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RE: Bow vs Gun, what do you think?
ORIGINAL: BigJ12 Bow vs Gun..... Both can be equally challenging and equally as tough. A 50yd shot from a stand with a rifled slug gun is pretty easy. A 50yd shot with an iron sighted revolver difficult. A30yd shot from a bow in a tree stand.....easy, same shot with an open sighted 4 5/8 barreledsixgun.....NOT easy. I know, I've done them both. The problem is when bow hunters talk about "guns" they automatically think a high powered rifle or a slug gun and they automatically think their quarry is standing there broadside at 50yds.:eek:This tends to make us look like"elitist" as bow hunters and turns my stomach to no end. The truth of the matter is there are easy and difficult shots with both types of weapons. Having been a shooter all of my life like most here I can tell you with out any reservation that I would rather shoot a deer at 40yds with my compound bow than a deer at 300yds with my rifle. To me the 40yd compound shot is way easier. When I see a picture of a deer taken with a gun, I don't ask the circumstances behind the hunt, I just congratulate the shooter for a nice deer. For all I know it was an extremely difficult shot (long range, close stalk etc..) that only a very skilled and confidenthunter/shooter could have pulled off. Generally speaking, bow hunting is probably slightly more difficult due only to the closer range and movement that must be made in order to get a shot off.But that's generally speaking.....make no mistake about it there are some aspects and types of gun hunting that are far more difficult than shooting a compound or traditional bow. As far as traditional (long & recurve) bow hunting is concerned, sure that's probably the most difficult form of bow hunting there is.......but the same can be said for hunting with a traditional gun and I'm not talking about a new muzzle loaders either, I'm talking about a true traditional firearm. How about a smooth bore flintlock. See how many deer you can kill when you have a half second delay from when the powder goes off in the pan (no that won't spook the deer:eek:)to when the gun shoots, if it even does! Then take into consideration that with a smooth bore (no rifling) yourshooting "knuckle balls" and your shots must be inside of 30yds to even come close to hitting what you are aiming at. Good luck with a second shot....after all of the smoke clears I'm sure you can ask Mr.Buck to "stick around" while you reload.Add in a little rainto the mix and wet feather fletchings will seem like a walk in the park compared to a wet powder pan. I gun hunt and I will continue to do so for as long as I can get my self into the field, I will also bow hunt as well. I enjoy all forms of hunting and have done enough of them to know that all can be equally challenging and difficult in their own way and none more than the other. |
RE: Bow vs Gun, what do you think?
Well, if we are going to compare apples to apples then why is the buck at a 100 yards a sure thing for the rifle? You practice all year and miss at 16yds but the gun can't miss at a 100 ydsbecause it is just so easy with a rifle, right? And then, if it were a muzzleloader or better yet a shotgun (can't use rifles in MD)how easy is that? I'm more impressed with a muzzleloader than I am a rifle especially if it's traditional, flintlock over inline with scope. Bow hunting has its difficulties that make it much different than gun hunting but, depending on the gun, gun hunting has its difficulties that make its kills just as impressive. I am not trying to sway your opinion or anyone elses, I am just presenting a different opinion, one that thinks all hunting is impressive and doesn't need to denigrate one method to elevate another. Jim Shockey only hunts with a muzzleloader but you would tell me that kandi kisky's bow kills are more impressive than his muzzleloader kills? ;) The truth of the matter is there are easy and difficult shots with both types of weapons. Having been a shooter all of my life like most here I can tell you with out any reservation that I would rather shoot a deer at 40yds with my compound bow than a deer at 300yds with my rifle. To me the 40yd compound shot is way easier. And I wouldn't argue with you. ;)  try gun hunting with a pistol or a true traditional firearm. Even in the best conditions, hitting abullseye with an old muzzle loader with regular open sights is hard. New m/l's can be accurate out to 250 yds with the right opticsbut for most people (average shooters/hunters/not pro) shooting a traditional m/l andhitting the target at 100 yards would be dumb luck. |
RE: Bow vs Gun, what do you think?
I dont feel no where near as satisfied with a deer I shot with a gun than with a bow.
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RE: Bow vs Gun, what do you think?
When I watch a Drury's tape, I fast forward through the rifle footage to watch the bow footage regardless the size of the animal. I'm not interested in the rifle footage. Sorry.;)
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RE: Bow vs Gun, what do you think?
Gun...Bow,Muzzle Loader...heck you guys should try hitting one with a GMC Suburban [&:]50 MPH down hillwith the brakes slammed on,the horn blowing,the radio blairing and me screaming "Get the He!! outta the way"! :eek::eek:[:@]
I hit him any ways...wasn't proud of that deer but I ended up throwing him in the back and taking him to have the Sheriff Dept. check him out and give me a paper to have him processed.That was my most expensive deer to date....$2,450.45 to be exact!Now if someone could have hit him with a Yugo,Toyota or Corvette I would have been much more impressed and happier to say the least! ;) |
RE: Bow vs Gun, what do you think?
I like to bowhunt. I also gun hunt. Bowhunting is a tough deal and not everyone can do it. Many joe blows can grab a gun once a year, go out and kill a deer.
However, last year I killed a deer with my bow and with my 30-06. I prefer bowhunting because of its greater challenge. But I also gun hunt, just because I can. 6 to one, half dozen to the other. |
RE: Bow vs Gun, what do you think?
ORIGINAL: Rob/PA Bowyer When I watch a Drury's tape, I fast forward through the rifle footage to watch the bow footage regardless the size of the animal. I'm not interested in the rifle footage. Sorry.;) |
RE: Bow vs Gun, what do you think?
Yep , you got er boys.Anyone can shoot a Trophy with a rifle at 200+ yds.It is just too easy.You see it all the time and it makes me sick.Turn the tv channel if gun hunt comes on.Like the turkey though.
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RE: Bow vs Gun, what do you think?
I enjoy bow hunting more and I feel it to be more of a challenge. I shotgun hunt as well and to get a big buck with a shotgun I feel is still a challenge. You may be able to take an 80-100 yd shot at the deer but here in Iowa you have 5 days to do so. If bow season was only 5 days long theres NO way most people would even get a shot at a deer andalmost zero chanceof tagging a big buck. Now Im NOT saying gun hunting is harder or takes more skill in any way, because I feel that it doesnt. Im just saying that gun hunting is still hunting reguardless. It still takes an amount of skill and luck, just not as much as archery. Rifle hunting on the other hand--- 300-400 yd shot isnt hunting, the only skill you need is to be able to see a deer and hold a well sighted in gun steady and hit a deer that has no chance what-so-ever.
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RE: Bow vs Gun, what do you think?
My passion is Bowhunting, Bowhunting any legal animal! I do like the gun hunting as well, its a nice break after 2 months of serious Bowhunting, the gun season gives me a bit of time to re-group rest up for another 5 weeks of Bowhunting! Then back to the gun for 3 months of predator hunting!
 9 days and counting............. |
RE: Bow vs Gun, what do you think?
I'd rather kill a deer with a bow, but when season goes out and I have a tag I intend to fill it and pick up the rifle. Yea, it's less challenging, but for me the challenge is there with any weapon. I just value every opportunity to take an animal no matter what the weapon may be
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RE: Bow vs Gun, what do you think?
Seriously....I have Gun Hunted all my Life and have always had a lot of respect for those that have hunted with any type of Bow.I had hunted a few times with a Bow when I was younger but just didn't have the time or patients to stay with it.I finally got on a straight day job where I could hunt the evenings and weekends so I took up Bow Hunting and have hunted for the last 4 years now and I love it because I can be outdoors so much more and can hunt so much more than when I was Rifle Hunting.I finally shot a nice 6-Point Buck last October with my Bow and I can tell you that theexcitment over harvesting a deer with a bow was so much more thrilling and rewarding that most deer I have shoot with a gun because I had to work so hard over the past 4 years to accomplish it....but I am still as proud of any of the deer I have shot with a Rifle because I worked so hard at planting food plots,and hunting the deerduring cold and bad weather.So each one has a special meaning tome also because of the friends and family membersI have hunted with and those that have passed away,it brings back great memories.
I was even more proud and thrilled when I took my oldest Daughter hunting for the past 2 years and she finally shot her first deer (with a .243 Rossi Gun) this past Oct. during the Youth Hunt.My youngest Daughter wants to learn how to shoot a Bow so hopefully I will get her hooked on Hunting too! ;) |
RE: Bow vs Gun, what do you think?
Bob,
I agree with what you say when put in the context you describe. I was just trying to inform some folks (not you) that there are other types of "Gun" hunting thatare just as challenging as compound bow hunting is. I hunt with a pistol as often as I can and it's very challenging. On more than one occasion I have had deer surprise me and are within 10yds before I even notice them. I can't shoot because of the sound my pistols make when they are cocked. I end up waiting till they get out to 35-40yds but now I'm facing an off handed shot at that distance. More than once I WISHED I had my compound bow. Below are a few of my favorite pistol hunting rigs. From top to bottom- Ruger Super Blackhawk .44mag Leupold 2x scope 7 1/2in barrel Ruger Vaquero (my favorite) .44mag fixed "V" notch sights 5 1/2in barrel Magnum Research BFR .454 Casulladjustable open sights5 1/2in barrel Ruger Blackhawk .45 Long Colt adjustable open sights 4 5/8in barrel  |
RE: Bow vs Gun, what do you think?
My shotgun is for bird hunting only... My pistols are for protection, I've given away all my rifles. I bow hunt only!
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RE: Bow vs Gun, what do you think?
ORIGINAL: BigJ12 Bob, I agree with what you say when put in the context you describe. I was just trying to inform some folks (not you) that there are other types of "Gun" hunting thatare just as challenging as compound bow hunting is. I hunt with a pistol as often as I can and it's very challenging. On more than one occasion I have had deer surprise me and are within 10yds before I even notice them. I can't shoot because of the sound my pistols make when they are cocked. I end up waiting till they get out to 35-40yds but now I'm facing an off handed shot at that distance. More than once I WISHED I had my compound bow. Below are a few of my favorite pistol hunting rigs. From top to bottom- Ruger Super Blackhawk .44mag Leupold 2x scope 7 1/2in barrel Ruger Vaquero (my favorite) .44mag fixed "V" notch sights 5 1/2in barrel Magnum Research BFR .454 Casulladjustable open sights5 1/2in barrel Ruger Blackhawk .45 Long Colt adjustable open sights 4 5/8in barrel
There is nothing wrong with any type of hunting as long as it's legal. No one is saying otherwise. (not you either) ;) |
RE: Bow vs Gun, what do you think?
This will be the first year im really set up and gonna try hard at bowhunting. depending on how it goes as to whether ill get out the 'ol alt 6. but i still take a great passion in deer huntin whether bow muzzleloader, rifle... i love it all.
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RE: Bow vs Gun, what do you think?
Personally I'm a harcore bowhunter but that is my choice. I do hunt with a muzzleloader here and there. I think as long as your hunting legally and you have good hunting ethics then use what ever you prefer.
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RE: Bow vs Gun, what do you think?
Well Grasshopper, you'll find, if you hunt long enough, that nothing in hunting is ALWAYS a chip shot. That said, I'm with Gr8atta,I prefer the bow and have for almost 40 years. I pick up the gun a couple times a year, one to hunt with my meat hunting brother in the Adirondacks and the second time for an annual pilgrimage I make with 3 highschool buddies who don't bow hunt. We've been doing it since the 60s. How could I possibably turn my nose up at friends like that just because they have a gun. Heck, I even shoot a gun once in a while if it's not disruptive to our plans. For example last year we were doing our opening weekend of NY's Southern Tier. If was a little warm so we all planned to be out of the woods by 9:30 AM for golf. At 8:45 I had a small parade of deer come through with a nice buck. I called my buddy and ask if he still wanted meat. He screamed in the radio, "Don't shoot that buck. We'll have to drag him out and we'll be late for golf". We left the woods and were on the Afton Golf Course by 9:45.:D:D I won.
I even went as far as to finally break down and buy a new Omega muzzleloader last year with a nice scope and all. Sighted the thing in but forgot to go hunting with it.[&:] |
RE: Bow vs Gun, what do you think?
In my very humble opinion, it's about the hunter, not the weapon he or she chooses.
This is my first season with a bow. I've killed many deer with a rifle and a muzzle loader (inline w/ iron sights and traditional) at distances ranging from 75 yards to 10 yards (100+ yard shots in the woods I hunt are irresponsible, if not possible) and with a pistol. Maybe my opinion will change with time as I put in more hours with the bow in the woods. As it is, I'm looking foward to the season starting (6 Oct)! |
RE: Bow vs Gun, what do you think?
I think hunting with a bow and getting one with a bow is just in a league by itself. There is nothing like it. I do enjoy a gun hunt with friends and family and its a great way to get a kid started and hooked on hunting. For a lot of people gun to bow is a gradual transition but once theybow hunt theyare hooked.
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RE: Bow vs Gun, what do you think?
My passion is definitely bowhunting, however the time spent with family and friends during rifle season will continue to bring me back. I may find myself carrying the bow more and more during rifle seasonin the upcoming years, however it is nearly impossible to see much less kill a 3.5 year old animal during rifle season anyhow in the areas I hunt. They are there, but they are few and far inbetweenand honestly my best chances to kill those animals are during the almost non existant pressure of archery season even though I'm carrying a primitive weapon at that time. I've had exactly 5 encounters with truly maturebucks over the last 5 years, and 4 of those occurred during bow season.
I will also probablyhunt this year with my girlfriends family in the heart of the Adirondack big woods as well. This is a place where you are likely to only see2-3 total deer per solid week of hunting if your lucky with maybe one antlered animal per season......your more likely to see bears and/or moose than deer in most of theseplaces. I will be carrying my rifle there because the primary means of hunting in the Adirondacks is snow tracking an animal for many miles before getting lucky and maybe having a shot. Anyone that feels this is less work or easier or less impressive than sitting in a tree over an agricultural edge and sticking one with a bow really needs to get themselves into the big woods to see what it's really like......[8D]. |
RE: Bow vs Gun, what do you think?
I am with Rick on this one. My passion is bowhunting whitetailsbut I really believe that its not for everyone.On the flip side, using different weapons affords me more opportunities to hunt with good people, family etc during arifle season.I find thatvery rewarding initsown right. I dont discriminate withthe weaponspeople chooseas long as its legal, ethical,fair chase, wild, free range hunting. I really have no respect forthe shooting of conditioned critters. I'd raise beef if I wanted to do that.I chose to hunt with my bow during rifle seasons for whitetails because I just simply enjoy trying to get close and I don't care if I "could have killed him with a gun". I'd rather not kill him with a bow and learned from it. For me these days its not about how many heads I have hanging, its about learning more and striving to become the best hunter I am capable of being and letting the chips fall were they may.
As my sons grow older I plan on rifle hunting with them, teaching them the ins and outs and having them with me even this year at 4-6. I care most about making memories and strong relationships. All the critters we kill and leave hanging on the wall won't go with us when we are gone, I just hope my kids appreciate what they learn over their lifetime from hunting and takethose life lessons and pass them on to thier childrensomeday. Hunting period, is just fun. |
RE: Bow vs Gun, what do you think?
I pick up the gun a couple times a year, one to hunt with my meat hunting brother in the Adirondacks and the second time for an annual pilgrimage I make with 3 highschool buddies who don't bow hunt. We've been doing it since the 60s. How could I possibably turn my nose up at friends like that just because they have a gun. |
RE: Bow vs Gun, what do you think?
Bow or Gun?
Gun. My 15 year old daughter will not bowhunt with me. She will however rifle hunt with me. I'd prefer to be out there with her and my gunthan to be alone with the bow. I really don't care what weapon i am using |
RE: Bow vs Gun, what do you think?
We can't use our bows in Illinois during gun season.I just walk around my property and make sure no trespassing.
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