Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

How many of you guys hunt with your bows through the entire season, bow/blackpowder/gun ect.? Why? Have you run into any problems with gun hunter's. Is it legal in your state? Do you hunt in Archery Only areas?

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

illegal in Illinois

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

I am planning on bowhunting here in WI if I can tag out with my gun. But you have to wear blaze orange.

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

Really. I wonder why that is. Do you guys have a late season Archery hunt there?

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

Yeah, archery goes from oct 1 thru first part of January. Shotgun season is this weekend and weekend after thanksgiving.

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

I never understood why it would be illegal to hunt with a bow during rifle season. Afraid we'd have too much of an advantage?

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

You can hunt with a bow in Ga from opening of bow season until the end of gun season and the season is extended in archery only areas to jan 31st. I hunt with a gun when the season opens because it just makes it easier if you see one at 80 yards, but i also hunt property in fulton thats archery only.

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

I think in some states it might be a danger issue? It might be a stand issue too in some states. I think some states you can bow hunt from a stand, but not gun hunt. Michigan used to be that way.

In Michigan you can hunt with a bow during gun season, but not muzzle loader, I never understood that one either. During gun season you can hunt with pretty anything that is legal in that area or state. Like in my area you cannot hunt with a centerfire rifle. However you can use a Muzzle Loader, shotgun, bow or crossbow. And up north you can add a high powered rifle to that list. But in ML season it is ML's only. We have a early and late bow season as well.

In my area I don't think you would have very good luck with a bow during gun season though. Things are just too crazy. Maybe if you owned a big chunk of land that no one else hunted.

Paul

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

Oh by the way, I don't use a bow all season. I will use what ever the most effective means is for that season. I love archery but am not that passionate about bow hunting. Possibly if I owned land I might try it.

Paul

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

I usaully do but I didn't yesterday due to the rain.I've carried my bow for the last 5 with 50/50 success rate.I just like my bow better and have confidence in it.This year has been bad for us hear,they're saying we lost alot of fawns in the spring of 04 due cold and rain.I haven't seen I buck over a1 1/2 yet.

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

It is legal here in PA, but I do not choose to do so. I have thought about it. I have started to hunt with a revolver during our gun season. I love my bow hunting, but it can get a little crazy here in gun season, I still like the added challenge of handgun hunting.

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

Illegal in NE where I grew up but in SD, and TX I hunt the gun season with my bow. Rifle season is a great time to spend all day in your stand. Most gun hunters walk around all day and push deer by you all day if you are in the woods. Wear blaze orange though for safety reasons even if not required.

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

Here in OK I do it. Our archery season runs right through gun season. Last year I shot a buck during gun season with my bow and the check in lady asked if I wanted to put the buck on my archery tag or gun tag.

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

Legal in Texas.
For the past 9 years I have bow only hunted.
I have mostly hunted small areas and some within the urban areas.
Now we are on a bow only lease so we have to...
My whole family hunts with a bow...the wife and kids don't care for the sound and recoil of the rifle so this is something we can all do togther as well.

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

Here in MN it is legal. You have to follow the fire arm Blaze Oarnge laws though. I havnt taken the .280 out of the gun cabinet for 2 years! Strickly archery for me

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

In WI it is ILLEGAL to hunt with a bow during our 9 day gun season. You can hunt with a bow during the following muzzleloader season, but must wear blaze orange.

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

I have been strictly bowhuntingfor more 23yrs. I also hunt In GA, and I also hunt fulton co. andsurrounding areas.There are lots of places in GA. that are archery only area`s "Countes and WMA`S "ect.
Why do I bowhunt only? I find the Challenges, Thrills, and rewardsof bowhunting to be much more satisfing thanwith any other method.

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

We don't have a rifle season. we have an "anyweapons" that is ridiculously long..mind you :D:Dit is dominated by rifles.. I bow hunt from late August to Dec ... Novembers rut I am under the gun... to say the least.. getfew strange looks when the rifle hunters see you coming out of the woods packing your bow..this time of year..

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

I think you already know this, but just in case the season for archery is extended ONLY IN: Clayton, Cobb,Dekalb, Forsyth, Fulton,Gwinnett & Rockdale
If you have a place to hunt in Fulton where you could afford another 2 bodies to hunt, I think there is a place in Cobb where I could take you hunting, but I am still scoping it out.

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

It is legal where i hunt in ohio.the archery season runs from oct.1 to jan.31 and i hunt with a bow all season.

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

I've done it on private property, but I don't think I would do it on state land in lower MI because of all other people hunting. You need the proper license and have to wear the proper amount of hunters orange. We used to have seperate licenses for gun and bow and you still needed a gun license if you wanted to use your bow during gun season. Our license's now are good for gun and bow if you buy a combo (regular and restricted tag). The regular tag lets you shoot a doe or any buck during archery or a deer during rifle with atleast a 3 inch antler and the restricted tag has to be used on a deer with atleast 4 antler pts on one side gun or bow and I think you can use it on a doe during archery only.
Chris

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

It's legal in MD as long as you follow all the gun laws--blaze orange, etc. I've used my bow for the last 3 or 4 seasons and have taken deer every year during gun seasons using my bow.

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

I have never done it before but am going to try it on the gun opener this year in MD. I hunt a large pice of public land that is bordered by a small piece of archery only public land. The 2 areas are seperated by a small river. I figure everyone on the gun side will have deer running to the bow only area and it may be a good opportunity to tag a nice buck.

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

In my state(Iowa) bowhunting closes for the shotgun seasons. I pretty sure it's a safety factor.

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

This yearin georgia I am hunting exclusively with my bow. I am trying to fill my entire tag (2 Bucks, 10 Does) using my bow. Currently 2 Bucks, 6 Does, and 2 hogs.

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

Yep we have Archery only areas, bordering gun hunting land. So i spend all my time bow hunting, Not picking on gun hunters, but the majority of them around here aren't nearly as good of hunters as the hardcore bowhunters. And what i mean by that is, they tend to wear just whatever, walkin with there work boots, dont go thru the hole "scent free" thing. So they scare alot of deer right over into the bow hunting only land... w00t!! lol

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

As per DaveH,MD allows you to use yourbow through the both the firearmand muzzleloader seasons- itis most satisfying to check a deer in taken with a bow during the gun season. I haven't hunted for deer with a gun now for 28 years. "It doesn't count if you use a gun" is what I tell my muzzleloading totingfriends when they proclaim their prowness...
-fsh

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

I've done it the last 2 years. Our archery season goes non-stop from mid Sept to the end of Dec. But I only hunt private property during the firearms season, I know everyone who's out there. If I could only hunt public land I would stay home, the public land near where we hunt sounds like WWIII.

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

Sure wish it was legal here in Illinois, I've missed 3 booners with a gun that I know I could of shot with a bow(I'm a terrible shot withshotgun and slugs). I now have a muzzleloader and am pretty accurate with it

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

I normally hunt w/ my bow all season long, but this year 2 things have changed. My younger brother who is 12 will be hunting for the first time w/ his own rifle, so I will have mine w/ me to back him up. He can't pull the min draw wieght of 40 pounds so he'll have a rifle. And I have a buck that i've been seeing in my food plot late in the evenings that should be 140" or better (bad at judging). He is just to far away and I have never seen him any closer. If I don't get him, somebody will.

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

Like someone already said, here in OK, you can hunt through all season with a bow. This is only my third year hunting, second with a bow. Got my first doe with a rifle last year and my first deer (and first buck) with a bow this year. I've thought about only using my bow all season because I enjoy bow hunting a lot more. It's more of a challenge to take a deer with a bow. I don't think I'm going to start bow only hunting yet since I'm still new to hunting. I'd like to have a few more deer under my belt. If I understand the laws correctly, you are allowed to carry both methods of taking game durring the gun or muzzleloader (ie. you can carry your bow durring muzzle or rifle season). I plan to take both out durring rifle season this year and if someting comes in close, I'll take it with my bow....more then 40 yards out, I'll use the rifle. I hope to start bow hunting only in the next couple of years. It's just a lot more exciting bringing them close.

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

One hunts with a bow and kills with a gun.

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

I agree wolfen, I used to gun hunt but it just isn't fun anymore. My dad has always gun hunted and can't figure out why I just shake my head in a negative way when I see about 20 deer hanging that his group and him shoot during shotgun season. Most of which shouldn't have been shot at all. They seem to want to kill anything that runs in front of them. I have to go shotgun hunting this year with my son. He's 10 and not strong enough to kill one yet. He's pulling about 20 to 25 lbs now. Hopefully next year I can get him on the stand with his bow. Then we can let the guns hybernate in the gun safe.

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

That's cool Twirpy...my son is only 7 months and I long for the day we can bow hunt together! I have two older daughters but I think they'd rather shop with their mom than hunt with their dad.[:o]

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

Thanks wolfen, enjoy all the time you can get with your kids. It seems like just yesterday that I was changing dirty diapers. Time just seems to slip by alot faster when you have kids.

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

Here in washington they've been thinking about it but haven't made up there minds about letting us archery hunters hunt the other seasons with our equipment. They won't even let us buy just a general deer tag like some states. You have to choose either modern firearm, muzzle loader, or archery! talk about lame....

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

That's only "partially" true in icedern. There are areas in IL that are "archery only" that allow bowhunting during ALL gun seasons. I'll be bowhunting one such area this weekend.

Otherwise—it is "illegal" to use a bow during IL's "shotgun" seasons. You can still bowhunt during the youth hunt in Oct. and during the Muzzleloader season in Dec.

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

Archery season is closed during most gundeer seasons here.

RE: Using Bow during Gun Season?
 

Thanks to all who replied and Happy Thanksgiving.