Comments on: Bow Fishing, Rifle Caching, and Essential Skills

By: ThomasC.

ThomasC. — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:27:52 +0000

When SHTF who's going to worry about whether or not it's "legal" ? IMO bow fishing is just one more way to gather food.

By: CaptBart

CaptBart — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:48:00 +0000

The mountain men swore that Mountain lions were the best eating there was. I don't know, never tried it and I like the way the big cats look – I wouldn't hesitate to take one in self defense or for food if needed.

By: BamaMan

BamaMan — Tue, 17 May 2011 19:18:53 +0000

Fishing, trapping or snares is great b/c you do not expend as much energy as killing a large animal. Killing a deer with a bow will result in the animal running off a fair distance, you dragging it back, some time to properly clean (even with poacher cuts), and then the meat needs to be washed and cooked.

A small animal or fish can be eated over a small fire at the time of capture with minimal effort.

By: BamaMan

BamaMan — Thu, 12 May 2011 10:48:48 +0000

I can respect mountain loins as hunters but dont know about not shooting them.

bears are bottom feeding, garbage eating, you know whats. hate 'em.

By: BamaMan

BamaMan — Thu, 12 May 2011 10:46:27 +0000

baskets only catch little fish and fish need to be larger b/cyou spend lots of time on little ones cleaning for little amount of food.

By: T.Rapier

T.Rapier — Tue, 10 May 2011 19:20:16 +0000

I feel sorry for mountain lions , They stay away from people as much as possible , no need to shoot em , not enough of them around to be a threat to people . Bears on the other hand …… well the only GOOD bear is a DEAD bear . Rather see those go extinct . Wouldn’t miss coyotes much either . I shoot those out of principle and leave em . Vultures gotta eat too

By: MrAlpine

MrAlpine — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 18:30:10 +0000

I have bow fished quite a few times in colorado. It is harder than rod and reel fishing but I found it quite easy to learn. Bow fishing really only works where the water level is low, so you see the fish and not lose your arrow if you miss or the fish takes off with it in them. Of more importance though is that Colorado, and many states, bow fishing is illlegal except for carp. In a survival situation I would not care, but ordinary fishing casting is easier, legal, and you can fish more water.

By: Chefbear58

Chefbear58 — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 20:40:12 +0000

I LOVE my Fred Bear re-curve, I have had it for 21years (man I sound old!). I don't think they are produced anymore, but you may be able to find a used one with a little investigation. Re-curves are much more powerful than a traditional long-bow, the Mongols used a "compound re-curve" (it was considered compound because they used different materials such as antler, wood, glue, sinew and resin) which gave their bows the ability to penetrate just about any armor of their day, which is part of what made them so successful in warfare.

I am the same when it comes to carrying a side-arm. I carry a .45 M1911 loaded with alternating Hornady TAP and Federal FMJ rounds whenever I bow hunt, and whenever I hunt the mountains. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries swears that there are no cougars in VA anymore, but I have seen them from a distance and seen some pretty big cat-tracks (4.5" across the pad and bigger) where I hunt. I also have seen some pretty big black bears (350+lbs) fairly regularly. I don't like "playing the odds", I would rather have my pistol and never need it, than need it and not have it!

By: CaptBart

CaptBart — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:56:17 +0000

Thank you for the input. I guess the 14 second rule for humans applies to animals as well (it takes about 14 seconds from the time the heart stops to the time the brain stops). I'm too much of a novice to trust myself to maintain a compound bow after TSHTF. Do you have an opinion on a good re-curve bow. You mentioned Fred Bear as your first bow. It seems like it might be a pretty good one. As to the big uglies (bear, big cat, wild pig), they are why I ALWAYS carry a suitably sized hand gun in the woods so that is less of a concern than being able to harvest deer and smaller sized game if needed.

By: Chefbear58

Chefbear58 — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 04:54:27 +0000

Cross-bows generally provide you with more range than a standard bow, or even a compound bow. Of course this depends on the type of cross-bow you have. My Uncle hunts with a Horton (not sure which model), he can consistently hit a target 120yds out, and gets about 4-4.5" penetration into hay bales. My compound on the other hand, is only good to a MAX of 60yds, on a good day! I have seen him take a deer at 95yds with his cross-bow, at that range the bolt went almost completely through, the only thing holding the bolt in was the last few inches of shaft, fetching and nock.