Look guys NOBODY is saying bow hunting is not challenging, it is. It has it's own set of challenges and hurdles that the hunter needs to jump in order to bag their quarry. But so does gun hunting. I'm a realist, I'm not jumping on any bandwagon here, not gun or bow.

The problem I think is when someone mentions "gun" hunting folks automatically assume it's a 50 yard broadside shot with a scoped firearm shooting off of a rest. In that scenario, yep that's about as easy a slam dunk shot as your going to find. I (nor anyone else) have never said anything to the contrary.

But those of you who seem to arbitrarily choosebow hunting as being more difficult without taking the time to realize that there are some forms of gun hunting thatare truly just as challenging if not more difficult. That's the reason why I asked the original poster what he meant when hesaid "Rifle". If you want to challenge yourself....truely challenge yourself , try picking up a muzzle loader....NO not the "in-line muzzle loading rifles" that are on the market today but a TRUE muzzle loader. One with a smooth bore, (no rifling to stabilize the projectile) and either a percussion cap or powder pan to ignite the gun powder inthe breach, yep that's the one I'm talking about, something that would have been in most peoples homes........in 1775!

With thisprimitive firearm you will need to make sure your quarry is within the same distance as a bow because the accuracy past 50 yards with a round ball smooth bore is laughable at best. Plus with a powder pan(flint lock)ignition system there is a slight delay from when the pan ignites to when the gun goes off. Not only do you need to hold steady as a billow of white smoke erupts in your face, the deeralso have that split second to react. Second/followup shots? they don't exist, this is a one chance deal.Good luck being able to see where you hit the deer too, you'd be lucky to even SEE what direction the deer ran by the time all the smoke clears........

Seems pretty difficult doesn't it? AndI haven't even started talking about the weather limitations to the weapon either...FORGET about hunting inany wind to speak of and certainly not the rain. You'd be lucky to get the thing to fire in high humidity much less a drizzle. Even on perfect days there are times when the thing just won't fire, perhaps the priming hole is clogged.

Now I want to make this VERY CLEAR....I don't hunt with that type of GUN.....but there are a few on this site that do, I don't.....it's too difficult.

Lets all be good stewards to this sport and not let our lust for recognition and elitism cloud our judgment and thus cast a disparaging shadow on the light this sport isseen in.


Am I getting through?

Factor in the amount of time a bowhunter spends taking a deer and factor in the amount of time a rifle hunter spends taking a deer.....its not close. What I am saying is if the average amount of deer taken by the average bowhunter divided by the total time spent hunting those deer vs the average amount of deer taken by the average rifle hunter divided by the total time spent hunting those deer................bowhunting would be deemed far more challenging.

Seems to me all that shows is that it takes longer.....how does the amount of time equate into difficulty and how does it equate to all forms of gun hunting?

I agree by the way, I think on average bow hunters spend more time afield. I know I spent a lot of time in my stand this year with a bow in hand than any other weapon.....I don't remember it being that difficult or challengingto do though.

The thread was rifle hunting vs bowhunting as more challenging. As we both know only shotguns, muzzleloaders, and handguns can be used here in Illinois during firearm season. Throw a 10 day rifle season in..........I could kill a deer 8 or 9 times within that 10 day rifle season where I hunt. Granted mostly does, but it wouldn't be that hard. Same ground, 10 day bow season....couldn't do the same.

Same ground, 10 day primitive muzzle loader (as I described above) or iron sighted revolver only season?? Itwould probably yield less deer thanifit were a 10 daybow season......

That's why I asked the original poster what he meant when he wrote "Rifle" in his poll. He as already posted of the the error in his wording...kudos to you Hunter Dan7.

I'm not debating what's easier a 100 yard broadside shot with a scoped rifle vs a 30yard bow shot (although they both seem pretty easy to me) and if that's the type of rifle shots you'd have at your place them you are correct with what you posted. The problem is nothing is ever that black and white.

Maybe I should start a thread and ask what's more challenging:A 500yard rifle shot with a 25mph crosswind on a rainy day or a 15 yard bow shot on a deer eating under a feeder. Then extrapolate from it that rifle hunting is more challenging, how bout that?

See, my problem is not with the scenario polled, but thenarrowness of which it'ssubject matter is addressed or perceived.

[quote]ORIGINAL: BigJ71


Heck, by far under those conditions I'd much rather take the bowhunting shot!

To go in a slightly different direction..........to those who continually use traditional equipment to deer hunt instead of compound bows I.........

Dude this poll is on a bowhunting forum
Like asking who is Better MI or Oh in football in aMI board[&:]

And who cares, who really cares.

If some bowhunter thinks he is great, well who cares, ignore him and be happy, Geezish.

LMAO. I see where you are going with this. But what if I get a 20 yd. shot with the rifle instead of a 500 yd. shot?