Bowhunting is never useless. It is always fun if nothing else, but it can be rewarding as well. For shotgun season find out of the way places that no one else will go. That is where you will find the older deer. Once gun season is over start hunting between the food and the beds again. I am not a proponent of calling unless as a last ditch effort.In pressured areas, the older bucks know what is behind that call much like trying to bugle in a bull in a pressured area. It may work in rare occassions, but it more than likely will result in an animal going the other way. If you are hunting where there is little to no pressure, then your chanceswould be better.