I don't view deer any differently no matter what they were taken with. I killed a buck with my bow and a buck with my gun this year and I am proud of them both.

Having said that I will make 2 points that do effect my thoughts on the quality of the hunt..........the animal is a pure trophy no matter what. I rate the hunt......not the animal.

#1 If some guy tells me he was out for 15 minutes and his buddies were driving the woods and a buck came out and he shot it 5 times before killing it I just shake my head. I don't care much for driving deer.........I realize it is VERY effective but it is also dangerous and not very fair chase IMO.

I also have ZERO tolerance for people who can't shoot. First thing I say to someone if I see a poor shot on a deer is "Why did you shoot him there?" If you can't shoot stay home. I have 3 kills with my gun this year. 3 shots.......quick and clean. There is no excuse for not being accurate with a gun.


#2 This may ruffle some feathers but it's my opinion and that's what he asked for. This will also help explain why I don't view gun kills as less of an accomplishment. I hunt in NY where it is shotgun only. I use a smooth bore slug barrell and 90% of my kills are within most people's bow range. My farthest shot in memory was a couple years ago on a buck at 70 yards. All 3 deer I killed with gun this year were at 30 yards. To me that is still an accomplishment to get deer in close and be able to take them with a clean shot. If I had my bow I could have shot every deer I took with my gun.

Where I start to lose my respect for the accomplishment is when I hear stories of 300-400 yard shots. Cmon man.........you could be cooking breakfast, playing a radio, and waxing your truck and a deer at 400 yards will still be there when your done. I have much respect for the skill required to kill a deer at those ranges.............I just view the accomplishment as more in markmanship then hunting.