BASC and archery

[Max]

Archery in the UK is a target discipline - period. It matters not that the target is a 2D or 3D animal face, or if it is a more traditional concentric face. There is no other use, or justification, for a Bow in the UK other than as a target shooting device. Apart from clay and skeet shooting, there are few if any other 'Hunting' related sports that can claim that. The shotgun may be used for a form of target sport but the law currently does not distinguish that fact and clases it as a firearm. We don't really want to make associations of that nature, or raise awareness of the bow under such circumstances, especially on the 10th aniversery of Dunblane.

I do support traditional coutry activities that include hunting for the pot, but will never support a return to bowhunting in the UK, becuase some idiot will abuse it and it will end in tears and heavy restrictions on the sport I love. I do not support either the exteme bloodsport enthusiasts (who are thugs), or the extreme animal rights idiots who are no better than Anarchists and Urban Terrorists. Lets keep our sport out of the political arena.

[provins]

This is an interesting can of worms and it will probably get alot more interesting before the days out.
Go and look at BASC website and you will see that they're about responsible gun use and conservation.
Most people that shoot in the countryside do so for the pot and pest control,fewer are the hooray lot that shoot pheasant at shoots for fun.
Bunnies left alone can decimate crops as can crows and pigeons.People look on the countryside as an amenity to be enjoyed forgetting that it is a huge outdoor food factory that has to be properly managed and part of that management involves killing.
BASC has a code of practice for all things to do with shooting check it out before passing judgement.

Now second point.
The half baked politicaly correct brigade that like to pass judgement on all things they don't like and don't think anybody else should like either are a threat to us all, that is anyone that shoots any thing at all and that includes all of you out there.
All shooters should be sticking together.
If the anti mob got their own way how long do you think it will be before someone thinks "you could kill some one from afar with one of them bows.We ought to ban them"
I've been to field shoots where the anti's have wrecked targets,they have no idea at all about my sport just an impression that I like to kill animals and I resent being pre judged.
Any way for what its worth thats my opinion.

[Little Miss Purple]

Provins - I'm with you on this! (Although I'm very much each to their own, but having gamekeepers & farmers in the family I know 1st hand about the damage caused by vermin & also the money in raising game for organised shoots).

[jadlem]

Here Here! Provins, I know of many members of the BASC including several of my family.

They are all responsible, modest people that upkeep the basc code of conduct:

The BASC Ideal is ...
That all who shoot in Britain conduct themselves according to the law and to the highest standards of safety, sportsmanship and courtesy, with full respect for their quarry and a practical interest in wildlife conservation and in the countryside.

As stated, the half baked politically correct amongst us jump to conclusions without evidence and assume the worst. I'd be more worried about them than the BASC. Frankly there are too many of them amongst us and I am ashamed that they are fellow archers.

[Munsterman]

not so sure that this is the right place for dealing with this subject.

Archery and other target sports have not got oceans of distance between them. How many current archers are also gun sports enthusiasts? or have come from that arena? A trip to many archery shops in the UK will reveal that there are broadheads and other impressively lethal arrow heads available over the counter. This would indicate that quite a few of our fellow archers do participate in bow hunting albeit abroad.

Personally, I accept that hunting is a legit activity, but do not agree with raising animals to be killed for sport and the jollies of others. Conservation is OK but where do you draw the line?

A recent edition of Bow International gives a very balanced treatment of this topic.

[Ken Davies]

Originally Posted by jadlem

Frankly there are too many of them amongst us and I am ashamed that they are fellow archers.

Your attitude is a bit of a worry to be honest. If you and your friends want to kill animals for sport, then that is your moral decision.

It's not something I want to do, or have my club associated with. But to say you are ashamed of anybody who loves archery but doesn't agree with your opinion, is frankly a bit embarrassing.

I just wanted my club to stay away from this and I was after other peoples opinion. I feel some other posts have given some very good reasons why it would be a bad idea.

[orius]

Ken

Are you speaking on behalf and for the majority of members of your club or is this your personal crusade against hunting? Would other members of your club wish to embrace the opportunity to promote our sport of archery at the event you mentioned run by BASC? You mentioned that you were approached by BASC specifically to promote the sport of archery to kids , in my experience most country fayres or at least events supported or sponsered by BASC are are aimed in the least at families, and at the worst adults and never, I would suspect at KIDS.

As I intimated in my earlier post on this subject the tone of your correspondance comes across as just an anti bloodsports rant which really has little or nothing to do with archery,which to some might also be seen embarassing.

Forget the argument that the public might be encouraged see bows as weapons (which of course they are) and go off and use them on each other or anything that crosses their path, for Gods sake we could all kill each other with a piece of string if we put or mind to it.

I never would have thought I would see the day when your argument would be twinned with the sport of archery.

[Ken Davies]

[quote=orius]Ken



As I intimated in my earlier post on this subject the tone of your correspondance comes across as just an anti bloodsports rant which really has little or nothing to do with archery,which to some might also be seen embarassing.

Your right, my initial post was a bit emotive. I didn't intend to start an anti bloodsports debate, and I'm sorry it seems to have gone in that direction. It is a topic I feel strongly about and that came out in the original post. Rant could be a bit harsh, but point taken.

This is my personal opinion, not the clubs and they may choose to get involved with the BASC. It's not my decision.

I only took up the sport 12 months ago, and I love it. I would hate to have my enthuisiasm tarnished by an association to hunting. I know my last post was a bit personal, but I couldn't help it. I felt it was suggesting that as an archer you should be for hunting, and anyone who wasn't shouldn't be involved in archery.

Maybe we should end this thread now as it's gone in a direction I didn't want. If I've upset a few people, I'm sorry. Just wanted some opinions.

[Dave]

If people want to continue to post their own, thought out, opinions on the original post I'll keep the thread open. But please cool it with the personal attacks and rants - let's keep it all friendly.

[hooktonboy]

Hello y'all

The general consensus was that we are not up for this for a range of reasons. Relieved! I'm grateful when I hit something stationary and made of paper (stationery?!) and my interest in the sport doesn't take me anywhere near the rest of the debate.

S