In my opinion, nothing will compare to taking a deer with primitive equipment, simply because the sense of accomplishment is much greater. Whenever you take on a bigger challenge and succeed, it gives greater satisfaction.
SA,
I respect that opinion but it's just that, your opinion. I don't have the slightest little inkling of an urge to hunt with anything other than my compound with it's "new fangled gadgets". I have no doubt that for you the greatest sense of satisfaction comes from killing animals with tradittional equipment. However, I get personal satisfaction from knowing that I am setup with the equipment that I am most proficient with and that gives me the best chance of cleanly harvesting any animal that I choose to take. We're all different. If everyone took satisfaction from the same things not only would this world be a boring place but we wouldn't be able to hunt without a person in every other tree, because all 280 million Americans would all be bowhunting etc. I personally don't care what anybody hunts with (including a crossbow) and I have trouble understanding how others feel like they have the right to judge another individuals actions so long as they are legal and ethical.
It gets a bit discouraging to see most people taking the easy way out.
It's hard to say this without sounding confrontational but maybe if you didn't worry so much about what others did and just worried about what you do, it wouldn't be an issue. I don't have that problem because I feel like anything that gets people into bowhunting is a good thing. I think as bowhunters we have a responsibility to pass on ethics but not to look down on or judge people for having a different perspective on the sport.
Arthurp,
It's frustrating sitting here, knowing I could pull shooters out of that whirlwind, but getting my hand chopped off every time I extend it.
Although we do tend to disagree I do respect what you have to say. However, I think there is a difference between sticking your handout and cramming it down someones throat. A little understanding of the fact that there is infact more than one way to skin a cat, would go a long way. I think everyone that reads the forum regularly knows your stance on the subject. However, some of us are doing just fine with are "mechanized" equipment and we are pretty happy with it and we get tired of hearing there is only one way to do things and it's this way. I personally have never told a trad that they were unethcial because they had an apple size group at 20 yards (or anything else for that matter). I think it's great if you shoot that way and your good enough at it to kill game consistently and that's what you enjoy doing. I just don't want to do it that way and I think my results speak for themselves as do many other archers that shoot "contemporary" equipment.