What if hunting was made illegal - Still shoot??

[Broken Arrow 1]

Hunting is a very big part of my life I most definitley could not just give it up!

[-Achilles-]

what scares me is that some of you would actually go along with such a law...

[Missouri Sherpa]

I am an archer so I can be a hunter.  Never shot in a league or anything like that, dont frequent the range or pro shop and don't shoot for fun.  I shoot to maintain my skills.  I do enjoy shooting to maintain my skills so its hard to say if I would quit or not.  I might take up photography or do more fishing, can't say until presented with the issue.  I would still keep the horses and pack into the back country to fish and and take pictures.   I might not have time to shoot with my new hobbies.

[Billy]

I am descended from those Nottingham Archers....the guv'ment should eat cake !!!
Oh wait, it hasn't happened yet.....
YEP. I'd still shoot.

[SilverTip]

I would still shoot and hunt just incase one of those new radical lawmakers showed up, I could'nt take a human life but they do sell those big rubber blunts. I really cant remember clearly a time I didnt hunt. I started at a very early age.
 One of my biggest goals is to get to teach my 3 year old son to hunt. I hope a law like that never happens.
             Billy

[sonofabuck]

I would still shoot and hunt with all you other outlaws because hunting to me is as natural as breathing. Scott

[monkeyball]

I would still shoot.I shoot the whole year long.It is kind of like therapy for me,keeps me away from counselors and stuff like that.I love to hunt,totally enjoy venison,and I would truly miss it if I couldn't,but I have to be honest,I would miss shooting my bow more.

                      Good Shooting,
                                 Craig

[j yenney]

I think the shooting time would severley suffer after a while(= I'd have nothing to look foward too.

[Slasher]

I'd still shoot.. probably still hunt(even though was hypothetically illegal) Then I'd hypothetically choose civil disobedience...

[LKH]

I was an outlaw when I was a kid and I'd probably end up in jail.  I wouldn't want to be an enforcement officer in some parts of the country.  I think they would be just as popular as the old revenue enforcers were during prohibition.  No I wasn't hunting then.

[Kevin Bahr]

I honestly don't know what I would do.  I don't want to think that I would be an outlaw as I despise them with a passion right now.  But, I don't believe I could ever give up bowhunting.  Hopefully if we all vote for politicians that hunt we won't have to worry about it.  Maybe if the ones currently running that don't believe in our rights to own a gun will hand us a hunk of tofu to go along with the Kool Aid they're peddling.

[fowlarcher]

I'd still hunt with my own rules. I used to fish places I wasn't supposed to when I was a kid, and fishing was always more fun if I was sneaking.

 Yeah, I'd still shoot if I didn't hunt, but shooting has more meaning if there is a real goal involved.

[bearbowfan]

i honestly dont know how id handle not being allowed to hunt but i know id still shoot

[PAPA BEAR]

hunt til ya drop   :D

[Baffinland Archer]

This question sorta hits home for me; not because hunting is illegal in my part of the world but because I have been a "bowhunter" for three years now and have not bagged a single thing in all of that time. In fairness to me, I live in a treeless land where sneaking up on game can only be accomplished with the right terrain.

Only had one chance with small game but blew it because the birds saw me before I saw them. Oh yes, late one afternoon, as I was coming home -- empty-handed as usual -- I came upon a fox with a fresh-caught ptarmigan in his chops. I could have easily gotten him as he was not aware of my presence, however, I declined because it would have been illegal and because I did not have the heart to shoot him anyway. He looked so pleased with his dinner.

So I guess the answer for me is "yes" I would still roam with my bow. I really enjoy the experience and exercise and there is just something about shooting arrows that is almost religious in nature.

Still. I get frustrated at not bagging any game. Wish me luck this year would ya folks?

Robert

[GR]

Yes, I would continue in some fashion, either as a outlaw or hunting mice and crickets

[Over&Under]

Great stuff guys, although I should have re-phrased my question to if there was no hunting, whould you still shoot.

The question was geared more towards how much we enjoy the sport, hunting aside, even though that may seem hard to think about as they seem to be a kin to one another.  

Yes it would be hard to give up hunting, but that was not really the question, it was more is shooting so linked to hunting that you would give it up too, or do you enjoy just shooting that you would continue shooting itself.

thanks for all the thoughts guys

jake

[MI_Bowhunter]

I find the responses interesting, esp given the reaction people here have when someone even hints at doing something questionable in their hunting practice.

Sorry not trying to ruffle anyone's feathers, just an observation.

[TradBowyer]

MI_Bowhunter:

You mean like people riding ATVs where they aren't "suppossed to" LOL.

[tradwannabe]

i'd take up hunting lawyers and politicians! LOL