Can a Bowfishing Bow Be Used for Hunting?

You’ve probably heard of how a hunting bow could be used for bowfishing. It isn’t advisable that you use your best hunting bow, but there’s nothing wrong with using a hunting bow for bowfishing. With that said, does it work the other way.

Can a bowfishing bow be used for hunting? Yes, you could use a bowfishing bow for hunting, but it would have limitations. For example, bowfishing bows were made for quick shots because you have to move fast. You often don’t pull it back all the way, and bowfishing bows were made for this.

Good for an Emergency

Let’s say that you broke your other compound bow when your hunting dog, still puppy chews it up. You have a hunting trip scheduled next week, and you don’t have the money to replace it. To get around the problem, you might take your bowfishing bow instead. It wouldn’t be the ideal choice, but you probably could get away with using it.

Not a Big Difference

With all that said, you don’t have a great difference between a regular hunting bow and a bowfishing bow. They mostly have similarities, with the exception of a bowfishing bow having a reel on it, and the arrows weighing more without feathers. You might also have to install a sight on it because of how most bowfishing bows don’t have sights on them.

Hunting Bear?

For hunting bear, you most likely don’t want to use a bowfishing bow because of how it has too low of poundage. You don’t want to find yourself in a situation with an angry bear. If you take a shot against a bear, don’t miss and have a regular bowhunting bow.

In fact, you should be careful even of using a bowfishing bow for hunting deer because of how some states have laws on how much poundage you must have for your deer.

You Could but Should You?

Sure, you probably could use your bowfishing bow for deer hunting, but in all truth, I probably wouldn’t. I don’t see it worth it. You can can plenty of affordable bows out there, and I would only use a bowfishing bow for regular hunting in an emergency. Otherwise, it probably wouldn’t be a great idea. While a regular hunting bow can translate decently enough as a bowfishing bow, it doesn’t work as well the other way.

If you’re looking for a good compound bowhunting bow, I’d probably recommend the Bear Archery Species RTH. It’s on the lower end in terms of price, and it has incredible accuracy. It’s proof that you don’t have to go out and buy an $800 bow to pull it off.