The tims is upon us, well, some of us

[blue3golf]

Even though it doesn't pertain to most here I would just like to throw it out there that starting tomorrow firearm deer season for Michigan kicks off. For the next two weeks I will be in the woods doing what I love most, hunting deer. Nothing like some time off from work. Maybe I can hit up muzzleloadiing season if I'm lucky. Bow season didn't work out since I never made it into the woods.

[SteminDemon13]

B3G,
Have a safe and wonderful hunting season. If you have a dehydrator make some Deer jerkey, good stuff. Best of luck. I wish I had someone to go hunting with in VA.

[August]

I just got back from a hunting trip up to my place in Maine. No luck this year but that's partly because i had a bunch of other stuff that needed to get done so my actual hunting time was limited to just a few days.

[blue3golf]

I have returned successful. Got a 7 point with 14 1/2" spread the morning of the 20th. Weighed in at 193 pounds undressed.

[Peto]

Congrats! That's a nice one :up:! I didn't go this year because I was lazy and am getting old and--well--lazy ;). Did most of my hunting in the last couple years with a 50 Cal Hawkins. And I even got a couple :yep:! No trophy's though--just meat for the pot.

[Letum]

No deer here, just rabbits and pests.....

And it will be a poor year for rabbit pie....I didn't get my gun certificate renewed and I
have to hand in or sell my rifle in a few weeks. :(

[d@rk51d3]

No deer here, just rabbits and pests.....

And it will be a poor year for rabbit pie....I didn't get my gun certificate renewed and I
have to hand in or sell my rifle in a few weeks. :(

Prime opportunity to take up bowhunting. Looking to do so myself. Can't convince the missus to let me spend a grand on a bow though.

......."Why don't you just get a cheap one?" she says. Yeah, so I can just out and maim animals with an inaccurate ripoff? No thanks.

[Letum]

No deer here, just rabbits and pests.....

And it will be a poor year for rabbit pie....I didn't get my gun certificate renewed and I
have to hand in or sell my rifle in a few weeks. :(
Prime opportunity to take up bowhunting. Looking to do so myself. Can't convince the missus to let me spend a grand on a bow though.

......."Why don't you just get a cheap one?" she says. Yeah, so I can just out and maim animals with an inaccurate ripoff? No thanks.
Im not sure how legal it is in the UK.
I had a little sucsess with a (Cheep) crossbow a few years ago, but I doubt thats legal either.

Never mind, I can still pot them with a air rifle, it's just not allways as humane.

[Fish]

......."Why don't you just get a cheap one?" she says. Yeah, so I can just out and maim animals with an inaccurate ripoff? No thanks.

Or, a second hand? :hmm:

For example:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gently-Used-2005-Hoyt-Vipertec-RH-bow_W0QQitemZ320185655637QQihZ011QQcategoryZ111250 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[blue3golf]

I used to bowhunt. Sold it now I'm looking to get back into it. There are some package bows you can buy out there for about $400. Not bad equipment, just might not last as long as some of the higher end stuff. I've never had a problem with cheaper stuff though. Just got to care for it.

[d@rk51d3]

......."Why don't you just get a cheap one?" she says. Yeah, so I can just out and maim animals with an inaccurate ripoff? No thanks.

Or, a second hand? :hmm:

For example:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gently-Used-2005-Hoyt-Vipertec-RH-bow_W0QQitemZ320185655637QQihZ011QQcategoryZ111250 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

LOL. Yeah, I've actually been watching that one, and a Martin Bengal too (2007 ex demo - unused) but by the time I pay freight to get it out to Australia I'ts not too far short of buying something new, locally.

[Chock]

Im not sure how legal it is in the UK.

Hunting with a bow is totally illegal in the UK.

I have a few bows, and a particularly powerful crossbow, complete with a telescopic sight (which admittedly does not require a lot of skill to use), but they are strictly for target shooting, as that's all you can do in the UK. There are very few archery clubs that will even cater for crossbows, which is a shame as they are pretty good fun.

Chock

[jumpy]

Yup, hunting with a bow/crossbow is a big no no for the UK.
There's always an archery club lurking around if you look, but they seem not to have a great deal to do with crossbows.
Your best bet in the UK with no hassle from 'the man' is air rifle shooting (though that's changing if this government have their way). Legitimate quarry include the following:
Principal quarry for air rifles
BIRDS: crows, rooks, jackdaws, magpies, jays, woodpigeon, collared doves, feral pigeons.
MAMMALS: brown rats, grey squirrels, stoats, mink and rabbitsLive quarry shooting
Many people shoot live quarry, either on their own land or where they have permission. The species which you can shoot are limited by the law and by the effective power of an air rifle.
All birds are protected, and although there are seasons when you can legally shoot game, and some wildfowl, these are generally not suitable quarry for air rifles. However, as long as you are complying with firearms law, you can shoot certain pest species. These are covered by open general licences which, in simple terms, mean you can shoot the birds provided you have the landowner’s permission and provided you are doing it for one of the reasons allowed by the licence.
These reasons are:
to protect crops
to protect game and wildlife
to protect public health or safetyThose species covered by the licences, for which air rifles are suitable, include: crows, rooks, jackdaws, magpies, jays, woodpigeon, collared doves, and feral pigeons.
Sparrows and starlings are no longer on the general licences for England. Therefore you cannot shot them in England, although they can still be shot in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. For full details on general licences please click here. (http://www.basc.org.uk/content/pestandpredatorcontrol)
You can shoot mammal pests at any time provided you have the landowner’s permission. Air rifles are suitable for: brown rats, grey squirrels, stoats, mink and rabbits.

there's some nice kit here:
http://www.excaliburcrossbow.com


@ Letum
You know you can get a RFD to hold your shotgun for you if your certificate is expired? If you just forgot to renew it there is no problem doing the above, even if a renewal was refused by a FLO I think. The gun can be stored at a dealer until you reclaim it with a certificate or until you decide to sell it. I'm fairly sure that's how it works now. I suspect there is a small holding fee involved, but surely that's better than selling it or having the police destroy it, which will probably happen if you give it to them.