06-18-2012, 11:16 AM
Slamz Wrote:I'm not entirely sure why 22's are illegal, from an ethical standpoint, considering bows and crossbows are legal. I wonder what the kill power comparison is between a 22 and a low end bow... Maybe I'm just underestimating bows. Rambo's bows seemed pretty effective.I think it's because the .22lr is a small bullet pushed at low velocities. Can it kill? Sure, but the risk of wounding and never finding the deer is much higher. The .223, for instance, which is at the low end of what is legal has ten times the energy at 100 yds compared to the .22lr (>1000ft/lb vs. <100ft/lb).
I don't bow hunt, but my brother does and I've talked to him a lot about it. My impression is that bow hunting "works" because you're basically sending several inches of super sharp razor blades in and out of the deer, through both lungs, which causes it to bleed to death in seconds. There is little noise, little energy impact, and the deer often doesn't even know the hunter is there, so adrenaline, fear and blunt force trauma are out of the equation. The deer usually trots away a bit then lays down and "falls to sleep".