Bowhunting is the practice of killing game animals by archery. It has been a normal use of archery in every culture that had bows.

Technique

In contrast to a rifle hunter, who may shoot effectively from ranges in excess of 200 yards (180 m); archers usually restrict shots to 20-30 yards. The distance depends upon individual ability, the target animal, bow setup, and weather.

Bowhunting for fish is called bowfishing. To make bowfishing effective, variations on standard archery equipment are done which including the addition of a line attached to a spool or a reel as well as a specially designed arrow. When bowfishing, archers need to take into account the refraction angle of the water.

Today, compound bows are usually preferred for hunting, although recurve bows are not uncommon and usually legal. Longbows are usually quieter and slower than modern bows. Crossbows are allowed in some jurisdictions and may be permitted for disabled hunters.

Legal and cultural considerations

Legal and cultural differences must be taken into consideration by the hunter. Bowhunting often has different seasons and restrictions from firearm hunting, and they differ significantly between countries, states, and provinces. To some, hunting represents a humane way of controlling animal numbers, ensuring continuing financial interest in the maintenance of healthy wild populations and habitat, and bringing urbanized humans to understand the natural world. Others are deeply opposed to bowhunting, on the grounds of cruelty.