Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

Just wondered what got you involved in the first place.

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

I just love being in the woods!

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

When I was but a wee lad my dad was a serious bowhunter and at one point in time owned his own pro shop. I used to hang out there every single day after school (I was probably about 8-9 years old) and it just became part of my life from that point on. I remember starting out with my little red Bear fiberglass bow, shooting arrows that half the time would bounce of the target and I loved it. The rest, as they say, is history.

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

Took one look at the season dates and saw that I could be deer hunting from Oct. 1 to the middle of January... Headed to Wally World shortly after that to buy my first bow, a Bear Whitetail Hunter.

I was so ignorant about everything at that point that I didn't even know pro shops existed. I've gota long ways to go, but I sure have come a long ways, too.

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

same here. it adds alot of time that i can be in the woods. i'm getting into muzzleloading for this same reason. i'll do just about anything to lengthen my season.

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

My first reason for taking up bow hunting was to get more time in the woods.But know I would rather bow hunt than anything!!

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

I voted for number #1 "more time afield"

I am a hunter first and foremost, sothe moretime spent hunting the better. Idon't think the challenge is all that much different or more difficult than other types of hunting, it's just another form to allow me to do it.

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

Originally it was because my dad bowhunted and I saw the passion in his face about it. I watched how much effort he put in just to get a shot at one back then, and I knew I wanted to hunt that way too.

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

I need an "all the above" button - but I chose the challenge aspect instead.

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

There you co hazcon

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

i was thefirst/only one that picked all of the above! actually my dad had me shootin when i was like 4 or 5 then i didnt shoot for a long time then got back into it when i was 11 or 12 but i love!

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

It's a split between 1 and 2. The challenge of bowhunting is second to none. It's not only more time afield, but better time. I equate one season of bowhunting to 10 seasons of shotgun season (if that makes sense).

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

I said the challenge. Ive been hunting for about 10 yrs now and have killed many deer but nothing comes close to the adrenaline rush of watching a mature buck heading your way with nothing but a stick and a string in your hand and knowing that you have to do everything right to get him in the truck.

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

I injoy the challenge, ;)

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

My father got me into it whenI was 11.

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

I actually picked it up when I was 22. I loved flyfishing and being outdoors, this lets me be in the woods that much more. Plus we all no there is nothing like sitting there on that cold november morning just as the sun is coming up and the woods comes alive. One of the coolest scenario's I can think of.

Shane

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

When I was in grade school, I went to a catholic school where I only had 4 other boys in my class and all four were taking hunters safety (all their dads hunted) My dad didn't, but I would have felt left out ifI didn't take hunters safety, so Idid. I fell in love with it, on my own ~with a little help from grandpa~ I went from squirrell hunting to rifle deer hunting to turkey hunting to bow hunting. Now I've been bowhunting about 7 years and wouldn't give it up for anything.

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

a month of elk hunting with bow, verses a week with gun. I prefer gun, but It is too darn cold by time gun season rolls around. EJ

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

Did i mention that I have never hunted with a bow? Gun plenty and have done fairly well. Next season (september) will be my first time.EJ

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

After years of shotgun hunting it was a nice change of pace to have to work at trying to take a mature whitetail so I marked the "CHALLENGE". I even love when things don't work right because you learn something everytime out there.

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

BUGLING!!! In MT the elk rut can only be hunted with bow. You canfind the elk in the woods'cause they tell you where they are. That's the one and only reason I started. I have yet to get my racked bull, but it was much better not getting him with a bow than not getting him with a rifle (strange as that sounds). Saw a lot more action during bow season.

However, now that I'm involved, being a gearhead, I do love the technology in the bows.

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

I chose 'all the above' but had no family or friends into bowhunting at the time. Have since got some friends into it. Working on the kids.

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

It gets me an extra 2 months to deer hunt .

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

In the beginning (~1965),bowhunting was a chance to scoutdeer forthe upcoming VA gun season, so it wasn't more than a few trips walking aroundin the fall woods. In 1971, my brother got me more involved in the challenge, and we started to make our own arrows and hunt more seriously - to no success. In 1974,I decided to give up the shotgun until I shot a deer with a bow (1977); my middle name was "Roadkill" in those lean years :eek:. Never went back to the gun after that first kill. Many bow-killed deer (and an elk and moose) later, the challenge is still there, loving it, ;). I gave up checking outroadkill long ago...:D

-fsh

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

definitely wanted more time in the woods, for scouting, etc.,and the opportunity to take an extra deer or 2. friends said it was the best hunting there is (see things you could never see in gun season, etc) - they were 100% right. having deer at eye level at 8 yards is hard to explain to those who haven't experienced it. I'm no bow hunting pro, expert, or great white hunter (only have gotten 1 deer in 8 years), but wouldn't stop bow hunting for anything.

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

If I didn't bow hunt I think I would go crazy. It's not onlythe hunting
that I love, that is actually a small part. It's the preperation, in the summer shooting the bow,constantly looking for new places to hunt, learning things every year and improving every year. I feel sorry for people who don't have a passion for something. Plus what else would I do, work on the house or spend time with the wife..?!?!?!

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

I voted the Challenge, I would have picked all of the above, BUT, my friends and family were not into it!
Then I started telling hunting stories about my days afield..now They are all into it!

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

After spending 2 years refining my .300 short magnum rifle and hand loading ammo for it, I grew bored shooting 5 inch groups at 600 yards. The challenge and learning curve was slowly fading. I got into archery to increase my challenge curve and increase my hunting season. Now I have a new goal to get my 60 yard shots as small as possible using a hunting arrow.

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

I have hunted white tails for 27 years. For the last 17 years I have strictly hunted with bow. Not only is there less pressure on the deer, but I have seen alot more deer. Just about anyone can go out and " shoot a deer" using a fire arm,but it's a real challenge to have the deer as close as 40 yards or less and do everything corrct to fill a tag. I haveharvested many deer, bucks and does alike. I introdused my oldest son to bow hunting and after his first bow kill, he said he would never use a gun again to harvest a deer. I felt the very same way after taking my first deer with my bow. To all that choose to take deer with a fire arm, more power to you, butif you are looking for a true challenge, try taking a deer or other big game with a bow, and you will not be disappointed in the rush you will feel. Aim straight, and may your arrow fly true.....

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

Pretty much all of the above, but most importantly for me, to get close to the animals..bow-close..there is something about that close proximity, a bow at full draw and an unexpected wise ole critter in my sights. Nothin' like it...

RE: Your reason for taking up Bow hunting
 

I began hunting when I was 10. We grewup on a farm and our dad would take us out in the fields to shoot pheasant and quail. That's all he ever hunted. In high school, I bought some duck decoys and began hunting them (alone!), but I loved every minute of being afield in the freezing sleet and old leaking waders. Eventually, a few of my friends started hunting with me and we got pretty serious about the waterfowl hunting, and that's all we did for 6-7 years. This year I only shot three ducks, no geese, and one pheasant- because I spent all my time in the woods on my first bow season!! Even when rifle season started, I hunted only with my bow. I absolutely love it! None of my friends or family bowhunt, so I'm slowly learning alone. I hunted for one season with a rifle, and since I didn't have a clue what I was doing I never shot a buck. Had plenty of chances at does, but the landowner said I could only shoot one buck. (I tried to explain the concept of herd management and health, but he's the old fashion type and wouldn't hear of it!) Anyway, I have yet to shoot a deer, but I'm glad to say that every time I went out I learned something new. I'm like a hunting sponge, absorbing all the info I possibly can!

I think most people could hit a deer from 100-250 yards with a rifle, and I have nothing against that. I think I'll probably still rifle hunt sometimes, but I also think that bowhunting is a whole different ballgame. The skill, preparation, and discipline level increases. I've never shot a deer, but I can tell that it's going to be a big party when I do!!!

I started bowhunting because of the challenge. You have to want to put in some work- and maybe come out with nothing (like I did!). But it's worth every minute to be out in the woods watching what God has created for us to enjoy.

I got skunked this year, but I'm gettin' me one next year!!!!!!!!!

(Some of you more experienced guys may think I'm crazy, but I'm kindof glad I didn't get anything. I learned soooo much this year. I would've been happy to have gotten something, but I think a person has to pay their dues. I'd hate to hit a home run the first season, and then be dissappointed next year if it's a tough year. Now I'm really looking forward to it, which keeps me motivated to practice and learn all that I can. My wife even WANTS me to hunting now cause she feels sorry for me because I didn't get anything!!!!!! Ha- how lucky! Let me know if I have entirely have the wrong mental state!!!!!!!!!!! Happy Hunting!)