N_C

I understand the need to control the deer population. But I hope they either close the trails &/or post several highly visable signs to warn trail users of the hunters & to advise hunters to be on the look out for potential trail users.

https://www.bikeiowa.com/asp/hotnews/...sp?NewsID=1780

CmpsdNoMore

I think I'd pass up hunting in a city or if I wasn't hunting i'd be sitting in my basement with kevlar on.
For all you know, a bullet could ricochet or go through some trees and hit someone.

I agree with you on warning trail users.

barba

Wow, that seems wildly dangerous.

N_C

They will be using bows, not shotguns. Hunting with a rifle in Iowa is illegal. As far as I know kevlar will not stop a sharp cutting instrument like the tip of an arrow, especially the types used to kill deer.

2manybikes

How far does a bullet go when you shoot it from a bow ?
How does an arrow get to your basement ?

sbhikes

Time to trade the lime vest for the orange one.

Mr_H

I grew up in Iowa and used to run cross country in high school and college. We used to have a race once a year by the river (or one of it's sub rivers, I forget exactly where) at a park on the Iowa side. On the Illinois side, they were hunting. I can't count the number of times runners jumped when we heard gunshots, scared the crap outta us.

I love Iowa, but I think some of the folks in the Davenport/Quad Cities area need a good thunk on the head once in a while.

DieselDan

We're smart enough to stay off Wildlife Management Area trails during hunting season.

CrosseyedCrickt

Here in Michigan, we have a place called bald mountain park
it allows hunting
I hunt it
I bike it
no problem
just because someone perfers to kill their own prey doesn't mean they are backward yokels
ricocheting bullets *might* be of small concern, but not just random fire
no hunter shoots blindly at nothing, it is a waste of money, bullets aren't free

CrosseyedCrickt

Well, if I afix it to the tip of one of my arrows in place of my broadhead, assuming it has the same grain as my broadhead, I'd guestimate it'd travel at about 310fps, which is what my Mathews Switchback maxed out for me with it's current draw weight and setup

tomcryar

They'll immediately start granting 200 permits for the urban hunt. Any hunter who wants to take part will have to prove they've taken safety training, pass a proficiency test, and they'll be required to stay away from populated areas.--from the article.

If they would do that for motorists.............!

dobber

Unless of course you've got a hidden agenda

CrosseyedCrickt

true...
...true

slowandsteady

Deer hunting with a bow is done from trees. You shoot downward. A missed shot hits the ground. It is very safe...unless you are a deer.

And yes, kevlar will stop an arrow. It stops mine just fine. That is why they make targets out of kevlar or high density foam. In fact, good old bales of straw stop arrows too.

Hunting is far safer than cycling. I wouldn't worry about it at all. If you are riding on a trail close enough to a deer to be shot, you would scare off the deer. You would have to be within 10 or so feet of the deer to be in danger.

slagjumper

Why not try hunting from a tall bike. Or at least wear orange!

2manybikes

10 bonus points for a good answer.

I believe that puts you in first place !!

CrosseyedCrickt

woohooo!!
I'm first! nah nah nah nah nah nah
glad I'm not the only hunter in here

2manybikes

bike2math

Funny, the bow hunters on Versus (OLN) are always on the ground shooting. I've seen them lose an arrow and not find where it landed.

I think you may mean it is safe if you are hunting. Is it really safe to be a non-hunter in an area where hunting is taking place? If it is why do: (A) farmers post land where they have cattle, (B) dog owners drape their animals in flourescent jackets, (C) walkers on main roads where bright colors.

The truth is the safest place to be during hunting season is on the butt end of a gun.

I shouldn't have to wear body armour to go biking. and certainly I should be warned if it is recommended that I have such protection.

The things I've learned by biking: Never , ever, ever assume that the other person is (A) aware of your presence, (B) competent to handle their equipment, (C) sufficiently trained in safety and emergency procedures, (D) having your saftey first in mind, (E) Willing to stop and help you should their actions cause you harm.

Despite your assurance I want to be further away from a bow hunter than the arrow can travel. I'm just funny that way.

McDave

I haven't seen the program you're referring to but bow hunters usually do set their stands in trees. I would hope the Davenport hunters would be required to for safety's sake. I would also hope the hunters on Versus are hunting private land where they can be sure there is no one else downwind of their arrows.

No it isn't, but the article said the hunters can't hunt in populated areas.

Paraniod?
(Re:A) If all the cattle ranchers in Texas posted their land there would hardly be any hunting as most all of Texas is private land with cattle on it. Even though we shoot rifles here it's not a problem. Deer don't look anything like cows, and if they happen to be mingling together you simply don't take the shot.

(Re:B) Are you referring to bird hunters? It makes sense to me as the dogs are used to flush the birds. Nobody wants to shoot their dogs accidentally.

(Re:C) I would imagine it would be to be seen by cars. Can't say I've ever seen a hunter on a main road. Not much game there. If you do see hunters on the road or even near it they should be reported.

Actually not. Chances are the hunter is more likely to be injured or killed when a gun malfunctions, falls out of a tree stand, or yes, gets shot by another hunter. Accidents do happen. Hunter safety courses, as is the requirement in Davenport, really do help. Even then, the odds of an accident to either the hunter or non-hunter are very very low. Much much lower than you being injured on your bike. The city wouldn't take the risk otherwise.

Jeeze, your imagination is really running wild here.

And I'm sure the hunt will be designed so that the twain shall never meet. Relax. Let the hunters thin the herd before it becomes overpopulated, unhealthy and disease ridden. Then the chances of you hitting a deer on your bike will be reduced.

CmpsdNoMore

hrrrm, missed the part about bows...

ItsJustMe

I wouldn't be concerned about it at all. You're at far greater risk on the roads than riding through a park where hunting is happening.
I think there are a lot of people here who have never had any experience with hunting.

CrosseyedCrickt

Okay, we obviously have some antihunters in the crowd, that's cool, some people are just brought up in other ways.
The points being made here are questionable at best.

bike2math

[quote]Funny, the bow hunters on Versus (OLN) are always on the ground shooting. I've seen them lose an arrow and not find where it landed. [\quote]
C'mon, do you really think those guys are hunting? I suppose reality TV is real too Those hunts are all but staged on private land. And they shoot from the ground alot because it is more dramatic. Gunfights on TV would totally blow if they didn't add the drama. Arrows are expensive so we hunters take care of them. A good carbon express with mechanical fieldpoint can run you upwards of $20.00 or more per arrow. We don't just throw money away.

It is moderately safe to be a non-hunter in an area where hunting is taking place. No less safe then most of your normal daily tasks. Farmers post their land because of many reasons. Some are anti-hunting. Some are, like you seem to be, scared of accidental shootings or wot not. I know several landowners who post their land because they are anti-gun-hunting but allow us bowhunters to use the land. And some of the fermers post their land because they have folks who have paid them to allow them private hunting access.
Walkers on main roads wear bright colors because, well, maybe it is the law in those areas, maybe they are ignorant to how safe hunting is, or maybe they don't want to get hit by a car. They should wear those colors always!

C'mon now, this is a childish statement. Good for proving your point though, but we both know it is an unfounded statement.

I can understand. I don't come within 50yards of mimes and people with lazy eyes, they scare the hell out of me. Buthunting is actually safe for the people involved, especially with experienced hunters around. But like driving, some people abuse the safety aspect of it. Getting drunk, heading out in the woods to hunt, that IS stupid, but it happens, just like DUIs and the like.

Hambone

I have plenty of experience with hunting.

For that reason when I used to live near public lands where hunting was permitted each year, I had a small cow bell I wired to the rails on the bottom of my seat. It felt dumb the first ride or two sounding like Bessie. But, as I said, I knew many of the yahoos out hunting.

I wonder what that town is doing to increase it's deer population... The Mayor said the deer herd is doubling every two years. My understanding is that 25% is the brith rate. So they must be bussing in deers, too.

Hambone

Funny and well said, but tell the truth, if a suburban center which normally had no hunting, all of a sudden opened up its lands to hunting -- would you take your favorite dog and go walking those woods? Of course not.