RE: Gun or bow?
For me, rifle. Personally, I do not like to see animals run from the point of impact and have to settle for the hope of catching up with them "just into the woods a bit" or "over the hill". The more I can reduce this "flight factor" the happier I am
To a large degree our hunting trips focus on comeraderie (sp?), time in the woods, and last (but definitely not least) the meat/horn harvesting.
We treat the hunting element more like a military operation --- strategy, execution, use of superior firepower (rifles) accomplishes this end very efficiently for us. We strive to get the animals early (first day or two) and then commence the process of using horses and panniers and to pack the meat and antlers (and the spike camp) out followed up by the communal butchering session right there in the main camp.
For those that like bow hunting I am sure the closeness of it is great. To each there own. The main thing is to get out there.
EKM