2 replies to this topic

[leafcut]

Hi, I have very recently joined CN and find it very interesting. Here in England bowhunting/xbow hunting is illegal and has been for the last 20 years or so. However; there is no law against practicing with your bowhunting tools and equipment including broadhead tipped arrows and bolts. Several years ago I took part in the International Bowhunter Education Course-and throughly enjoyed it. Passing this course then entitles me to legally participate in bowhunting in any country where bowhunting is legal. I appreciate that your laws are a lot different to mine but I wish to ask some questions. 1: in every US state where bow/xbow hunting is legal is it mandatory to do a similar course as the one mentioned above ?.2: is there a separate course for xbow hunters only or does a pass in the above course qualify you to use both bows & xbows ?. You folks over there are so very very lucky to have the right to go bowhunting. We have to travel abroad to hunt and it can become very expensive. I read articles about certain bowhunting organisations and individuals hating the xbow due to restrictions of seasons, anti technology, and the woods being "overran" with too many hunters. Its ironic that this matter enters the equation when hunting worldwide is under so much pressure from tree huggers and the ill, easily influenced, members of the public and anti hunting organisations. I would give my hens teeth on a gold plate for bowhunting to be legalised here in the UK, but I doubt that will happen in my life, thanks for reading, regards...Nick.

[elkstalkr]

For your questions.  Honestly it depends on what state you are in.  Depending on your age, every state requires hunters safety course.  The age limit differs state, to state.  Like here in Nebraska I believe anyone born before 1979 is not required to take the course.  

Furthermore some states have seperate bow and gun courses, some combine the two.  Some states may require different courses for the crossbow and some combine them.  In Nebraska, they are leaving the crossbow education in with the regular/gun education course, because that is where it has always been.  So in order to hunt archery season with a crossbow you would take the regular safety course and NOT the bowhunters ed course.  Kinda weird, but thats they way it is.

[buckmaster221]

Here in Michigan, anybody born on or after Jan 1, 1960 must take a Hunter Education Course. As far as specific bow or crossbow hunter ed., you don't have to have the IBEC to bowhunt here. It is offered as an individual course or depending on the group administering the course, as part of the regular Hunter Education Course. Also, depending on the state, if you have purchased a hunting license the previous year, you can purchase a hunting license in another state w/o having to show a hunters ed. certificate. Every state is different in dealing with this situation.

Even though Michigan requires you to have the certification, a lot of dealers don't ask you to prove that you have it. I used to live in New Jersey and they wouldn't accept my hunters ed. certification from Texas because NJ said I didn't have enough "training". At the time, I had been hunting for better than 20 years! Currently I have certs. from 2 states now including the Bowhunters ed. cert.