NC sidearm carry while blood trailing

[olddogrib]

It is my understanding that this year it is legal in NC to carry a sidearm while trying to recover deer.  I think after archery season it can be any caliber legal to hunt with that is in season, but during bow season it must be .22 cal. Tarheels, is my understanding correct?  I find a lot of our regs are woefully vague in description, but any warden will tell you ignorance is no excuse(no matter how clueless our legislators).  It ain't trad, but I'll probably take advatage of it if a follow-up may be needed, as game recovery is top priority in my book!

[Phillip Fields]

I understand it the same way.

[The Night Stalker]

I would just shoot another arrow. I had to last night.

[olddogrib]

Tim,
I been at enough "Coon Shoots" to know I'm not too lethal at night....and someone else was holding the flashlight for me in those! LOL!

[Bowwild]

I should ignore this one but I can't.

I've been in many a wildlife commission meeting. I am horrified by the thought of a bowhunter explaining why a firearm would be needed on a bow kill recovery trail.  No way one escapes belittling the effectiveness of our equipment choices when making such an argument.

Such rules are always made based upon someone's argument for them. I would have fought such a rule tooth and nail. In fact... in fact, before I retired I did.  It passed a few years later but the firearm can not be used to recover the animal.  

In more than 45 years of bowhunting I have NEVER been on a recovery where a firearm would have been needed over a bow. If the firearm would be needed the deer should be left alone.

[Phillip Fields]

Bowwild, I have to somewhat disagree with you on this. This came into effect at the same time the use of blood trailing dogs was authorized. The regs state that the dog must be controlled on a leash. I consider myself a pretty good archer but I have a pretty tough time shooting my bow while controlling my dog on a leash. Also this doesn't just apply to archery hunting for deer, it applies to all big game during archery and gun seasons. I like to pig hunt and I don't like to track a wounded one at night with just a bow. Usually, for pigs, I carry a spear when blood trailing at night.

[Roger Norris]

Your carrying so you can shoot the deer at the end of the bloodtrail? With all respect, please just take slam dunk shots, and use your bow.

[Cory Mattson]

I have been bowhunting since mid 70s non stop and taken a variety of game on a variety of continents. I have never seen yet a gun being needed. Couple a times we had em to be legal on dangerous game - still not needed. Deer, Hogs, Bears, elk, moose, caribou not needed - ever. No problem with a spear though we do that sometimes with hogs but that is more for super thick cover. A spear is just a huge arrow. Me and my guys take another shot with our stickbow - no excuses.

Bottom line is an archery hunt where a gun is used is not a bow hunt.

Traditional bowhunters walk a higher path of ethics no matter what state agencies say is ok

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[olddogrib]

I'm just trying to understand my state's law.  There is no such thing as a "slam dunk" shot!  I'll put my recovery rate up against anyone's, but nobody can predict an animal's reaction to the shot.  Before this gets "off in the bushes" lets clarify that even though it's apparently legal, I wouldn't consider it necessary during daylight hours.  But as I stated, I've never mastered the art of shooting a bow while holding a flashlight.  I don't hunt with firearms, but I would have no problem using one to dispatch a wounded animal under circumstances that a bow is ineffective. When you've already made one mistake, rejumping and possibly losing a bedded animal for the sake of "trad", is just turning it into two!

[ISP 5353]

Not my state and it does not matter to me, but I did shoot one coyote that was trying to claim my bow kill at the end of a relatively short trail.  He also had 3 others with him and I was happy I had a S&W 686 with me.  I would like to think me walking up to the deer would have scared them off, but with 4 on 1 odds I was happy for the additional firepower.

[buckeyebowhunter]

Not my state or rules either.... Varmints and predators are a different story, but why not just wait til the next morning to pick up the blood trail with your bow? Don't understand why a gun even a .22 would be acceptable during archery season. Just my 2 cents

[olddogrib]

If the animal dies and is not soon recovered, the meat will spoil very quickly in the warm, early archery seasons in the South.  Or the coyotes will eat well.  Either way, that's just waste.

[Roger Norris]

Originally posted by olddogrib:
I'm just trying to understand my state's law.  There is no such thing as a "slam dunk" shot!  I'll put my recovery rate up against anyone's, but nobody can predict an animal's reaction to the shot.  Before this gets "off in the bushes" lets clarify that even though it's apparently legal, I wouldn't consider it necessary during daylight hours.  But as I stated, I've never mastered the art of shooting a bow while holding a flashlight.  I don't hunt with firearms, but I would have no problem using one to dispatch a wounded animal under circumstances that a bow is ineffective. When you've already made one mistake, rejumping and possibly losing a bedded animal for the sake of "trad", is just turning it into two!

No such thing as a slam dunk shot? Yes there is. And thats all I take. Sorry Sir.....but we owe it to the sport of traditional archery to take nothing but that perfect shot. I refuse to agree that a handgun is required to get the job done with a longbow or recurve.

As an aside....I carry a handgun every day, and yes, even while hunting with my bow. It has never even crossed my mind to use it to finish a bloodtrail.

[olddogrib]

We will just have to disagree on this one.  If you have never had a "perfect shot" turn imperfect very quickly when the animal reacts you have been very blessed.  It has nothing to do with a morally superior mindset. Nobody has argued that a handgun is "required", merely whether it is legal in my state.  And when we unfortunately have to dispatch a wounded animal in less than perfect conditions...i.e. after dark, from longer range, with the game on high alert, the firearm will be the more efficient method. Trad archery may be a "sport", traditional bowhunting is a legislated privilege and we owe it to the animal to end its suffering quickly and humanely.  There is no shame in accomplishing this, whether with a firearm or a bow.

[Bowwild]

olddogrib,
Of course you are entitled to use any methods and techniques legal and in your mind ethical.  I also realize you didn't mean to start a conflict, you just wanted an opinion on the law. I respect that.

The best way to get the law is to get the word from your agency. Write down the name, date, and time you were provided the advice. That will be enough to back up your decision. It may not sway every officer but it will win in court.

Not all wounded animals die. I will never agree that a bow will lead to suffering or is less humane than a firearm. This the language of anti's.  They readily use such words against our sport.  If one suggested that a firearm was necessary to conclude a bowhunt they would quickly offer that bowhunters admit (wrongly) their techniques aren't effective enough. Of course we know bowhunting is extremely effective.

When I decide to hunt with archery, handguns, muzzleloaders, shotguns, rifles, etc. I accept the advantages and limitations of each.

By the way, and I know this will rub some the wrong way too, I opposed making dogs legal to track with for the same reasons.

[Roger Norris]

I'm not going to debate this further, as this website strives to maintain civility, which I respect and enjoy. We agree to disagree on this. My only reason for this last post is to let you know I wasn't trying to project any kind of "morally superior mindset".

Have a satisfying and productive hunting season.

[Russ Clagett]

Here in Texas if you are tracking a deer at night and come across a 350 pound wild boar....you will not only want a pistol you will want the biggest @@##%% pistol you can carry....

Or a mountail lion. Or a large pissed off bobcat...the list goes on.

[huskyarcher]

Wow, talk about nerves struck. It's legal, it's his choice, if he wants to put down a suffering deer quickly, so be it. Dont act like we havent all had a bad shot. Even a "slam dunk" shot can end up less than perfect.

Oh and by the way, i dont know how the rest of the country is, but if you leave a wounded deer overnight, there is a very good chance you're coming back to find nothing but shoulders and a head left due to coyotes. Not to mention the extra 1000 yds the deer runs while running from them. Seems pretty logical to me just to put it down. Maybe if you wear wool, or a felt hat while carrying it might make up for it. Geez.

Extreme over reaction, OP i'm sorry for the undeserved, and slightly ridiculous pounding you are taking.

Clearly stated on the front page, it says this is for trad guys helping trad guys. He came asking for clarification, that is all.  

And yes OP, that is how i read the law as well. You can always give the NC Wildlife guys a ring, they may be able to help you more than anyone.  

Sorry for the rant, but i simply am not going  sit by and watch a fellow Tradganger get beat up on for something so ridiculous.

[woodchucker]

Strictly from a legal standpoint.....

Game laws can be VERY confusing!!! Varying widely from state to state, it sometimes seems you need a law degree to step into the woods.

Here in N.Y. you are not allowed to be in the woods at night, with an "artificial light" while carrying any legal hunting arm (legal for Big Game hunting) during the open Big Game Season. This includes following up a blood trail.

Perhaps this is why the .22 Rimfire restriction???

I personaly do not like hunting late in the evening. If I hit a deer in the morning, I have all day to look for it!!! If I hit one in the evening... I leave it till morning & hope for the best. I will say this though, EVERY deer that I have ever lost, was shot in the evening!!!

I commend you sir, on making evey effort to understand & abide by the law!!!!! As was said above... Contact your State Agency & write down the date, time, and name of who you spoke to, along with the answer THEY GAVE YOU!

Whichever you choose to do, (carry or not) you'll never get any grief from me!!!!!