In North Carolina, archery equipment is defined as “any device that has a solid stationary handle with two limbs and a string that uses non-pneumatic means to propel a single arrow or bolt.” Longbows, recurve bows, compound bows, and cross bows are the four legalized hunting bows in North Carolina and can be used for any species. ERegulations further outline laws when it comes to hunting with bows in North Carolina. “When used to hunt bear, deer, elk, wild turkey, alligator and feral swine:
Longbows and recurve bows must have a minimum pull of 40 pounds.
Compound bows must have a minimum pull of 35 pounds.
Crossbows must have a minimum pull of 100 pounds.
Only arrows and bolts with a fixed minimum broadhead width of seven-eighths of an inch or a mechanically opening broadhead with a width of at least seven-eighths of an inch in the open position shall be used.”
To many, hunting with a bow is viewed as an art. Archery requires more stealth, focus, and practice than a gun. Below, we will be walking through each bow and what makes them unique.
Longbows: The longbow is centuries old and was crafted as a military machine. The curation of the longbow has been traced to the Celtics in Wales around 1180 C.E. Around six feet tall with 200 pounds of drawn strength, longbows can shoot up to a half a mile away. At its creation, the longbow was one of the most powerful and deadliest weapons used.
Recurve bows: recurve bows are modern, sleek, and easy to use with plenty of practice. The most popular type of traditional bow, they are suggested for use with beginner archers. This bow is arched with the tips drawing towards the archer, giving it its name. These bows have up to sixty pounds in draw strength, and can shoot between 100-200 yards away. In 1972, recurve bows were introduced in the Olympics and are the only type of bow allowed to compete.
Compound bows: “The compound bow was invented in the 1960s as a more mechanically efficient piece of archery equipment. The design uses a levering system of pulleys and cables, making it faster and decidedly more accurate than other types of bow.” The draw of a compound bow can be up to sixty pounds, but the hold once drawn reduces to thirteen pounds. The range of a compound bow is 60 yards to 130 yards. Same as recurve bows, compound bows are more enticing to beginner archers. Compound bows come in great variety, which helps find a more comfortable option.
Crossbows: “A crossbow has a stock that is similar to a firearm, and it shoots shorter arrows than conventional archery equipment.” Crossbows are a short-range tool with a max reach of thirty to forty yards. Crossbows have a much greater draw weight than recurve and compound bows. They are hard and take more time to load as well. The draw weight of a crossbow sits between seventy five to 125 pounds.
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