"One can't help but wonder how people were able to hunt and feed themselves with bows and arrows in the days before they had invented money. "

Valid point.....but I think "I'm" the guy the original poster may be talking about.

I bought my first bow, this year. I bought one of theose....$500+ contraptions (Switchback)...because I heard good things about them from people I trust....and because they have a great brand recognition. I figured if I got into it and didn't like it....I'd come closer to recovering some of my money if I brought brand name. Now....the rest of the story...

scent lock - well...yeah...I own a jacket. The "orignal" bow hunters had their own form of scent-lok. they put mud over their bodies before going to stalk their prey. Did they know they were practicing scent control? Good question. Maybe it was a ritual?? No question it worked, though, huh??

cover scents - I spray my boots when I leave the truck. Guilty.

mock scrapes - Nope...but I don't discount things I know nothing about.


carbon arrows - Again...I use these on advice of a friend who guides elk hunts (archery only) in Colorado. Call me naive.

decoys - Nope. Again...I know nothing about the use of such, but DON'T discount it.

"the can" - People I KNOW are good deer hunters use them. I might, too. Again...guilty.

$500+ bows with all of their goofy bells and whistles - Like I said...my switchback is the only bow I've ever shot. I'm no Roy Clark, either....but I've been playing the guitar for MANY years...and I own a damned nice dreadnought, too (MArtin D-28). I like to have nice "tools" to utilize.

trail cams - Again...I don'town one....but I can't help but be curious as to what's feeding on my newly acquiredunting land I've yet to be able to get to.

mechanical broadheads - Nope. Again I went on the advice of people I trust that said there's plenty of good broadheads out there....and they simply chose fixed.

calls that are anything besides a basic doe bleat or buck grunt - I don't use calls....YET. I'd like to know what experience the originalposter has with anything other than the ones on this list, though. People seem to REALLY have issues with things they don't understand. Think about it.

rangefinders - Well...I know how far I'm accurate to. I know when I get in my stand....that I look around to see how far certain lndmarks are from me (downed log; tree; path). I feel like it's the ethical thing for me to pass on shots beyond those landmarks. Call me stupid .

game finders - I don't even know what this is. So YEAH!! Gamefinders suck! lol

GPS - I lived on the coast for a few years...and I know of REAL LIFE instances where GPS units have saved lives. If you don'tunderstand them or can't afford one....leave it to others.

bait - Well...it's legal in my state. I "personally" don't find much sport in shooting deer with rifles, muzzle loaders; shotguns ....or in running dogs to kill them....but all of these practices are legal in MANY areas. Who am I to "judge". I just have an opinion.

I'm also smart enough to know that my opinion don't mean SQUAT to anyone else.

Have a successful, ethical hunting season.

Jeff