Primitive Weapon Duck Hunting

[Mark Belknap]

I've taken a lot of game with a recurve but never dropped a duck with it, though I've come close. Shot several grouse and a snipe. Most memorable wing shot was a large whitetail doe leaping over a huge downfall. Crashed to the ground as she went past my head.

 

[Steven Alexander]

Practice makes perfect. I hosted a shindig for folks from a different duck forum for 5 years down at my river property. Some of the Wisconsin boys brought bow setups one year and we took turns shooting clays for a while. Connecting was a feat. I suggest flu-flu arrows for waterfowl.

 

[Scott Gilliland]

I have a book that should be in my library

Well, I found that book. It's been a long time since I read it, and re-reading it you can see how you can inject your own story in a memory, but my description is still pretty close to the original. The book was "Hunters of the Northern Ice" by R. K. Nelson (https://archive.org/details/huntersofnorther00nels/mode/2up). The is also a very good description of the use of the kiipooyaq (bola). The book is focused on hunting in Alaska and they use the word killamittaun for bola in this book.

 

[Brad Bortner]

It's not legal in Illinois to hunt waterfowl with any other means other than approved shotgun and ammo.

All of those state restrictions are more restrictive than Federal regulations. Falconry is covered separately.

§ 20.21 What hunting methods are illegal?​

Migratory birds on which open seasons are prescribed in this part may be taken by any method except those prohibited in this section. No persons shall take migratory game birds:

(a) With a trap, snare, net, rifle, pistol, swivel gun, shotgun larger than 10 gauge, punt gun, battery gun, machinegun, fish hook, poison, drug, explosive, or stupefying substance;
(b) With a shotgun of any description capable of holding more than three shells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler, incapable of removal without disassembling the gun, so its total capacity does not exceed three shells. However, this restriction does not apply during:

 

[Eric Patterson]

All of those state restrictions are more restrictive than Federal regulations. Falconry is covered separately.

§ 20.21 What hunting methods are illegal?​

Migratory birds on which open seasons are prescribed in this part may be taken by any method except those prohibited in this section. No persons shall take migratory game birds:

(a) With a trap, snare, net, rifle, pistol, swivel gun, shotgun larger than 10 gauge, punt gun, battery gun, machinegun, fish hook, poison, drug, explosive, or stupefying substance;
(b) With a shotgun of any description capable of holding more than three shells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler, incapable of removal without disassembling the gun, so its total capacity does not exceed three shells. However, this restriction does not apply during:

Why any state would make using primitive weapons such as a sling shot or atlatl illegal is beyond me. They do not give an advantage to the hunter over modern firearms and ammo, few hunters would ever attempt to use them, and an insignificant number of birds would ever be harvested from these means. Yet here we are discussing what states allow what. There are too many bureaucrats in state game and fish agencies. In Alabama if you combine general state hunting regulations with WMA regulations there is a whole lot of reading to do. Atlatl bad, straight pipe mud motor okay. I think some folks need to step away from the computer and get out and hunt the lands they manage.

 

[Carl]

Grumpy old man.

 

[SJ Fairbank]

Why any state would make using primitive weapons such as a sling shot or atlatl illegal is beyond me. They do not give an advantage to the hunter over modern firearms and ammo, few hunters would ever attempt to use them, and an insignificant number of birds would ever be harvested from these means. Yet here we are discussing what states allow what. There are too many bureaucrats in state game and fish agencies. In Alabama if you combine general state hunting regulations with WMA regulations there is a whole lot of reading to do. Atlatl bad, straight pipe mud motor okay. I think some folks need to step away from the computer and get out and hunt the lands they manage.

Other than possible safety concerns (rifles being shot at ducks on the water) few if any of the Federal firearm prohibitions make sense in today's world with 6 duck limits. I'm on board with no traps, snares, nets, poison, drugs, explosives etc.. States taking the prohibited list a step further is likely just a "because we can". Bureaucrats like to do that.

 

[Jeff Reardon]

Why any state would make using primitive weapons such as a sling shot or atlatl illegal is beyond me. They do not give an advantage to the hunter over modern firearms and ammo, few hunters would ever attempt to use them, and an insignificant number of birds would ever be harvested from these means. Yet here we are discussing what states allow what. There are too many bureaucrats in state game and fish agencies. In Alabama if you combine general state hunting regulations with WMA regulations there is a whole lot of reading to do. Atlatl bad, straight pipe mud motor okay. I think some folks need to step away from the computer and get out and hunt the lands they manage.

It may be because they think such methods are inhumane or subject to high losses of injured birds? (If so, they haven't seen 3/4 of the shotgunners out there . . . .) I'd be 100% for rules intended to keep remote places remote. No mud motors, motorless areas, HP restrictions, etc. Not the right solution everyplace or even most places, but it is a tool to be used in some special or overcrowded places.

 

[Blake K]

Hop on to You Tube and search for Slock Master (Tim Wells). He has several videos of him shooting ducks and geese with a bow. Quite amazing