Stinger-Hunter Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 We can all agree that bow hunting is more difficult than hunting with a shotgun or a rifle. But is that difficulty a positive thing or a negative? Personally, I think it is both. Which is why guys like us enjoy it so much. To me, you have to really be a skilled hunter to take a deer with a bow consistently. 1. You have to be stealth enough to have a deer walk closer to you than 99.9% of all other people 2. You have to be able to control your emotions while your heart is beating 150-180 bpm 3. You have to be an excellent shot 4. You have to be committed and patient enough to "stay the course" during a difficult season 5. You have to practice a heck of a lot more than a shotgun or rifle hunter 6. Be able to estimate distance accurately 7. You have to outlast the mosquitos, flies, bees and spiders I think it is the challenge that drives us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoytguy Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Couldn't agree more. Got rid of the guns years ago when all year I waited for the 9 day hunting rifle season in Northern Minnesota. Half hour after shooting hours were open, my season was over. I needed a different challenge. Found it in bowhunting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 I have been an avid bowhunter since back in the 60's, and have not missed a single season since beginning. I also got into a whole bunch of other archery related activities. BUT.....I also have not missed a single gun season in all that time either. Both seasons have their appeal, and I never would consider for one moment choosing between the two. Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m gardner Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 One thing you need to mention is that in order to be a good bowhunter is a more thorough understanding of the game you are hunting. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloodtrails Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Yup bowhuntin' is all those things. Wouldn't have it other way!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 One thing you need to mention is that in order to be a good bowhunter is a more thorough understanding of the game you are hunting. Mark I'll 2nd that!!! Another is refining your skills to minimize your impact on the natural movement of the game you're hunting when choosing your hunting positions, setting them up, and getting to & from them. In a nutshell, you must be sneeky. I don't really think of bowhunting being good/bad in the way you implied. It's just different and more challenging. With that comes a heightened sense of reward for each and every close encounter with your game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShortDraw Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Great post! I personally don't believe that it's not necessarily a question of positive or negative pressure. I think it's more of a game of whether you have the endurance or not. For us hunters out west you HAVE to have all of the points you hit, but you must also be able to sprint 300yards up a hill after a bull if need be. It's all a game a discipline and I have the utmost of respect for people who constantly show they have it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohiobuckhunter Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 1 thing you forgot to mention well at least in my case is that having all those previous statments coming together and taking a nice buck or doe whatever a trophy is to that individual hunter it makes it so much more rewarding. rather than grabbing a gun shooting it 5-10 times to be sure it's on target then sitting on a rock for an hour or 2. jmo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Maybe it's me, or the technology, but it sure seems easier than it used to be when I was a teenager. I remember when a forty yard shot was like rolling the dice to me. Now it's just another shot, still on the longer side, but not like it used to be. Technology on compounds and more practice has paid off in the last ten years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Id 10 - 1 rather pick up my bow. Thats not to say I dont Rifle hunt but bow hunting is more challenging and more addictive! You truly earn a deer while bow hunting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyhunter22 Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 i believe the challenge is positive for sure...when you connect and get a deer with a bow u really have earned it and every deer with a bow is a trophy because of how difficult it is. the deer are more much laid back and relaxed than they r in rifle season, once that first shot from a rifle goes it changes their behavior. im proud to say im a bowhunter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shedhunternick Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 Personally, I think it is both. Which is why guys like us enjoy it so much. To me, you have to really be a skilled hunter to take a deer with a bow consistently. . You hit the nail on the head there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sskybnd Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 i think its one of the most rewarding aspects of hunting when you can match wits with a big ol buck and have him get with in 20 to 30 yards of you and he never knows your there. not saying any thing about gun hunters ive done it years, but the last deer i shot with a rifle, at 175 yards something in side of me died and i felt like i didnt give it a chance, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion_70 Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 It's a bit more challenging, but mostly to me, it's more time in the woods hunting. I cherish every bow kill the same as a rifle, the day they don't equal one another is the day I quit hunting. That won't happen..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyhunter22 Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 sskybnd i couldnt agree more about the long shots with rifles. granted where i hunt in new york no shot is beyond 50 or so yards, shooting the kind of distance you see people do on tv or hear about almost seems unfair to the animal, nothing against rifle hunters im still one myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuz Doctor Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 also the fact that bow season gives me 6 weeks of solitude before the gun hunters show up. our club has 1100 acres and 10 members, of which only two bowhunt. the other bowman owns a transmission repair business, so most days i have the entire place to myself....SWEET! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 What doc said, except since the 80's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearClaw Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 Then why do we do it? If it was easy then everyone would be doing it. I love the challenge of bowhunting. Everything has to line up perfectly-scent control, no movement until it's time, accuracy, up close and personal, camoflauge, practice, etc. all has to come together and if one thing is out of tune-game over Deer 1 Hunter 0. Maybe that's why I love flyfishing so much-it's just plain harder but much more enjoyable when the fish come up and grab the fly and the fight is on! I guess we're just wired different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 also the fact that bow season gives me 6 weeks of solitude before the gun hunters show up. our club has 1100 acres and 10 members, of which only two bowhunt. the other bowman owns a transmission repair business, so most days i have the entire place to myself....SWEET! Yep, I'm with you 100% on that! We got 1500 acres, about 6 members, and only 2 of us bowhunt. I love it!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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