Massachusetts community strikes down bowhunting (8/8/2002)

Bowhunters continue to face opposition from anti-hunters who are working from coast to coast to eliminate the sport. The anti’s recently silenced sportsmen in Massachusetts and routed a motion to permit bowhunting as a tool to cull a deer herd.

In June, attendees at a town meeting in Ashland, Massachusetts rejected a proposal to permit limited bowhunting to reduce the size of a deer herd in a wooded area called Town Forest. Local residents had misconceptions about the effectiveness and safety of bowhunting, which led them to oppose the activity.

Sportsmen were unable to gain a bowhunting opportunity because not enough of them attended the town meeting. It shows how important it is to attend hearings and meetings to provide an opportunity for local lawmakers and other citizens to hear your voice. Otherwise, sportsmen will not be able to counter the arguments of the anti’s who, in this case, raised safety fears and grisly images of wounded deer on local citizen’s lawns.

Wildlife professionals know that bowhunting is a safe and effective way to keep deer herds in check in urban settings. In fact, a National Safety Council report says hunting is safer than swimming, bicycling, and playing baseball, golf, tennis and basketball. The International Hunter Education Association reports only four injuries and one fatality out of six million bowhunters in 1999.

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