Bowhunter on... well... Hunting with a Bow

Mod-Blog reader and friend, Bowhunter, has sent in this submission for your reading pleasure (and political angst) regarding the state of affairs of hunting in CT:

I was a frustrated man today. I went to Wal-mart to pick up my bow-hunting license and found out that Wal-mart carried licenses for hunting with a gun only. I then was directed to an archery shop up in Naugatuck. They proceeded to tell me that “We don’t have one, and in fact, no one has one!” I soon learned that I had to obtain a letter from the town clerk and mail it in to Hartford along with: (1) proof that I have taken a state-sponsored bow hunting class (photo-copies of certificates), (2) a declaration my competence with a bow, and (3) send in my drivers license and (4) SSN # for catalogue by the state.

If they do happen to mail my license back to me in time for the deer season I will have to stay in land specified by the state paying close attention to a different set of by-laws that each parcel of land is ruled by. (there are 9 sets of laws that could govern each piece of designated hunting land) (I doubt the Native Americans or even the pilgrims would have put up with this stuff!)

My biggest problem with the scenario (besides the obvious legislative road blocks to stop the killing of Bambi) is that a firearms license is easier to get than a bow license. Over the last 4 years, there has been only one fatality in CT due to hunting (a fat guy falling out of a tree), and 8 non-fatal injuries, (mostly fat guys falling out of trees) and all of these have been firearms hunters. Bow hunters have such a clean record because of what it takes to be a bow hunter. Using the bow and arrow is an art that takes years of practice, strength, patience, persistence, and self-discipline. Any guy off the street can whack a deer with a high-power rifle, but only a skilled hunter can scout the land and be so intimate with his prey that he can get with in 20 yards before stealthily pulling back on his bow to harvest a majestic buck for which he had the utmost respect and reverence.

Connecticut is the only state in the union to have such ridiculous restrictions and obstructionist legislation against hunters. By they time I have a son or daughter and I try to acquaint them with ways of the wild, I am not sure that we will be allowed to use a fishing pole to catch a fish much less the beautifully crafted bow to hunt deer.

I suspect that animal rights folks would be giggling with delight about this state of affairs. But I think it is more a fact that gun-owners have a powerful lobby in the NRA and there is no comparable political force for those who follow the ways of Robin Hood. Still, here is hoping one day CT bows to the forces of logic... as vain a hope as past experience has shown that to be.