CHEYENNE - Bowhunters would be allowed to carry firearms for self-defense during archery-only hunting seasons if legislation unanimously endorsed by a House committee Friday becomes law. The bill now moves to the full House; it already has been approved by the Senate.

Bowhunters currently are prohibited from carrying firearms during special hunting sessions.

Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, is sponsoring the legislation. He said allowing bowhunters to carry firearms is consistent with an individual's constitutional right to bear arms.

"I sorta think we should write laws that conform to the Constitution," Case said.

Dennis Biddle, a bowhunter from Lander, said he collected nearly 3,000 signatures from Wyoming residents in support of the measure. Biddle says archery hunters can carry firearms for protection in Montana, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, South Dakota, Oregon and Alaska.

"I'm a bowhunter, and I want to be able to protect myself," Biddle said. "I feel like the current law violates that right."

Steve Martin, vice president of Bowhunters of Wyoming, said the group is opposed to the measure because carrying firearms is contrary to the sport of archery hunting.

"We believe in stealth. That is how we hunt our game," Martin said. He added that archery hunting licenses are growing in popularity.

Ben Lamb, representative of the Wyoming Wildlife Federation, said the group is opposed to the measure.

"You choose your season, you choose your weapon," Lamb said.

The measure would also allow game wardens and other Wyoming law enforcement officials to test the tissue of big or trophy game animals killed during special hunting seasons to confirm the animals had not been illegally taken by firearms. People convicted of illegally taking animals with firearms during special hunting seasons could lose their hunting licenses for five years.