The British Bowhunters Association was set up in 1995 to support the growing number of bowhunters who live in Britain (England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales) but have to travel abroad to undertake their chosen method of hunting.

In contrast to a rifle hunter, who may shoot effectively from ranges in excess of 200 meters, archers will usually restrict shots to 30 meters or less (typically at 10 - 20 meters), depending on a range of factors such as individual ability, the target animal, draw weight and so on. Hunters restrict their shooting range in order to ensure quick and humane kills. Because archers must be much closer to their target animal, bowhunting is a unique experience, with special attention paid to the animal’s sense of smell, hearing and sight. This limit on effective range and greater degree of hunter-prey interaction create an intimacy that bowhunters find very attractive.

Bow hunting for fish is appropriately called Bowfishing. Many variations on standard archery equipment including the addition of a line attached to either a spool or a reel as well as a specially designed heavy arrow make bowfishing effective. Archers need to take into account the refraction angle of their target when releasing their arrow making sure to aim below their target's apparent position as the water gives a false indication of the actual position of the fish.

Today, Compound Bows are usually preferred for hunting, although Recurve bows and American flat bows are not uncommon and usually legal.  Stick bows are usually quieter than more modern bows, and are often used by those who want to make the hunting experience as traditional as possible.  Crossbows may be permitted for disabled hunters abroad (although not in Europe) because the shooter does not have to hold back any of the draw weight of the bow.

It has long been the impression of the Government of the United Kingdom that hunting with a bow is inhumane and that the silence of the weapon creates;

a) A greater potential for poaching

b) A greater potential to wound animals

c)A greater potential danger to the British public

Please click below for the EBA statement on poaching.

European Bowhunting Statement on Poaching

Studies by the Department of Natural Resources in America, show that poaching is not a concern when considering bowhunting as a method of harvesting an animal. The main reasons for this are the limited range of the bow and arrow as a poaching weapon and the amount of time required in the field actively hunting to cull an animal with a bow.  In fact studies show that it takes up to ten times longer to harvest an animal with a bow and arrow than it does with a modern firearm!

In modern Britain the.17HMR the .22rimfire, the .204centrefire or any of the .22centrefires can be employed to take 'game' quickly and with the addition of a sound moderator relatively quietly.  This method of poaching is quick and silent with minimal field time required and therefore, next to dogs, a favoured method of poaching.

The 'fears' regarding wounding are unfounded, as recent studied undertaken by governments in America and Sweden prove that the wounding rate from bowhunters is comparable to that of gun hunters. 

Bowhunting is becoming an accepted method of ungulate control worldwide and as a result studied are been undertaken in a number of European countries with a view to re-legalise this method of control. As an Association our ultimate goal would be to see the re-introduction of Bowhunting in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.  There has recently been talk of re-introducing bowhunting to Scotland to help with the population control for Red Deer (Cervus elephus) however we cannot provide updates on this at present.

In modern Britain the .22rimfire, the .204centrefire or any of the .22centrefires can be employed to take 'game' quickly and with the addition of a sound moderator quietly.  This method of poaching is quick and silent with minimal field time required and therefore, next to dogs, a favoured method of poaching.

The 'fears' regarding wounding are unfounded, as recent studied undertaken by governments in America and Sweden prove that the wounding rate from bowhunters is comparable to that of gun hunters. 

We do not, and will not, tolerate our membership using prohibited methods to cull animals or birds either in the UK or abroad.  All of the hunting stories, information or pictures on this site relate directly to animals culled in countries where bowhunting is a legal and recognised method of cull.

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