Do You Bowhunt at Night?

[Torsten]

We have snow on the ground for some 5 months in a year. What I learned, during winter the activity in forest starts about 21.00 depending on the time of winter.
I normally go and find a quiet place on the ground, get a seat on a thick piece of styrofoam or just in the snow and wait.

Well the eyes need some 15 minutes but after that you see a lot and hear even more.

The cock feather are now white, so you find always the same position for the arrow.
I haven't got anything but were often really close (~15 yards and less). Two nights ago there was MY fox but just did not show up under the tick branches. I found the tracks in the morning.

My back quiver waits for the fur to go on top...

[Scooter]

Where Im at (Michigan U.S.)the game laws prohibit night hunting for big game. Only racoons and such can be hunted at night. What are you hunting Torsten?

[Torsten]

Scooter,

I try to get racoondogs (please refer to my other posts, I told many times that you do not have this one there) as the name tells it is racoon+dog, I further try to get red fox, minks if there are. Rabbits for the next season are my target. Red deer maybe.

[Torsten]

The latin name for it is:
Nyctereutes procyonoides, lots of cyanides if I read right.

The Russian Zar let it spread two centuries ago to increase the fur production. It originates from Eastern Asia, Mongolia if I remember right.

All ground breeding birds like grouse etc. are badly endangered. These r... spread now down to Poland and Germany, they are smarter than fox (and hunters) and compete with them.

We get a small bonus for killing them. They are living under ground and often you end up with taking a thick steel rope or wire with the other end opened like a brush and by inserting the rope into the cave and turning it around you catch that small teaser with the fur...

Brutal but the only chance.

I am spending many hours during evenings in the dark and try to get them with the bow.

Let's see...

[BowDonkey]

Torsten, will the racoondog respond to a predator call? Many years ago I was at the Hudson Bay fur sale in Toronto and I seen some racoondog fur. Very similar to our native racoon. I'd try calling and a shotgun with copper plated 4's. Laser sight would help also if you're real serious.

[the other DWS]

very interesting critter. FYI I did a googl on the latin name posted and got several links. the following one has a description and a photo

http://www.lioncrusher.com/animal.asp?animal=25

Hope I'm not screwing up a protocol by putting a link here

In most of the USA hunting at night is prohibited except for some small game species, mostly raccoons and such. Hunting with lights or "jacklighting" as it is called here in Michigan for large game (deer elk bear etc) is VERY illegal there are strong ethical traditions against it however in some areas there are equally strong cutural traditions that continue to perpetuate it.
Almost all of our hunting regulations specify that we can only hunt in daylight hours between sunrise and sunset. In fact if you are in the field with a loaded fire arm, or arrow on the string in the time before dawn or after dusk, even if on the way to or from a hunting stand you are in violation

[woodnbow]

I'd give that a go, maybe sardines or some local baitfish you have available. Get a bait station established and then once it's being visited regularly get in place before dark and wait. According to that site, these aren't particularly bright animals compared to other canids so you should be able to take them. Sounds like fun!

[Torsten]

Hello All,
It is lovely to talk to you and exchange opinions and points of view.

Did I contribute something new now? Looks like. You got the picture, Great.

Even my kids have not seen them personally. They (kids) behave like suburbans in an area that even the rural Fins call rural....

Last I was offerd a fur, and I really would have taken it if not my own commitment would have hesitated and argued that I need to have my own fist. With the bow.

And that's it.

I will let you know

[DAS]

Torsten,
Yea, that's a new one! When I first moved to Oregon, people told me about a creature called a Nutria. It sounded hoaky and I thought they were pulling my leg, but it turned out to be true. They are another fur bearing miscreation that got into the wild! :mistake:

[Torsten]

DAS, could you find out the latin name on that?

I am not too happy to always take the dictionary and repeat the name 'full of cyanides..' I am geologist only- Thanks

[mysticguido]

I would like to try and hunt that thing at night. I like the hide it would make a nice pelt