Look guys NOBODY is saying bow hunting is not challenging, it is. It has it's own set of challenges and hurdles that the hunter needs to jump in order to bag their quarry. But so does gun hunting. I'm a realist, I'm not jumping on any bandwagon here, not gun or bow.

The problem I think is when someone mentions "gun" hunting folks automatically assume it's a 50 yard broadside shot with a scoped firearm shooting off of a rest. In that scenario, yep that's about as easy a slam dunk shot as your going to find. I (nor anyone else) have never said anything to the contrary.

But those of you who seem to arbitrarily choosebow hunting as being more difficult without taking the time to realize that there are some forms of gun hunting thatare truly just as challenging if not more difficult. That's the reason why I asked the original poster what he meant when hesaid "Rifle". If you want to challenge yourself....truely challenge yourself , try picking up a muzzle loader....NO not the "in-line muzzle loading rifles" that are on the market today but a TRUE muzzle loader. One with a smooth bore, (no rifling to stabilize the projectile) and either a percussion cap or powder pan to ignite the gun powder inthe breach, yep that's the one I'm talking about, something that would have been in most peoples homes........in 1775!

With thisprimitive firearm you will need to make sure your quarry is within the same distance as a bow because the accuracy past 50 yards with a round ball smooth bore is laughable at best. Plus with a powder pan(flint lock)ignition system there is a slight delay from when the pan ignites to when the gun goes off. Not only do you need to hold steady as a billow of white smoke erupts in your face, the deeralso have that split second to react. Second/followup shots? they don't exist, this is a one chance deal.Good luck being able to see where you hit the deer too, you'd be lucky to even SEE what direction the deer ran by the time all the smoke clears........

Seems pretty difficult doesn't it? AndI haven't even started talking about the weather limitations to the weapon either...FORGET about hunting inany wind to speak of and certainly not the rain. You'd be lucky to get the thing to fire in high humidity much less a drizzle. Even on perfect days there are times when the thing just won't fire, perhaps the priming hole is clogged.

Now I want to make this VERY CLEAR....I don't hunt with that type of GUN.....but there are a few on this site that do, I don't.....it's too difficult.

Lets all be good stewards to this sport and not let our lust for recognition and elitism cloud our judgment and thus cast a disparaging shadow on the light this sport isseen in.


Am I getting through?