Bowhunting

Bowhunting is the practice of using archery equipment to hunt wild game.  Compound bows are now popular for hunting but traditional archers still use recurve or longbows. 
 
Big game hunting generally requires a minimum draw weight of 35 pounds, however 50 pounds or more is recommended for larger animals.  Broadheads are the sharp attachment to the end of the arrow that does the cutting of skin, muscle and vital organs and are designed for efficiency and accuracy.  Broadheads come in a multitude of shapes, cutting edges, size and weight.
 
Bowhunting is a close range activity with hunters typically operating within the 10-40 yard distance.  This, however, does depend very much on the hunter’s proficiency and the type of equipment being used to ensure the highest degree of accuracy.
 
A core tenet of the practice of bowhunting is a commitment to ethical standards, including thorough training, understanding local laws and practicing until you are able to consistently and accurately hit a target.

To hunt on DOC controlled land requires a Bowhunting permit, that permit will specify the equipment to be used:

• Minimum draw weight 15 kg (35 lb)
• Minimum diameter of two opposing blades is 22 mm (7/8 in)
• Only non-barbed hunting arrows are permissible
• Arrows with any poison, explosive or other chemical substance on or in the head or shaft are prohibited.

 
Other conditions may appear on the standard hunting permit that apply to bowhunters.  Specifics can be found on the DOC website.

Bowfishing

Bowfishing, as it’s name implies, combines archery and fishing to shoot and retrieve fish close to the water's surface.  Generally either a bow or crossbow is used to shoot fish using a barbed arrow which is tethered to a line.  The line is then manually retrieved, often with a reel mounted on the bow.  Bowfishing relies entirely on visual perception and marksmanship, no other tools, eg. nets, are necessary.  Catch and release is not possible with bowfishing.
 
Traditionally bows were very simple and without sights, however compound bows with sights are now commonly used.  Arrows are considerably heavier and stronger than the normal archery arrow and can also lack fletching to remedy any side to side flare when under water.  Lighted nocks is another custom feature associated with night fishing.  The line is generally attached to the arrow by tying to a hole in the arrow shaft and there are various types of reels available.
 
Bowfishing can be done from the shore, by wading or from boats.  Another technique is to stand on large rocks in a river as this gives a better view.
 
As there is light refraction at the water surface together with the distortion of underwater objects, aiming straight at a target usually results in a miss.  Aiming well below the target can compensate for this optical illusion.  Depth and distance also impacts on the aim.


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Game Animals

Head to our Hunting page to check out the game animals in New Zealand and where they are.