RE: Frustrated with Bowhunting
 

This is gospel. You saw something that they never will. Stick with it.

RE: Frustrated with Bowhunting
 

Don't get frustrated and don't give up. Your "friends" are idiots. I bow hunted 3 years to get my first deer. I was lucky that it was an old 8 point buck. An hour earlier I shot a twig to keep the arrow from dropping a beautiful 13 point buck. The year before that, I missed 3 deer mostly due to what I attribute to putting pressure on myself to be successful with a bow. The first year (before I found this forum), I didn't have a deer come close enough to any of my stands to even get a shot. I still hunt with shotgun and black powder, but bow hunting is the most challenging and has the greatest rewards when that first deer drops. Keep the faith and keep persuing that first silent kill.

RE: Frustrated with Bowhunting
 

Hunting with archery tackle can be the most frustrating and the most rewarding hunt you'll ever have. When you score, there is nothing better...knowing you've accomplished one of the most difficult hunts for anytype of game.

RE: Frustrated with Bowhunting
 

Im going into my third season of bow hunting and like every other sport you only learn by experiences and you can only get better when first starting off. I havent gotten my first kill yet but its still addicting.

RE: Frustrated with Bowhunting
 

I have been bowhunting for 20 years this fall and have had way more missed oportunities than tagged animals. I still look forward to bow season like I used to look forward to christmas as a kid though. Learn to enjoy the archery part of bowhunting and you will gain more confidence. I try to shoot from the time the snow melts untill it gets too cold to shoot again. That year round practice helps to give you confidence that when that deer does come into range that bad boy (or girl) is yours. Bowhunting will also make you a more effective firearm deer hunter as well since you will have much more time in the woods to study the animals and alot more "missed opportunities" to learn from. Take it in stride and try to outsmart him again.

RE: Frustrated with Bowhunting
 

I have to agree with the exception of guns. I still gun hunt but that is more of a family thing every year during thanksgiving week.

RE: Frustrated with Bowhunting
 

First time with a bow and you didn't get one, sorry to hear that but you did see one. That is the challange of bow hunting. Have faith in yourself.

RE: Frustrated with Bowhunting
 

Gosh dang it I had a bunch of posts in a row in this forum and you broke the chain

RE: Frustrated with Bowhunting
 

I've been a bowhunter exclusively when it comes to deer for several years now. Seeing deer that you could have taken easily with a gun make it that much sweeter when you see the deer you want approaching your "high percentage" zone. I don't gun hunt for deer anymore, but when I did, I had decided that if I saw a true monster, it would be a let-down to take him with my gun when the bow kill is so much more satisfying. Keep at it and you'll feel the addiction so many of us have caught when you arrow your first.

RE: Frustrated with Bowhunting
 

Your first bowhunt and you saw a monster 12 point. You already won, man!!! ;) You just don't know how lucky you are. I'd be smiling and thanking God for that great hunt you just had.

Which way was the wind blowing? Maybe he just winded you. That's part of the game.

Stick with it. If you pay your dues the rewards are SO much greater than gun hunting. I've done both and it's no contest. I'm the only one in my group that carries my bow out with hunters orange on opening day of rifle season. Sure I've missed opportunities at bucks that were a little too far for a bow. But the way I see it everybody else is missing the opportunity to do something really special - take a deer with a bow and arrow.