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Brent Watson
05-15-2010, 09:50 PM
ABA Adopts P&Y Rules of Fair Chase

We have had many inquiries as to what “rules” the ABA uses in defining Fair Chase. After much debate as an executive, the ABA Game Awards Committee and with the membership at the 2010 AGM in Edmonton, the ABA has officially adopted “Pope & Young’s Rules of Fair Chase”. We have updated the Game Awards Synopsis and Application form to reflect these changes and to add some examples for clarification.

The Rules of Fair Chase

The term “Fair Chase” shall not include the taking of animals under the following conditions:
• Helpless in a trap, deep snow or water, or on ice.
• From any power vehicle or power boat.
• By “jacklighting” or shining at night.
• By the use of any tranquilizers or poisons.
• While inside escape-proof fenced enclosures.
• By the use of any power vehicle or power boats for herding or driving animals, including use of aircraft to land alongside or to communicate with or direct a hunter on the ground.
• By the use of electronic devices for attracting, locating or pursuing game or guiding the hunter to such game, or by the use of a bow or arrow to which any electronic device is attached.
• Any other condition considered by the Board of Directors as unacceptable.
The fair chase concept does, however, extend beyond the hunt itself; it is an attitude and a way of life based in a deep-seated respect for wildlife, for the environment, and for other individuals who share the bounty of this vast continent’s natural resources.

We want to stress to everyone the above new rules – pay close attention to the one on “use of electronic devices”. These include Lumenocs, lighted sights, cameras on bows. We know some members use these and they are perfectly LEGAL in Alberta but not in the “ABA/P&Y Rules of Fair Chase”. Animals taken with these devices will not be eligible for any ABA Game Awards.



ABA Definition of Archery Equipment

Again, the ABA has had numerous inquiries on what we consider archery equipment and with debate as an executive and at the 2010 AGM in Edmonton we have adopted the following:
Drawn, held, and released by muscular power, and be a full and continuous daw cycle. Draw-lock devices shall not be considered as Archery equipment. A Draw-lock is a device which holds a Bow in a loaded condition for an indefinite period of time.

Animals taken with above equipment will not be eligible for any ABA Game Awards.


If you have any questions or concerns, contact Brent – bcwatson@telusplanet.net and you can go to P&Y’s website www.pope-young.org for more information.

scooter
05-16-2010, 10:18 PM
I didn't know that lumenock and other illuminated nocks are not allowed in P & Y...Why is that?

jimhenderson
05-17-2010, 10:17 AM
Just splitting hairs on electronic tracking devices. Tis silly but where do you draw the line?
Don't like it much so my solution is to forget using P&Y and only shoot BOONERS!!!! HA...HA...:D

BigRackLover
05-20-2010, 07:35 AM
I didn't know that lumenock and other illuminated nocks are not allowed in P & Y...Why is that?

My GUESS is that they offer an advantage at very low light thus MAY promote shots that bowhunters shouldn't be taking or wouldn't take with non-lite nocks at dusk. The advantage being that you can see where you arrow hits.

BigRackLover
05-20-2010, 07:39 AM
Where do game/trail cameras fall? They are electronic and help locate game or they help pinpoint game (not locate). By that I mean you've located the area already, you by setting up a trail cam you are just confirming what's in that area for quality. One could argue that game cameras help you locate quality antlers.

scooter
05-20-2010, 08:46 AM
My GUESS is that they offer an advantage at very low light thus MAY promote shots that bowhunters shouldn't be taking or wouldn't take with non-lite nocks at dusk. The advantage being that you can see where you arrow hits.
BRL, how does an illuminated nock help low light shots? (just curious)...

HOYTarcher
05-20-2010, 10:54 AM
I didn't know that lumenock and other illuminated nocks are not allowed in P & Y...Why is that?

When I took the P&Y scores course a few years ago with Glen Hisey he indicated that as a club P&Y was trying to limit some of the technological advances that have come in the past few years such as electronic rangefinders mounted to your bow, holographic red dot sites etc.

In order to accomplish this easily and have a simple easy to understand rule they adopted the rule that no electronics would be allowed on either the bow or arrow. P&Y did not want to have rules for individual items and felt that this rule was easy to understand, simple and effective.

wctbowtech
05-20-2010, 04:14 PM
Where do game/trail cameras fall? They are electronic and help locate game or they help pinpoint game (not locate). By that I mean you've located the area already, you by setting up a trail cam you are just confirming what's in that area for quality. One could argue that game cameras help you locate quality antlers.

I believe the P&Y are talking more about game cameras that can remotely send pictures of game movement. As far as I understand the current policy cameras that you have to go into the field and retrive images are allowed.

BigRackLover
05-27-2010, 05:04 PM
BRL, how does an illuminated nock help low light shots? (just curious)...

The advantage being that you can see your arrow fly.

For example:

You are in a dark timber spruce stand area and a deer strolls on by near the end of shooting light. If you know for sure you can see where your arrow hits then you might not hesitate to take the shot (that being the small small arguable debatable advantage).

I wasn't saying it help arrow flight or anything of that matter. Having an illuminated nock MIGHT force the hunter into taking shots they otherwise wouldn't of with regular nocks because you'll be able to see where your arrow hits and find it quickly (in theory).

This might only apply to people that have had experience with finding game after dark (like me :sad: )