The archery alk and deer hunts begin Aug. 20. Bowhunters should already have their preparations well under way.

When do you start getting ready for archery hunting season? What do you to do to prepare?

It took me a long time to realize why I shot a longbow and not some fancy new compound. Then the answer just hit me – I want to escape from the modern; I wanted some perspective.

Whether you prefer a longbow, a recurve bow, a compound bow, or even a crossbow, the article is a good read. Read the whole thing here.

What do you prefer to hunt with? And why?

According to New York Bowhunters, the proposed draft will result in a net loss of tags for special season hunters, will insert a youth firearm season and then a muzzleloading season in the middle of the archery-only season, and would place most of the deer management burdens on the special season hunters without asking regular season hunters to contribute to the cause.

I don’t mind ladder stands for gun hunting, but for bow hunting I tend to frown on them. I feel that when bowhunting you should be a minimalist.

What do you think? Should bowhunters be minimalists? Or should we load up with all the modern high-tech gear we can afford (and carry)?

The agency was going to start issuing up to 200 special antlerless licenses on Aug.1, but Department officials have postponed that process due to uncertainties over habitat condition and deer availability after floodwaters recede.

“This experimental season was designed to reduce deer numbers on private land in a relatively small area,” Randy Kreil, Game and Fish wildlife division chief said. “We had good support from landowners who were committed to hosting hunters, but most of them are dealing with flooding issues. Our agency and the landowners feel it’s better to wait a year and hope that normal conditions will return.”

The experimental season was set up so Game and Fish could match interested hunters with participating landowners. Randomly selected hunters would need to secure written permission from landowners before Game and Fish would issue a special license. The special antlerless licenses would have been valid in all open seasons with the appropriate firearm or archery equipment within the designated unit.

The experimental hunt area included land west of River Road and State Highway 1804, north and west of Bismarck, with Wilderness Cover Road near Pioneer Park as the southern boundary and 149th Ave. NW (north of Double Ditch Indian Village) as the northern boundary. During the regular deer season, much of this area is not open to hunting with centerfire rifles.

While Game and Fish will not issue special licenses, the experimental hunt area is still open to archery and gun hunting for those with appropriate bow or firearm season licenses.

Park superintendent Sam England said, “The bottom line is that we’re not seeing nearly as many deer here as we have in the past. We believe there’s no need for a hunt this year.” England went on to comment that in previous managed hunts at the park, more than one-third of the hunters were successful in taking a deer.

Find out more at the W.Va. Gazette-Mail.

The urban archery season will run Sept. 6 through Nov. 11, and for the entire month of January 2012.

Hunters wishing to participate must attend a free bowhunters education course July 23 and an orientation/proficiency test Aug. 27.

An Arkansas Game & Fish Commission representative emphasized that these hunts are intended as population-control hunts to reduce the urban deer population in the participating cities. As such, hunters are required to take a doe as their first deer. Hunters also must donate their first deer to Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry, a 501(C)3 charitable organization. The normal 3-point rule does not apply in the urban hunts, and there are no bag limits.

Other regulations apply, particularly to ensure safety of hunters and residents alike, and hunters must familiarize themselves with the rules. Only longbows, recurve bows and compound bows are permitted; no crossbows, except for disabled hunters in wheelchairs.

The state’s complete hunting season schedule and hunting regulations are available from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Missouri is accepting applications for managed deer hunts

Missouri offers numerous managed deer hunts for archery, crossbow, muzzleloading and modern firearms from mid-September through January. These hunts achieve deer management goals while also providing additional hunting opportunity. Hunters are selected by a weighted random drawing system. Deer taken at a managed deer hunt do not count toward the regular season bag limit.

Hunters can apply for anytime between July 1 and Aug. 15, 2011, and those selected can find out the results of the drawing anytime after Sept. 14.

The regular archery season for deer hunting in Missouri runs from Sept. 15 through Nov. 11, 2011, and Nov. 23, 2011, through Jan. 15, 2012. Permissible methods include a longbow, compound bow or recurve bow of any draw weight; handheld string releasing devices, illuminated sights, scopes and quick point sights. Crossbows are not permitted, except for those who have a medical exemption.

For more information, visit Missouri’s Department of Conservation.