Mathews promoting bowhunting?

[Marcus]

I borrows the video that omes with the Mathews bows off Colin and was really disgusted by what I saw on it. They had 12 segments that were shown of US TV of different hunts. The first one the hunter sat near a waterhole in a camo tent (called a blind) and just waited for a buck to stand in the right spot to shoot.
A later one a women had a bait set up and sat in a tree stand watching big black bears eat from it. Eventually one wondered a little closer to her and she shot it.
Another was a huge Elk. The hunter sat in a little shrub area while his guide called the elk from a spot so it walked 5m infront of the shooter.

Now explain to me someone, how is this ethical hunting? I don't mind someone going into the bush to stalk and kill feral animals, but to knock off natives to make a rug from in such an inhumane manner. There is no fighting chance for the animal here.
On one of the segments they stalked a buck through the plains, that was impressive.

I can't help but wonder if this kind of footage arms the hunting cause. I know that Diract TV in the US won't show hunting now, I think this is why.

[Eberbachl]

Hi Marcus,

I do see your point about this video ( I watched it about an hour ago), and I don't think Mathews have done much of a job at the right kind of promotion. (it might be right for the US though, maybe just a bit iffy here).

Also, it's a bit corny, with the guitars, and trophy room etc etc....

Having said that, whilst I don't think much of treestand or blind hunting (I'd rather be stalking), That doesn't make that sort of hunting unethical.

Some might even argue that they are more ethical as hunters that I am because with all their gear such as range finders etc.....they make it very hard to miss, and therefore increase the chance of a quick humane kill.

Iknow I know, shooting a baited bear from a tree stand at 10 yards is not my idea of being the great white hunter, but I guess it takes all sorts???

[Marcus]

Agree with the ethical bit, they were all clean kills. But that bear reminds me of my cat. She's big black and fat. Anyone shoots her and there will be hell to pay. :)

[dtl2441]

Wow! I think you're all wrong on this one Marcus. Now I have not seen the video, but I do not think I have to. Have you ever tried to hunt this way? Have you tried to call in an elk? I do not think so or you would not have made the statements you did. Stand and blind hunting is very ethical. What is the difference between sneaking up on an animal and placing yourself in a good spot to have one walk by? None. It is not nearly as easy as videos show it. You don't know the animals route with any certainty especialy if there is any hunting pressure. If you're off on your guess of their path by a handful of yards you lose. There is the challange of wind direction and accidently leaving scent in the wrong place. Plus the added requirement to sit still for hours.

As for baiting, I myself am one who does not likes the idea of baiting animals, but am not opposed to it. It is illegal to bait most animals in the US with the only execption of bears in a some states. In those state they typically have a plethora of bears.

As for hunting shows in the US, there are TV channels that most people receive, that show mostly hunting on the weekend. The ones that come to mind are the Outdoor Channel and TNN.

Why is it ok to knock off "feral animal" which you do not eat, but when one takes table fare and displays it with respect and reverence as a rug or trophy it is un ethical? No one cares more for the wellfare of game animals than us hunters. We pay the taxes, we buy the liciences, we obey the regulations. People who do not hunt care much less for animals than we do for the most part.

Marcus I think you should try a little more hunting to get a different view.

Cheers

[Marcus]

Thanks for your comments dtl2441. No I don't hunt. Any time I could spend hunting I would rather spend getting my form better. Never tried calling an elk, we have a distinct lack of them in my state. ;)

I respect your opinions on the matter and won't argue with them. Thanks

[mike]

I see you're quickly finding yourself all alone on this thread Marcus!!

For what it is worth, you have my support on this one. Particularly about the cat! :D

I for one prefer to leave wild animals alone in the habitat and I think it is a shame that it requires a collective of hunters to effect real environmental change (Yes, we do have you hunters to thank for this, I'll grant you that). Everyone should play a more active role in this, but that is another story.

Whilst I agree with pest eradication, it is a dubious claim that that is why you hunt them, if that was the case, why wouldn't you use a gun as the professional cullers do.

Your are right Marcus, these sorts of video's don't do much for the sport.

But, let me say this, I respect other peoples' opinions and would not deny your right to hunt as long as it is done with respect for the environment and the animal you hunt.

Yep, its been a while since I've seen Elk here in Victoria. :P

[Eberbachl]

Hey dudes,

Whilst I think the mathews video was pretty average myself, remember that their is a huge hunting fraternity that mathews are trying to reach, so maybe it's doing just what they want for the hunting sport.

You should all know my veiws on bowhunting, I listed them in response to Mike's "Bowhunting, general questions....." thread. So whilst I don't like to hunt from a treestand or blind myslef, I guess if people enjoy this form, then that's OK. I prefer to stalk, but like I said, it takes all sorts. I do, however, object to sitting up a tree shooting a baited bear for sport, that seems a bit pointless .......and to show it on a video is not such a great choice.

Mike, I wouldn't however knock people who say they can justify hunting by saying it's pest control. Bowhunting is a low impact, efficient form of hunting, and if I needed to try and eradicated some pest animals on my farm, I'd probably do it with a bow. (unless it was a huge volume, then maybe I'd hire some pro shooters).

At the end of the day, the mathews video in question was probably not suited for Australian audiences because we generally don't hunt that way, but it may be well suited to the American audience it was intended for.

.....out of interest, I wonder if there is a way to find out how many of the recent record setting 1134 bows sold in one day at mathews were hunting bows?

[dtl2441]

Hi Mike.
As you can tell from my response to Marcus I am an avid bow hunter. I know we bowhunters are a benifit to managing wildlife as you mentioned.

I respect other peoples opinions who choose not to hunt and only want them to do the same for me. I find that most people who do not hunt are hypocrites as they like their leather goods and a good steak (not directed towards you).

You asked why if I wanted to eradicate pests, why not use a gun. Something similar could be asked of a mountain climber. Why not use a helicopter? etc...etc...

I will grant you that only about 2 to 5 percent of the US population are hunters depending on location. Showing poor taste in displaying our sport is bad for it. Driving around with a dead animial on the hood of a vehicle is not good. Bragging about our kill in public only does us harm. Likewise many videos gives hunting a bad image to us bowhunters and hunting in general. We need to understand that the vast majority of the populations does not understand hunting let alone where there hamburger comes from. We need as a group to tread lightly and educate the populace when and where we can if we want this sport to continue. To this end, the videos, like the one Marcus watched only does us harm.

In my state I have seen the populace vote into law very poor rules concerning hunting only because they do not understand wildlife mangagement. We now have to pay professional cullers to eradicate troublesome cougars. In in the past, we, the hunting comunity would pay the state to allow us to control these animals. Now this makes no sense and I am glad that there is a movement in place to repeal this law that is only costing the government money.

I too have two cats and two dogs, so I understand your feelings there. :)

Cheers and have a good day....

[Marcus]

Mike
That's cool, I use to being the only idiot to open his mouth! :)

Whilst I agree with pest eradication, it is a dubious claim that that is why you hunt them, if that was the case, why wouldn't you use a gun as the professional cullers do.


I think that by allowing bowhunters kill feral game you can keep the population down without the cost and danger of firing guns and hiring cullers. You will never eradicate with a bow, but you can take out some without any damage to the environment. Sounds like win win to me.

I find that most people who do not hunt are hypocrites as they like their leather goods and a good steak

Agree. I think a trip to the slaughter houses should be mandatory at school so people appriechiate what these animals have died for. Even if you wear cotton, that's ground cleared for farming that an animal lived on and has been forced to give up for us. However if we hung a cows head on the wall for each one we killed that would be going too far.;)

Thanks for the open and civil discussion everyone. It can be a sensitive subject, especially when laws are passed by those who have nothing to do with hunting. :)

[pseshooter]

Yall opened a big ole can of worms.First of all , I do not agree with marcus, on the way hte guys hunt on videos, ( blinds, stands), what is wrong with that,ever tried it?Think it is a easy task, to pick the right trail, the right tree, right way into the woods( dealing with t he wind)And you ever shoot form 20 ft up at a live animal?Even with range finders it s not as easy as you think.as range finders at the high up, give you distance in line of sight, you still ahve to take off a yard or two.And talk abotu working on form, ok there you go bend at t he waist, right?and remeber now you are in there home tiurf , and trying to put togetehr a perfect shot.Im not sure the way you hunt in your area, but in the states , and all states are not the same, it is a b it harder than you think.
Now, I am a staff shooter for PSE and I also shoot 3 D shoot(ASA) and shoot indoor every week, I only bow hunt , even threw rifle season here.I shoot all the time, every day , Ever out this way in Georgia, look me up, would love to shoot with you.with all the practise you get you might just be a challenge for me, I think you said you spend allyour time working on your form.Oh by the way I m a left handed shooter, I have 5 bows, I ll even let you pick the one for me to shoot agaisnt you with, heck it ll be fun, ya think?



p.s I wouldnt shoot a mathews bow if they paid me too.Oh heck that 's right they do pay shooters.pretty bad when ya have to pay peopel to shoot a bow.

p.s.s marcus, what kinda bow you shoot, arent you the same marcus on the pse web site?

[deadeye]

I am from the US and Marcus is right. All the hunting shows on tv are the same. They kill bear over bait, kill deer over food plots they plant. Were
the hunting start???? For me I like the hunt more than the kill. This why I only hunt public land,no four wheelers, or food plots allowed.I for one rather hunt feral hogs than deer, you can hunt them year round.

[Marcus]

Don't get me wrong pseshooter, I have nothing against hunting, nor do I think hunters = bad shooters or anything silly like that. I'ld actually be interested in hunting something like turkey or pig. Bears I couldn't hunt off a bait, just doesn't seem fair. Doesn't mean it's easy or anything.
I guess that is all I'm saying, is that as a non-hunter it can come across bad. Also I have said above that my first reaction may not be the correct one, and that in itself worries me. I have nothing against hnting and didn't enjoy some of those shots. I would hate to see idiots use it as an excuse to ban hunting (ie. PETA). I'm all for bowhunting, just think perhaps that aspects of it may appear bad.

BTW I NEED to spend all my time working on form, doesn't mean I'm a good shooter! :) Yep, would love to shoot with you if I'm around that way, if I'm lucky to get over there.

Also if any of you guys have any hunt pictures you are encouraged to post em here.

[Larry Rooks]

I am an avid bow hunter, usually hunting 125 days a year in two states,
Goergia and Ohio. I agree with Marcus on the baiting, It does not show
good ethics to hunt over a pile of bait and video for those that would make a big issue out of it. As far as stand hunting, I do it, and to sit in
a blind or hidden somewhat is not unethical. And calling ELk is the way
the sport is done. The escitement of hearing the bull Elk bugle to your call and have the talent to call that magnificnet animal with bow range is part of the sport, nothing unethical at all about it. MAthews, though I do not and will not shoot one of their bows, and do not support some of the ways that they do things, is promoting for the hunting customer, also
part of the business of survival.

[Randall Wellings]

Marcus...me thinks..your butts on fire :D :D

Honestly..here in OZ we don't have the same grasp of reality when it comes to the 'hunting' mentality.
When our settlers sent their feet down on this land, they brought all their supplies..cows and sheep with them. basically set up the store.... No need to hunt, so why hunt?
A key point here is that in OZ we don't have any preditorial animals.

The States an the other hand...two hundred years earlier the OZ settlement..had their settlers, needing to harvest their food from the wild for their survival..a need to hunt

The hunting 'to provide' culture is firmly embedded in the sole of the American Nation.
I can't imagine why, we must critises the most effective way of obtaining the harvested game stock, surely this mentality must always be employed.

The game managment in the USA and the millions of dollars poured into it, is responsible for some amaizing programs.
I have seen first hand some of these productive programs and it further fosters my belief that

"As the animals have the right to share the forrest, so to does the Hunter"

After all "if we weren't ment to eat animals...they wouldn't be made from meat" :D :D

[Larry Rooks]

Randall
:D If we were not supposed to eat animals, they would not have been made of meet :) I could not agree with you more. No pun intended,
so no one get upset please but "A poor hunter is a vegitarian" Just
a quote I have always heard, mean no ill feeling towars any one who does not hunt either

[Marcus]

Oh yeah, love some meat, nothing better. In fact I think hunting for food is a great idea. Just wondering, do people eat bear?

[Inner-10]

do people eat bear

You bet, ive never eaten it but some people have told me that its the best meat out there, very dark and kinda fatty.

[Orions_Bow]

Yes Mathews promotes hunting. It is over 90 % of their buisness. Here in the US we take great pride in being able to hunt and strongly defend our rights too. the large majority of american archers are hunters only.

if it where not for the large hunting population in the US most companies products would not be as good as they are & most companies would never have even opened their doors.

as you can see on this side of the pond we like to hunt and this drives the archery industry.

If you don't like it turn it off & watch something else.

[toad]

Marcus,
I can understand how such a video would appear, particularly to those who don't hunt.I have viewed such video's and myself find them somewhat distasteful. I say this even though i have been hunting since i was very young. I think it important to note that such techniques are common in some areas and that they have proved very efficient in controlling animal numbers.( remembering that these hunting tags are organised by environmental scientists....if the numbers weren't there we wouldn't be hunting them)
I think that more than anything these types of video's could be seen as 'undignified' ..the very thing we don't want to be seen as!
As long as hunting is both ethical and humane I don't have a problem with anyone...such scenario's are humane but are they ethical?
Just chucking my two cents in for my first post.
Cheers

[robbo]

Welcome to the forum Toad.

Robbo

[Inner-10]

Does anyone else buy a mathews and (like me) think that the video would be an informative video about bow tuning/ maiteneance, and just end up with the most assinine, stupid, moronic POS waste of a video ever?

[dtl2441]

I bought a Mathews a number of years ago and it did come with a video. What a waste of tape. Just more PR. I do love my bow. It is a vast improvement over my last one. In fact every time I have bought a new bow I have been amazed that they can keep improving a stick and a string. In a couple of years I will get another new one. Can't wait to see who has the best bow for the money then.

[buttonBuck]

What is the Ultimate bowhunt challenge? :D

The ultimate bowhunt challenge is to scout, find an area and be able to visualized the buck that might be in the area. Then when that buck comes along, arrowed with the first shot and harvast the buck. Now the ultimate bowhunt challenge is met.

What is NOT the Ultimate bowhunt challenge? 0X

The NOTso Ultimate bowhunt challenge is when a bowhunt is involved on a FENCED-IN or a private property that only the PROs can utilized; then they give you the mumbo jumbo tactics that they wouldn't themselves and BOOMED.. land a 10pt buck and also then they are pround of it. Is that a FAIR CHASE HUNT?.. I think not! Now that is the ULTIMATE NOTso BOWHUNT CHALLENGE.

Sorry Folks... this is only a frustation cryout for the rest of us who can only hunt on PUBLIC land and so how be able to NOT pull big P&Y or B&C on hunt after hunt like the PROs does on the ranch or exclusive property.