I’ve been gone a while, and threads like this make me want to be gone some more. I’m a hunter, plain and simple. Sometimes I hunt with a bow, but I’d never call myself a “bow-hunter” simply because I don’t want people to confuse me with people like you bow-only types.

I’m glad this was posted though, because really, every hunter I know feels the same way and a lot of them hunt with bows too. Sitting in a stand during the rut is easy, even if you don’t see a deer. What did you do all day? Sit on your butt! Wow, I tip my hat to you…

I think I’ll go back to the bow hunting forum look up some real bow-hunting literature in the threads like “how can I stay awake?” “how can I get to my stand quietly” and so on.

Most of you bow-only guys would simply be lost in the woods, on the ground with a gun in your hands. You’d be so discouraged by your lack of success, when you thought it would be sooooo easy, that you wouldn’t be able to get back to your stand fast enough.

You want to challenge yourself? Make a commitment to yourself to really grow next year, even if it means to not get an animal. You hunt during bow season however you like. But during ML or shotgun and finally rifle season, get down off the stand and do some still or stalk hunting. Then be honest with yourself; how many deer did I see while hunting with each weapon? How many deer was I able to get with each weapon?

Here are my stats so far;
-Normal Bow season – I’ve seen 18 deer (some may have been the same deer but on different days)
-Special Bow only property where I can’t use a stand I’ve seen two deer, two times each. One of these was a pretty nice looking doe, the other is the big boy I’m after, but haven’t gotten a shot.
-Could have taken shots at 10 deer during bow season, but I’ve been selective because I’m trying to support team 49, and decided not to shoot the doe that is hanging out near my big guy. Go Headhunters!
-Let two arrows fly, and killed 2 doe.

Gun season (since November 17)
All my time spent still-hunting on the ground, I’ve seen three deer, and haven’t been able to take one shot. All three have been seen exiting the area in a hurry to get away from me.

Pro’s and con’s as I see them;

Bow season con’s;
-Limited shooting distance.
-Must be scent free and play the wind.

Pro’s for bow season;
-Deer are not spooked.
-Deer are diurnal.
-Rut! (scents, grunts, bleats, rattling and so on actually work)
-Deer are moving.

Gun season con’s;
-Deer are normally nocturnal.
-Rut is over.
-Must go to the deer instead of waiting for them to come to you.
-Sneaking into thick bedding areas is tough.

Gun season pro’s;
-Long shots are possible.


The skill or challenge comes from how you hunt, not what you hunt with. Sure if you were to take a 30-06 to your stand you’d be more likely to get a deer than if you had your bow, but what about the 30-06 or the ML or the 12ga on the ground?

If you’re in a stand, you’re hunting passively, if you’re on the ground moving, you’re hunting actively. From my experience in the woods, active hunting takes a lot more of everything.

Good luck and happy hunting,

KP