Long Rifle shots. Growing up in big country we always sighted in our rifles for being dead on at 300 yards. We use a steady rest and with a well sighted rifle a 300yard shot on a still whitetail is not that difficult. I have 10 whitetail bucks on my wall that score from 120-150 that are rifle kills. It was not that hard because I have elevation to work with. I can set up on highground on a good food source ie clearcut or travel corridor and if I am patient I will eventually see a good buck to shoot. Getting bow close in this country is much tougher because of wind disadvantages in mountainous terrain... THERE IS NO STEADY WIND. Hunt out west and light a campfire, watch is swirl all day.

Food Plots is it hunting? I think it makes hunting easier. It congregates animals. I am a "bedding to feeding area" bowhunter in the early season and late season. If that means its an alfalfa field, then yes I hunt food plots. I feel no shame in doing so, but hunting the big woods bucks in their more native feed it definately tougher to decipher. Does it make me less of a bow hunter? Thats for everyone else to bicker over I guess. I'd rather be out killing bucks were they are that week and here feed can be hot one day and dried up the next..its often black and white. Older deer in my area usually alwaysoffer a tougher combination to crack, because they havemade a living using the thermals and elevation to cover their backsides,but they also adhere to a more consistent movement pattern and if a guy can crack the code without letting them know they are being hunted then its pretty predictable.. I've buggared up a lot more mature bucks than I have cracked. I am getting more consistent though.

Drives are foreign to me. I really dont like to push deer though. I want a buck to like where he lives and to not get pushed. In big country like this if you find a secluded hideout of a buck and can hunt him carefully without him knowing, you have a chance. You dont see much deer but often when you see a deer its the one your after. I would never drive a know bucks bedding area just to kill him. I just dont like hunting them that way. I would rather hunt him on his own terms. I think hunting him on his own terms makes it tougher definately than driving him out.

Just because I feel this way I do not look down on anyone for other tactics as long as they are legal by the state they are hunting it. For example shooting from a motorized vehicle here is illegal on county and maintained roads. Guys do it all the time, its not enforced though.

I slammed this out fast...I am headed for lunch I dont know if any of this helps..