robertson]

Originally posted by Alex.B:
I think that nowhere in Western Europe, except maybe in France, will bowhunters ever be in charge of their future.

Yes we try to fight hard over here , not always easy but we are on the good track.

[Leon.R]

bkupris- you know thats not going to happen in a hurry. the polititions here create enough trouble for themselves with all the shady dealings and the general state of things - the last thing they will do is stick their necks out for hunters.

[tradtusker]

i heard via the grapevine that Romania might be moving toward leagalising bowhunting

[Elmer Keith]

In Germany bowhunting is not and will not be allowed.

Our federal hunting law says that shooting with bolts and arrows upon game like deer and wild pigs as well as seals is illegal.

So you may have the idea to hunt hare, pheasant, red fox and other game animal with the bow and arrow but in some states in Germany even this is unlawful by the special hunting law of the particular state.

[Aram]

Originally posted by tradtusker:
i heard via the grapevine that Romania might be moving toward leagalising bowhunting

I like your vineyard, tradtusker. I hope it's true. Romania could have fought for that right before it entered EU on the grounds of traditionalism (then again, bowhunting is illegal in England. Go figure!) Before entering the EU Romania had to comply with a lot of western rules (the way it slaughter pigs is one of those.   :rolleyes: ) ) Is it in the position to legalize bow-hunting now? Who knows!?!
Any European country allowing bow-hunting will be able to charge a pretty penny (er... Euro) based on it being illegal everywhere else. That income could be applied to conservation. It works her, in U.S.

[Dr. Ed Ashby]

It is unfortunate, but there are many right here in the good old USA who advocate, and would welcome, a bowhunting law where the legality of equipment used would be based solely upon the kinetic energy of the arrow - and not all those are gun hunters, either.

Ed
TGMM family of the Bow

[J from Denmark]

Brian, there is no kind of hunting in sweden where the dogs are used to actually catch the deer          

[Robert Honaker]

I'm very grateful that our country has seasons established and manages our game populations the way they are presently.
I follow the game laws to a T.
But, when or if it becomes illegal I will continue to hunt.