How big is your bowhunting world?
 

How big is your circle of family/friends/aquaintances/bow shop clientel/ shooting league,etc thatmakes up your bowhunting world? Outside of our big happy family here on HNI?

Personally mine is rather small. Very few of my friends hunt(although everyone who knows me in the slightest, knows that I am passionate about it). I don't hang at pro shop, don't shoot leagues, or belong to any other type ofsocial organization. Basically its my immediate family, a few freinds, couple neighbors and you guys that I have to tell my stories/share my successes with.

Anyone here a "local legend", don't be shy? Anyone else a recluse?

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

I would saymy hunting world is about 6-8 people. Like you said, i dont hang at the bow shop or do leagues, just dont have the time. Any free time is spend hunting, fishing, or chasing ladies.

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

Well me and my older brother are eat up with hunting,fishing and archery so when we talk that's pretty much the subject line. Myyounger brother and Dad both hunt and fish but aren't as into it. I have a few friends that hunt and my best friend is a nut about it but that's about it for me. Definately not a local legend.;)

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

Probably in the neighborhood of 10 guys. Of those 10.....I've shared woods with 3, deer hunting (and one of them is my son).

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

my first mobile post, from my phone here! whoooo hoooo

my b-hunting world is really small outside of the hni. my brother is about it. I am pretty much a recluse. shoot alone, live way out, scout
and hunt and shed hunt solo.

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Close knit group? 5-7 Extended hunting family? 15-20

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Interesting question. Mine is small as well. Two buddies, and an acquantance.

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

Very Small.. I generally hunt, scout....all things bowhunting.....solo.

Besides my discussions here I have a cousin in Wisconsin and one in Indiana that I chat via e-mail or phone with and that's it for the dedicated.

My Dad and one Uncle Bowhunt Pa.. very casually..I got them into it, but they are not very serious. My Uncle did score on a nice 8 pt last year..he uses a cross-bow due to heart related dis-ability.

In winter leagues my Dad and another Uncle shoot...My uncle is very good and won the senior division this year at 72

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

I have a lot of friends that deer hunt, but not bow hunt. I guess my network would be my family consisting of me, my dad, my brother, and my uncle. We are all hard-core bow hunters.

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

I always thought of myself as a bit of a deerhunting closet case, pretty reclusive - no leagues,don't likethe bow shop, usually hunt alone, etc... But now that I think about it, the hunting networkhas becomepretty vast over time.

Mom has 4 brothers that are all diehard whitetail nuts, they have a few sons and in-lawswho hunt. Dad has3 brothers and2 cousinsthat live to hunt. All those guys have hunting buddies who I've hunted with sometime or another. We don't hunt together all that often (too competitive), but we talk deer hunting at every holiday dinner andevery family function. We also dodeer camp every year, and I bet the roster has featured no less than35 different names on it over the years. Deer camp isn't about the deer- it's about the people. It's the only time every season when I'm hunting, but really don't care if I get anything or not....then again, my buck tag is always filled long before rifle season comes. I'd probably be out there in a tree dark-to-dark like a psycho if I still had valid buck tags. The guys at camp can play poker without me. LOL

I have a good friend who throws a big whitetail party every spring, and invites everyone he knows. Food, beer, pictures, seminars, product demonstrations, the whole nine yards. From going to that little event every year, it's expanded the "circle" by another 10-20 people. Good guys, like to talk archery. A whole new "circle," mostly acquaintences, but I've had a couple of those guys out for guided turks.

Then my personalfriends - not many - maybe 5. Here again, they all have hunting buddies who I've crossed paths with sometime or another.

Did some turkey guiding for a while - got to know a lot of guys through that. Worked with NWTF, and met more good people there....

You also get to knowfaces on the fringe - taxidermists, bow shop people, gun shoppeople, conservation officers, guys from sports leagues, guys from work, landowners, other guys who hunt the same places, etc...

...and then you throw in the people here on Huntingnet... it's a pretty big circle.

I couldn't even begin to try to count the number of guys I've hunted with over the years... It's a ton. Growing up, I'd have hunted withanyone willing to drive me - didn't matter if they dropped me off at the woods and picked me up at dark.

All that, and on opening day, I still like to be perched in my stand, alone with my bow, whereabouts: unknown.

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

Just the 3 of us. Me myself and I.

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

Very small. I elk hunt with 2 other guys and one fellas son and that is it. I do all of my deer hunting alone and tend to like it that way. Not many people bowhunt here so hard to find somebody ya like to hunt with and frankly i like it better on my own.We do not have a range/club and the shop i deal with is 4 hours away. Just me and the critters usually.

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

I shoot winter and summer archery leagues and shoot 3D tournaments. There are only about 35-40 members in our leagues. I usually shoot 3D tournys with about 4 different people. I visit the pro shop maybe once every month or two...so not very much. I'm quite content with my group.

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

As far as hunting, not too many. My father and I, my bud Dan (APAJaws) and his dad and Dan's grandfather. That's about it that I actually hunt with........there are a lot of guys at the shop or when I am at a local competitive event that we share quick hunting stories with but they really aren't hunting buddies, more of archery buddies.

Now in terms of the guys at the shop I work/shoot for and the competitive side of things I have a pretty big circle of true friends and a whole lot more friendly aquaintences. I end up at most of the local events here and try my best to get involved with a lot of the social parts of the sport of archery in all venues. Competitive archery is clicky (spell?), the spotties hang with the field archers, but not with the 3D'ers, and the FITA guys hang alone usually, the 3D'ers hang with other 3D'ers and hunters but rarely are acceptedwith the FITA/Field/Indoor guys..........very few people hang out at all venues.I have somehow found a way to participate in all of these andhave met a lot of great people this way and learned a TON. I can honestly say that the best friends I have made in the last 4-5 years have all been in the archery world somehow.

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

8

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

2

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

Dad, Brother, 2 Nephews, My friend Bob .....

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

small, mostly close friends. mabey 5 people i hunt with often

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Hunting right now only 2 my wife and myself, my Dad who hunts but doesn't bow hunt, is taking an interest and wants to buy a bow to start bow hunting with us. There are 2 other guys that hunt the farm that we do but I wouldn't really call them hunting buddies.

Archery I don't shoot in any league but I try to shoot every day. My Mom and her boyfriend both shoot with us once every couple of weeks.

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

I would say I am a lot like rybohunter...I don't have a lot of archery connections. Only one person in my extended family shoots archery and I think I somewhat got him interested in it. I have two friends that bowhunt with me as well. Most of what I know I have learned on my own or though this wonderful site!

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

Between team members and friends I would say about 20 guys, with 10 I see regularly!! Walt

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

My older brother and I are hunting partners.I spend more vacation time with him then I did my wife.There's also about 5 other guys that shoot with us on a regular basis.We all shoot and hunt with recurves and longbows

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

My hunting club has 8 members, seven of which bowhunt. But do to different schedules and the distance of our property I dont get to hunt with those guys as often as Id like. I hunt with one or two of my 3 closest friends the majority of the time.To me keeping the gorup small always works out better.

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There is myself an aboutthree others that arededicated to bow hunting. I do know a few people at the bow shop but that is about it,oh an my taxi that I have to go get my deer mountnext weekend.

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

I hunt alot by myself and spend the rest of the time hunting with my buddy MOmightymite. Other than that, about 8 or 10 other people that I hunt with a few times a season.

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

A whole lotta friends, my son and hunting partner. some of the guys on our lease. some relatives also.

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

Wow

Although I stick to myself I have a pile a friends. We have shot Archery league for almost 18 years now. These guys are all older than me, but we all get along.

From working at Cabelas I grew my hunting group by a lot. I now have Friends in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Minnisota, Kansas, WV,Texas,Neveda, Ohio and a soon to be Idaho. Who are going to be real close to Shed33. I keep in contact with all of them.

As for local lengend I have been called many names:D Shocking I know;)

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

I am , like the majority of the guys that responded , a loner when it comes to bow hunting. I have 2 good friends I hunt w/ occasionally but I belong to a lease they don't belong to. I spend 75% of my archery time there and they aren't allowed in.
Most of the time our schedules conflict or we'd hunt more often together.

I am not a shop kinda' guy at all. I do all my own work and buy my equipment from myself. I shoot a winter 3 spot league some years with a buddy down the street , but since I'm not a regular with that crowd they don't have much to say.
I have a very reliable partner for rifle season though. My wife is with me then. Or should I say I'm with her.

To give it a number.....I'd say 6.

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

I hunt mostly by myself, but I have2 close friends that are almost as addicted as I am. Then there are a couple more guys that may get out a few times a season. But don't put much effort into it. More to scout for gun season than anything else. And a couple more that would hunt more oftenif they had time to spare.

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

I would just soon hunt alone but Tyler makes me take him a long. :eek:;)

Tyler is my hunting/shed huntingpartner. In a few yearsBritney willbe hunting with us. The deerwon't have a chance then!! :D Love hunting with my kids.

I have a buddy who comes up once a year for a friendly bow hunt. He is a very decent guy and I enjoy that.

Rifle hunting with a group for many years has turned me off to it now. Just too much hassle and headaches.While help the boss and a B-I-L but that is about it.

Don't do 3D or league.

I am not anti social in the least but when it comes to bowhunting the more not the merrier.

Tim

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

Very small group, if you count guys with crossbows there are 4 of us, vertical bows there are only two, and if you get picky and only count those that have harvested with a vertical bow its just me.
I enjoy bow hunting alone, I just wish I had a buddy that could share more lessons, equipment reviews, stories, etc. Thats why I come here.

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

Tim, I hear that ..my "loaner" days are pretty much over.. I cant even get out of the house tonight to glass.... without two boys standing here holding thier camo clothes..EXPECTING me to take them.. cant say no! can we... :)alright..till after dark.. gotta go..

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

LOL First it is scouting with you and before you know it... you are sitting with them when that first deer walks in their bow range.I remember my first bow deer and all the excitement. Trust me when I say,it doesn't even begin to compare to watching your kid pulling off their firstbow kill. That moment will stick with you forever!! :)

Tim

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

My "bowhunting" world is kinda messed up. I have 2 groups of friends, one group hunts, the other doesnt. Me and my brother are the only archers in my immediate family, but alot of my cousins on both sides are into it as well. In fact, my brother just nought a "new: Fred Bear Obsession today!

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

My bowhunting world is very small as is my any thing archery related world.I do the majority of bow hunting,scouting and practicing alone.There is one friend who I will scout and hang stands with,He is quite a bit older than I so I attempt to do a lot of the grunt work for him.I have two close friends which includes the one already mentioned that I regularly converse with about bow hunting and archery related things such as equipment
and shooting.
My rifle hunting world is larger but not by much.I still do all of my hunting alone although I may arrive in an area with a friend and have us go in different directions.I am finding that there are folks who I would like to find a way to hunt with just because they are nice people and I enjoy their company.I can think of three or four people immediately who have said we should spend a day together hunting,I would like that,because that is one oof thethings that I enjoy so much about hunting the cameraderie and friendship,also I get a lot of joy in introducing and participating in the education of kids getting into hunting.I have a real soft spot for a young person who is passionate about hunting!

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

I'm pretty fortunate to share my love for bowhunting with quite a few people from my week in kansas every year, to my affiliation with B&C, or the local shop, etc. I'd say 50 people whom I talk to frequently about deer hunting, scoring or scouting. 10 are real close and some of my best friends. While I haven't met any of you guys in person, this board is a big part of each year's hunting talk.

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

I've been all over the map over the years. Got started hunting with family and friends back home in SW PA until I moved to NC for 10 years (yea, graduate school) of college where I only hunted the primitive flintlock season each year in PA for deer (day after Christmas).

After school I moved to SE Wisconsin and got back into lots of things. Casual deer hunting with a rifle, ducks, geese, squirrel, doves.lots of wingshooting (I teach shooting lessons at a local trap and skeet club)

Over the past five years I have become a turkey hunting fanatic, trying to hit several states a year (tough on the pocketbook though). Also I've started to half-hearted hunt locally with a bow, the problem of course is finding land to hunt on.

I currently hunt turkey with my wife (one time a year!), my brother (still back in SW PA) and two good friends from work. So I guess that is about 4-5 folks. I try most years to go back to the PA northwoods to a cousins abin each year for the gun deer opener where there are 6-10 of us that get together once or twice a year (family and friends).

My current goal is to meet some good guys that are willing to share a lease with me somewhere in WI. Its tough going even with all the folks I meet at the gunclub.

Anybody out there in my area (WI, IL) looking for someone to get involved? I'm very serious when it comes to my hunting, and as I said I'd like to get into more bow-hunting deer opportunities, but I'll never give up my passion for spring turkey. This year I hunted six states and was blessed to have spent 21 mornings in the glorious woods!!

Send me a PM if you want to talk more or have any info to share about a lease!

RE: How big is your bowhunting world?
 

Mine is small also. I love to hunt with my brothers and dad but that only happens once a year on a paid pheasent hunt. Other than that its by myself. But this year I will be able to hunt with my son. He is in for alot of hunting wether he likes it or not.