Before the next time someone wants to argue with you regarding bowhunting and its status as a dying activity there are some things you need to know. I generally invite folks who have that mind set to the archery department of a local sporting goods conglomerate (or at least look at their catalog) or ask them to look around their community to see how many folks are wearing camo. Granted camo is becoming some sort of fashion statement these days but you cannot write off the many facts that indicate bowhunting and archery continue to be growing sports and in many aspects. Consider the fact that when I was growing up in the early to mid-seventies there were only a few archery equipment manufacturers out there. Many made their own arrows, clothing and accessories. Shakespeare, Bear, Martin, Howatt, Ben Pearson, Herters, Jennings, Easton and a few others come to mind. Today I have no idea what the total number of companies are, all I know is that there are a lot of them.

According to some recent statistics published in Field and Stream the number of licensed bowhunters in the US is still growing. We numbered about 2,867,949 in 1996. As of 2006 that number has grown to 3,324,187. Granted the entire US population is growing as well but here are a couple more stats that should make you sit up and take notice. In 1989-90 the number of Pope and Young whitetails recorded (125 in. minimum for typical, 155 non-typical) was 1,814 animals. By 2005-06 that number had grown to 4,981.
On the Boone and Crocket system (160 in. minimum) the number has gone from 207 in 1995-96 to 375 in 2005-06. Largest B & C gun-taken typical buck harvested in 2005 was 200 ½ inches. Compare that to the largest P & Y buck taken since 2003 which was 203 3/8 inches.

There is no doubt in my mind that archer and bowhunting is alive and well in the 21st century. I can remember how my early Gander Mountain and Cabela’s catalogs used to be only about two dozen pages (both companies originated circa 1961 which was a very good year for me). Some published stats indicate these catalogs have gone from about 82 pages back in 1994 (which doesn’t seem that long ago) to about 290 pages in 2007. Heck the old Sears toy catalog-Christmas version wasn’t even that big ! Of course this boy has grown up quite a bit and my “toys” do tend to revolve around archery and bowhunting.

Anyone recall how many archery tournaments where held at their school while growing up? How about youth hunts hosted by the DNR and non-profit groups? Well thanks to the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP), numerous sporting organizations such as MBI, MDHA, MSSA, Wild Turkey Federation, Kicking Bear, Bucks and Buckthorn, John Glenn Archery Club, the list goes on and on, youth have plenty of options to start bowhunting. I have never been a person with the “pretty bird” or “happy butterfly, daisy” syndrome but I have to say these are some of the best days bowhunting has seen. I want to be a part of it and am going to expose my children to it too. Their cousins, friends and classmates are all welcome as well. Hey, somebody has to wheel me out to the ground blind and pack that deer out for me when that day comes.

Serious bowhunters should be aware that The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights (AVAR) announced that their respective boards of directors have approved a corporate combination agreement which will result in a powerful new veterinary advocacy organization (whatever that means), the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association (HSVMA). Supposedly, HSVMA will give veterinarians, veterinary students and veterinary technicians an opportunity to participate in animal welfare programs, including disaster response; expanded hands-on animal care; spaying and neutering; and advocacy for legislative, corporate and veterinary medical school reforms.” (Source: HSVMA) The anti-hunting groups such as HSUS, Defenders of Wildlife and FATE,, etc. may have recently combined to become a stronger force to work against us in 2008 but there is a new generation of hunters in this fight now too and we have the strength of our ancestors (and a big part of the general public) behind us. The bowhunting tradition of the ancients, nothing but positive results in our conservation efforts and ethic, and the law are all on our side so we aren’t likely to go away any time soon.

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