A revealing report from safebackyards.com compiled the following quotes from bowhunting authorities, encouraging other hunters to hide the inevitable suffering that deer endure:
Western Bowhunter Sept. 1991 A guest editorial – “Responsible hunting Starts With You!” by Larry D. Jones states: Don’t talk to anyone about wounding animals, especially in public places or among non-hunters ... If you videotape your hunts, don’t show bloody kill scenes, rough handling of animals and animals struggling, kicking or quivering as they go down, to non-hunters or anti-hunters.
Bowhunter Magazine An article entitled “Bow Wounding Losses THE BIG MYTH” by David Samuel states: It is disquieting to know that we probably wound one deer for every animal harvested ... The only reason I can think of is that bowhunting is difficult, more so than gun hunting. Some non-thinking bowhunters apparently feel it’s better to say that they at least hit a deer than admit they didn’t harvest one. That’s really dumb logic and every time someone says they wound a deer to anyone else, even a bowhunter friend, it gives the wrong message to anyone who is listening.
Archery World March/April 1988 An article entitled “Hit or Miss” by Glenn Hegeland states: Why do so many bowhunters think just hitting an animal with an arrow is the pinnacle of success? I heard a guy the other night brag that “I hit four tonight.” Then he sort of mumbled in his soup that he couldn’t find any of them.
Bowhunter 1989 Big Game Issue An article entitled “A Call for Accuracy” by Dwight Schuh states: Our sport can’t stand forever in the face of growing hatred. Archers must work to counteract that sentiment and build bowhunting in a positive light. The first step should be obvious. Don’t brag about hitting and losing animals. He goes on to say, There’s nothing honorable about hitting and losing an animal; it just means you screwed up. Don’t brag about it. Just shut up.
