Author Topic: Atlatl hunt coming to PA (Read 1227 times)

Steelbanger · « **on:** January 25, 2006, 03:43:58 PM »

Did everyone notice that the glorious, all knowing PGC is on the verge of approving the atlatl season? Now we're probably going to have an early season for these spear chuckers.
What's next for a unique deer hunt? How about dropping bowling balls on 'em? Should sell a few licenses.

koli · « **Reply #1 on:** January 26, 2006, 04:01:04 PM »

I was joking about 10 years ago that there was a knife season for deer. I explained that this was the reason that they sale those 12 inch Bowie knives. I also complained about the stupid rule that you could jump down on a deer from no higher than 6 feet. :-D

Woodbutcher · « **Reply #2 on:** January 28, 2006, 02:20:51 PM »

What's funny is that I don't know if you're kidding or not!
Saw a video, at the Sportsmans Show a few years ago, fella dove off a horse, into a pack of dogs, to stick his knife into a big hog! I guess anything's possible.
I think the odds are on the deer's side!
Who's taking care of us? Woodbutcher

Davemuzz · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2006, 04:58:01 PM »

Well, I'm gonna put in a new request for the power line bungee baseball bat weapon. I read about this on another web site.

This weapon can only be used on power lines. So, what you do is climb to the top of a power line tower and tie the bungee cord to the top. Then you wait until a deer walks or runs under the tower. You then leap from the tower (attached to your bungee of course) and when you get close to the deer, you whack it several times with the bat that you are gripping in your hands.

When you come back down on your second and third "boings" you can continue to whack the deer if it is not down, however if it is down, and you have additional tags, you can whack another deer if any are still standing there wondering exactely "what just happen here?"

Hey, I dunno if that sounds any crazyer than the speer thing.

Dave.

ShadowMover · « **Reply #4 on:** January 31, 2006, 06:47:47 AM »

Have you ever seen an Atlatl in action? To call the dart a spear is not any more correct than calling an arrow a spear. This is a weapon that can be made from native materials and has the power to kill large animals, and is much more powerful than an arrow, as the Spaniards found out when the Aztecs used it against their armor. Why bad mouth somebody else's hunting weapon? If someone takes the time to learn a skill, why not let them use it? You don't complain when someone starts a fire with a flint and tinder, when matches are so cheap :wink:

Davemuzz · « **Reply #5 on:** January 31, 2006, 01:01:17 PM »

Yes, I have actually seen the Atlatl in action. So, I think I can comment on the weapon. The spear is rather long and does need some space to launch it.

There is a significant amount of human body motion required to get this spear moving. As opposed to a compound bow or a crossbow launching an arrow. Either the compound or the crossbow require minimal movement to actually launch the arrow and there is more sound than movement involved. Consequently the deer doesn't "spook" or jump from the sudden movement of the bow user.

However, with the Atlatl, there is a step forward and the arm swing that is made to launch the speer. This is some significant movement.

It is my personal belief that this type of movement will cause a deer to "spook" and jump or begin to run, and accordingly, by the time the speer arrives at it's intended target, the target will have moved. So, you may have a clean miss, you may have a bullseye hit, or you may have a non-leathel wounded animal. I think you will have less clean hits with this type of weapon than any weapon currently allowed to be used.

So, Thats my thoughts, and I will continue to poke fun at this laughable proposal. Hence.....the bungee baseball bat weapon. Hey, at least the deer wont see you com'in!!!!

Dave

Steelbanger · « **Reply #6 on:** January 31, 2006, 02:10:40 PM »

I saw one of the officers of the PA Atlatl organization, whatever they call it, on TV, demonstrating atlatl use. What a joke. His target was about 3 feet square, he was throwing from what looked like 25 or 30 feet and his hits were all over the target, and with little penetration to boot. And they want to hunt deer with these? The animals deserve a quicker death than the atlatl will provide. This proposed season is nonsense.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2006, 02:50:38 PM »

Here's an Atlatl site with a video, even!!

http://www.thunderbirdatlatl.com/links/links.shtml

And Nat Geos report on the PA hunt...

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/01/0124_060124_atlatl_deer.html

Graybeard · « **Reply #8 on:** February 01, 2006, 06:39:55 AM »

The PA Game Commission long ago stopped being about game management. It's all about revenue generation and they will do ANYTHING to raise a few more bucks. That's all they seem interesting in is making more money to spend.

wild willy · « **Reply #9 on:** February 02, 2006, 02:09:47 PM »

Graybeard you hit the nail on the head
Pa greed commision

Woodbutcher · « **Reply #10 on:** February 04, 2006, 02:31:17 AM »

Dear GB:
Gee, are the "circumstances" faced by Pa. hunters ( and perhaps fishers, also ) so noticable that you see them, even way down there where you're at?
Spend money on what?
I'm trying to remember some catchy quote, something about follow the dollar. It's downright amazing how far money can travel! Even more so, who ends up with it!
"Alas, that these words have been spoken, for Little John is an honest man"! From the book, Robin Hood.
Keep yer toes warm, GB. Woodbutcher

Graybeard · « **Reply #11 on:** February 04, 2006, 06:47:01 AM »

I have a friend who lives in PA. We swap e-mails daily and talk via phone from time to time. Our regular correspondence is why I am aware of what's going on in PA as much as I do as opposed to other states.

It seems you guys have to pay a separate price for every thing you want to shoot up there. Down here it's all covered under the $19 general hunting license. That buys you either 5 or 6 turkeys (can't recall which as I've not hunted him in several years), 2 deer a day with bow from Oct. 15 to Jan. 31 and in most of the state you can kill two deer a day with gun from the Saturday before Thanksgiving to Jan. 31 if you'd rather use a gun. The only extra cost here is for waterfowl where of course the duck stamp is required or if you want to hunt the WMAs you pay $16 to do that.

The land mass of our states are similar and while you have more hunters you have fewer deer and turkeys. Just don't see why it takes so much more money to run the PA game commission that the one in Bama.