2015 Oregon remains in the Dark Ages!
When does common sense come into making decisions that affect the masses or majority? In this case the ODFW for Oregon, Idaho Fish and Wildlife and lastly WDFW for Washington make their decisions not for the majority in my opinion. We all know there are lobbyists that believe that a Long Bow is the only bow and we should all be shooting them. Let’s give thought to how most or the majority over the years has moved along with technology. We also know that many of those of age still might have an old bow from the past or even a Springfield carbine Model 1873, but likely don’t use them for hunting any longer. When does their arrogant policy decision dictate the policy for the majority becomes a hindrance? I would likely bet a great deal of many that most of the decision makers in the case have a smartphone and computer of some type…
I have written about this before, this time though it will not be in reference in the loss of a game animal personally or by friend. I truly thought that Oregon would allow in the 2015 at least a lighted nock for the purpose of finding game or knowing that you hit your game with an arrow projected from your bow. Just receiving the new 2015 Oregon Big Game Regulations, the lighted nock, expandable Broadhead and any electronic device mounted to a bow or any part of the bow to be illegal still.
There are at least 45 states that allow the use of lighted nocks and 47 allowing the use mechanical Broadhead. There are a few restrictions, but of course Oregon, Washington and Idaho do not allow at all for big game. Crazy as this seems in Oregon though you are able to hunt the Silver Gray Squirrel and game birds with a mechanical Broadhead.
Now that we have an abundance of wild Turkeys in Oregon, we can tackle them with a mechanical Broadhead. Hmm! Such a big bird, maybe the size of an elk or deer, that we can use the mechanical Broadhead. So the reason that the Turkey is harder to hit or the fact they have so many feathers, making it hard to find the vitals? Now give me a good reason on the Silver Gray Squirrel getting the privilege of getting taken down with a mechanical Broadhead. Yet most of us have shot them in the past with a 22 caliber or with an arrow with a blunt or target tip, creating a small hole, yet death came. Most bowhunters know they make a bird point for small game and birds. Just think about hitting a Turkey in the chest with shot from a mechanical Broadhead, guess the tail fan or beard was more important! The state allowing the use of mechanical Broadhead on turkeys just opens the door for someone to carry a mechanical Broadhead in his quiver during a combination turkey deer hunt. We have bow hunts that run the same time as General Fall Turkey season in Oregon for Blacktail deer… We all know that the number of turkeys in the Willamette, Santiam, McKenzie, Northern Indigo, Alsea and a couple others. Recently while traveling through the Willamette and Santiam corridor, I count more than 400 plus turkeys in various pockets.
The use of lighted nocks would help greatly in the recovery of big game animals after a shot. The hunter can tell if they actually hit the animal, easy recovery of the arrow in the brush, when recovered be able to tell what type of hit it might be if hit. In relationship to the above, I suppose those that make the rules figure that with lighted nocks there would be more shots taken after hours. Well since in the State of Oregon we can’t have anything with electronics on our bows or arrows; it would not help in taking an after shooting time shot. Someone wrote that on 50% of game is recovered when shot, not sure if that is accurate, but I will tell you that most of the time the game that is hit with an arrow do die. The main idea in hunting once you hit game is for fast recovery of the animal. Most bow hunters seldom get an animal to drop in their tracks with an arrow. Hell! Let’s all get real; even with the use of a rifle, many don’t anchor their game to the deck. So if you don’t find the animal, do you still hunt? Yes! Now in the State of Alaska, “Alaska limits licensed hunters to the bagging of one bear per hunting season. Under the law, the wounding of a bear counts toward the season’s bag limit.” The use of a mechanical Broadhead is allowing for a faster bleed-out on the animal, with more cutting area. This means a faster recovery in most cases of the animal, plus the fact of a much better blood trail to follow in most cases.
As for the use of electronic devices on a bow, I am all in favor of being able to attach a camera on my bow. Sometimes in a spot and stalk it would be great to get the action shot from the bows prospective. Oh! I know I can attach it to my hat, but all bowhunters know we turn their hats around in the pursuit of the animal. Then again, I can hire a cameraman to follow me around and screw my hunt up with extra feet. So with all of this I have my Go Pro and other small camera attached to my backwards cover (hat). In conclusion if you feel there should be a change, go forward and let your lawmakers know.
Frank Biggs aka Bwana Bubba
