Bows and crossbows to be illegal for hunting purposes later this year

New laws around hunting are set to come into effect this year in a move recreational hunters have slammed. Warning: Graphic content.

The use of bows and crossbows to hunt and kill animals will be outlawed later this year in a move expected to anger hundreds of recreational hunters.

The State Government has widened its proposed legislation to extend the ban to private landholders, following outcry from the RSPCA.

The ban has angered hunters who use bows and crossbows to hunt game, particularly over abundant deer, on private property where the majority of hunting takes place.

Australian Deer Association advocacy lead Sean Kilkenny said they were “incredibly disappointed”, particularly as outcomes of a 2021 parliamentary inquiry weren’t enacted.

“The result of such a ban now makes SA an outlier to the rest of Australia which has safe regulation and allows the use of bows even on public land,” Mr Kilkenny said.

“In NSW and Victoria, you can hunt wild deer with a bow even on public land.

“A lot of these bow hunters in SA will now be forced to travel interstate and spend their money there.”

George the cat had surgery after shot with an arrow.

Max was shot in the head with an arrow.

In 2021, a parliamentary inquiry into bow and crossbow hunting made 12 recommendations, including tighter controls on the sale of bows, but a ban was not among them.

RSPCA SA animal welfare advocate Dr Rebekah Eyers welcomed the amended legislation and said each year it dealt with arrow-inflicted injuries, including to native and pet animals.

“In 2017, we had George and Max the pet cats both shot with bows and they were both found alive and suffering with multiple arrows in their bodies,” Dr Eyers said.

“In 2021, we had a female brushtail possum with a baby found alive with an arrow protruding from her belly.

Every animal, whether its native, pet animal or an animal considered overabundant they all suffer when shot with an arrow.”

Mr Kilkenny said “children misbehaving in suburbia” should not be compared to recreational hunters harvesting an animal.

However, Dr Eyers said even when carried out by a competent marksman, it can take several minutes for an animal to die when shot by an arrow and the most humane method to kill an animal was a head-shot from a high-powered rifle.

Deer with arrow through its head. Picture: RSPCA

“There’s been strong community demand for this (amendment) and the RSPCA congratulate the SA Government for meeting expectations and prohibiting the use of bows to kill animals,” she said.

Environment Minister Susan Close said the ban was an election commitment that “reflects community sentiment about the welfare of animals”.

“The ban will make it illegal for any person to use a bow or crossbow to hunt any animal in South Australia, without exception,” Dr Close said.

Once legislated, anyone found to be using a crossbow or bow for hunting purposes faces fines of up to $1000.

The ban would not restrict ownership of bows or crossbows and would not restrict recreational use of the devices outside of hunting, for example archery.