Compound Bow for BOB
- Thread starter HammerG26
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
IMO: NO. Not unless you are already a practiced bow hunter and know how to shoot one well.
Learning to shoot a bow well enough to hunt with one while slowly starving to death is not going to get-R-done.
rc
Raptorq7r13
Member
IF your bugging in, and IF you know how to hunt with it, it could be useful. You can reuse arrows, but bullets don't work that way.
Still, for all practical purposes in the Bug out scenario, it's just too much extra space and weight for something that's difficult to hunt with and can't be used to defend yourself.
Still, for all practical purposes in the Bug out scenario, it's just too much extra space and weight for something that's difficult to hunt with and can't be used to defend yourself.
If your an good at archery an depending on the situation, not
sure what your thinking exactly, but a gun would be better "if"
you want to be found by "others". "If" you don't want to be found by
"others", in a dog eat dog world, then having a bow is a excellent idea.
Its almost silent, won't draw attention to yourself or the game you took
for "others" to come an steal...but you must be good with a bow, have a
good supply of arrows.......depends I guess on what kind of bug out, as
far as self defense, I saw someone on Red Dawn shoot a Commie with one....ha!
sure what your thinking exactly, but a gun would be better "if"
you want to be found by "others". "If" you don't want to be found by
"others", in a dog eat dog world, then having a bow is a excellent idea.
Its almost silent, won't draw attention to yourself or the game you took
for "others" to come an steal...but you must be good with a bow, have a
good supply of arrows.......depends I guess on what kind of bug out, as
far as self defense, I saw someone on Red Dawn shoot a Commie with one....ha!
The purpose of a "bug out bag", is a carry-all of items that will keep you alive and safe for 3 days if you ever have to evacuate your home in an emergency.
Don't know how a bow will help you to accomplish this. Don't know if you have archery skills, but you still wouldn't have time to stop and hunt if your purpose is to skedaddle from somewhere.
Don't know how a bow will help you to accomplish this. Don't know if you have archery skills, but you still wouldn't have time to stop and hunt if your purpose is to skedaddle from somewhere.
What does BOB stand for Bug out ???. Considering how close you have to be to a critter to take him and trying to hunt from the ground with a bow is a pain a good 22 would do as well and if you use CB Longs the noise is pretty well taken care of.
theotherwaldo
Member
I disagree with almost all of the above. I have used bows to take frogs, snakes, squirrels, carp, gar, high hanging fruit and pine cones, wild birds, opossums, porcupines, and a number of other emergency edibles.
I've used various kinds of bows for this, from slightly whittled green sticks strung with a boot-lace to state-of-the-art compounds. Arrows ran the gamut, from river reeds tipped with burnt pine twigs to graphite speed arrows.
I keep a range of bows in appropriate places, from a little pistol crossbow that's set up for fishing to a basic longbow with crutch tips on the ends that also serves as a staff.
I've never hunted a deer or other major game animal with a bow. Still, bows have fed me and mine very well when we were in need.
And I'm still a lousy shot!
I've used various kinds of bows for this, from slightly whittled green sticks strung with a boot-lace to state-of-the-art compounds. Arrows ran the gamut, from river reeds tipped with burnt pine twigs to graphite speed arrows.
I keep a range of bows in appropriate places, from a little pistol crossbow that's set up for fishing to a basic longbow with crutch tips on the ends that also serves as a staff.
I've never hunted a deer or other major game animal with a bow. Still, bows have fed me and mine very well when we were in need.
And I'm still a lousy shot!
ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
For The Truck
Your BoB is for short-term emergencies (like a week or less).
In a one-week-or-less scenario, a bow is not likely to enhance your mobility or defensive capabilities. It might actually get in your way.
As has already been mentioned, the Marlin Papoose rifle is a better choice for that. It's every bit as light as a bow, has considerably more range, and has better defensive capability.
Now, for the truck (or car), or storage at a destination, a bow might well be useful in a longer-term scenario. That presumes you know how to use it well enough for hunting.
Your BoB is for short-term emergencies (like a week or less).
In a one-week-or-less scenario, a bow is not likely to enhance your mobility or defensive capabilities. It might actually get in your way.
As has already been mentioned, the Marlin Papoose rifle is a better choice for that. It's every bit as light as a bow, has considerably more range, and has better defensive capability.
Now, for the truck (or car), or storage at a destination, a bow might well be useful in a longer-term scenario. That presumes you know how to use it well enough for hunting.
JTW Jr.
Member
A take down recurve would pack well for a hit the road kit , not so sure about a compound. Bow could be useful when you needed it to take a shot without making much noise , be it hunting use or defensive use.
Wouldn't be my first choice , but having plenty of time behind a bow myself , I certainly wouldn't fell inadequate with it either.
Wouldn't be my first choice , but having plenty of time behind a bow myself , I certainly wouldn't fell inadequate with it either.
The bow would be way too big, in my opinion, for a bug out bag.
Get a .22lr "kit gun" (Ruger MKII, Bearcat, Single Six, or other small rimfire). You can fit the gun and a couple hundred rounds in a small space, and it can be used to take just about anything in the woods at the right distance. A head shot with a .22lr is about as easy as a body shot with a bow at 25 yards.
Get a .22lr "kit gun" (Ruger MKII, Bearcat, Single Six, or other small rimfire). You can fit the gun and a couple hundred rounds in a small space, and it can be used to take just about anything in the woods at the right distance. A head shot with a .22lr is about as easy as a body shot with a bow at 25 yards.
TimboKhan
Member
I am going to agree with everyone else and say no, but add that even if you are experienced with a bow it's probably not a great idea. Unless by BOB you mean "Apocalyptic Survival Bag", in which case, maybe. As mentioned, the typical BOB is meant to help you get through about three days worth of hardship. I would think you would be able to make it through three days without having to hunt for deer.
Also, the bow is a horrible SD weapon, Rambo movies aside. Certainly you can defeat someone with a bow, but that doesn't mean that it is awesome, especially in this BOB situation. Honestly man, think about it: If you are in a BOB situation where you really need to defend yourself, are you really going to want a bow? Weight/space/utility reasons all mean that a bow is cruddy in this situation.
Also, the bow is a horrible SD weapon, Rambo movies aside. Certainly you can defeat someone with a bow, but that doesn't mean that it is awesome, especially in this BOB situation. Honestly man, think about it: If you are in a BOB situation where you really need to defend yourself, are you really going to want a bow? Weight/space/utility reasons all mean that a bow is cruddy in this situation.
theotherwaldo
Member
Perhaps your recurve or compound bows are lousy self-defense weapons. My unstrung long-bow is a six-foot piece of straight red oak with canvas reinforcement. As such it's a natural walking staff and "back-off" stick, even if I never string it.
MCgunner
Member
Agreed, but if you take the time to learn to shoot well and you know hunting already, it's good to have, especially if you have a bow fishing harpoon and reel for it. Gar are good eatin' and carp make good catfish bait. Can't do THAT with a .22.
If you have never hunted at all, you'll likely starve to death with a rifle, let alone a bow you can't shoot. LOL! Fishing is generally more productive. There's lots of edible species, too, that sport fishermen scorn that you can catch a boat load of if you need protein. I've got gill nets, illegal as hell, but hey, we aren't going to worry about legality if we're starving, are we? I've got lots of trot line material and hooks and other tackle stashed. Of course, I live by a big bay and don't plan to run inland except from a hurricane and I'll be back home after the blow as always.
Now, a bow isn't the tool if you don't know how to use it, but if you know how to hunt and bow fish and have a bow, it could be handy, all I'm sayiin'. I have a compound and a new recurve. Recurves are a lot easier to service, strings are cheap, and they'll kill, too. In fact, I bow fish with it in preference to my compound which shoots a bit hard. The recurve has sights just like the compound. I ain't enough practiced at instinctive shooting, sights make it easier.
I don't expect to ever have to "bug out" and need a firearm or anything else, just cash for the restaurants and gas. I've "bugged out" from numerous hurricanes, just drive to Waco and visit my best friend. What I have the fishing stuff for, other than I like fishing, but the illegal stuff is for political/economic catastrophes I see in the future that are possible, without getting political in the discussion. you just can't be too prepared. Think of what our grandfolks went through in the great depression, mine anyway, might have been your GREAT grandfolks. LOL Procurement of food by any means is high on my list. Heck, I know edible plants as well. I ain't gonna starve. I might be hot in the summer without AC, but I ain't gonna starve.
Such thinking was why I got my old recurve out and started practicing. I broke it, ebayed a Hoyt compound and restrung it, bought this PSE recurve. I've been practicing 4 or 5 days a week minimum and am ready for deer season. I might never need it to survive, but they're great for bow hunting and fishing. I used to bow fish a lot with my old recurve.
Anyway, i have rifles, shotguns, rods and reels, gill nets (can also catch birds), .22s, pistols, a pistol/shotgun (contender), knives, and I hunt and shoot and use 'em all. You can never have too many tools when you need food, IMHO. Fix that bow up. It's fun to shoot even if it's not viable as a zombie weapon.
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