Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

I find myself looking for ways to ADD challenge to my hunting with the bow. I don't see this as a "stage" (just a teaser in the thread header).....and not even a "progression". Just something I find intriguing.

I'll head into the woods with a longbow for deer this year.......and "possibly" for turkeys, too. I know if I take a bird with the compound this year.....it'll likely be my last with the wheelie bow....OR.....my last from a blind w/ the compound. I also see a day when my compoud bow sees little action......if any.

I still see the taking of a whitetail deer......as a huge challenge and accomplishment....and this isn't meant to diminish that feat.

With all the technology flooding our passtime (bowhunting)......who is lookingat new endeavors/challenges/etc.... and explain them.....and "why"?

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

Jeff, when it comes to the traditional/tech viewpoints of hunting, I'm torn. I'm a technology freak even outside of archery, and always have been. I'm a TECH ED teacher for crying out loud:D I truly respect those who head to the woods with nothing but stick and string, and even more so if they do that and get it done year in and year out. There's something to be said for those who take on the "primitive" approach to hunting especially in today's world of high-tech gadgetry. However, I don't love all the technology of compounds and their accessories for the "hopefull" advantage they might bring in the field, I just love to tinker, and learn about bow technology. I'm still at the point in my hunting career where bowhunting with a compound is very challenging for me. However, I'm with you on the lack of turkey blind (never hunted with one, nor have I even taken a bird yet), but if/when I do, it will be without a blind...not so much because I'm against it, I'm just too cheap to buy one:D

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

The first guy to get a deer with this, get's my salute.




But Honestly, I guess I can kinda understand the growing contigency to go Traditional, to some extent. But I'll be odd man out, as it holds no appeal, what-so-ever to me. My challenge remains harvesting better bucks.

Don't jump me, I'm not knocking traditional (or any legal method). But, give me technology, and all the gadgets that go along with it!

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

And on to the nextchallenge to be conquered.:eek:

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

Let me get one on the ground with the traditional bow, Bob.....and I'll be better suited to tell you where I'm headed.....lol.

It's kind of the same as turkey hunting with the shotgun v. bow. The shotgun holds no interest for me, anymore. Nothing against it....honestly. it's a different style of hunting and holds its' own challenges and appeal. Just not for me (anymore). Been there.....done that.

When Schultzy, Bobco, et. al. head into the woods with their equipment.....they're reserved to the fact (and content, I assume) that they are limiting themselves via their choice of tackle. I just see that day coming. I've got a few things I'd like to do beforehand.

I honestly have no idea why this would bother you.

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

I do find the allure of traditional gear intriguing, but right now my challenge is focused on getting bucks that are more challenging to shoot than what I've shot in the past. I don't think that challenge will ever get "easy" for me so there should be plenty to keep me busy there. Not to mention I've just thrown the challenge of capturing video into the mix, so there is no end in sight to the challenges that await me.

The nice thing about PA is since there are some antlerless only seasons there is a nice opportunity for me to try to cut my teeth on traditional gear. So, who knows what will happen.

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

If your proficient with with the long stick, whats the difference? If your not than hunting with it shouldn't be considered. You will figure that out when you get past stage two.:D:Dj/k

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

Rob and I have talked about this, Chris. To an extent.....you are 100% correct. If you're proficient from 20yds.......you're proficient.....regardless of the tackle.

The difference (for ME) lies in the level of work required to become proficient with each. Hence the allure (again, for ME).

Stage 2.......by default in lieu of by design. I accept that.;)

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

It does not bother "me" in the least. I just hope you don't go thru the rest of your life like that. Life is not about conquering challenges alone Jeff. Have fun dude.:D

LT

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

Jeff I really feel you are searching for some thing,I'm not sure what it is? But you are searching .:eek:
You've bought more bows in 4 years than I've owned in a life time. I'm on the second kind of broad head I've ever used, I own 5 of the same summit tree stands.
Your need for constant change baffles me.[8D]
The animals I hunt are where I findmy challenges. Maybe the idea of getting one buck tag per year has put a greater sense of accomplishment in that single success than the unlimited opportunities that you enjoy.
Success comes to each of us in many different times,forms & places.

Good Luck in your adventures, Jim

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

Agreed, it takes alot more practice to get good with the long bow, much much more. But once your there, your there. The "challenge" is the same.

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

Guilty. I've owned 5 (including the longbow). I currently own 3.....and I'll soon be down to 2. Can't help that. I wanted to find what I like. I'll soon have one compound and one traditional bow....and I'm in a large group with that distinction.

I've shot 2 BH's at deer.....and 1 at turkeys. I'm down to 1, now.....for both. Again....MANY, MANY people tinker a LOT more than I.

Maybe.;)

Agreed. I'm just stating how I view it.....and how that's changing.

Thank you.

LT....we're all motivated in different ways. I'm not wired to say...."I think I'll go hunting, tomorrow". I wish I was, sometimes. that's the approach I take to Ping Pong.;)

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

That maybe true for about 3-5%. I wish I was one of them. :DIt's a lifelong challenge for most. ;)

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

I am taking up the challenge of groundhog hunting with my bow. I figure most of the shots will be fairly long and the target is fairly small......I am also going to try fox hunting from a treestand with my bow. There areall kinds of challenges out there that can be addressed with any kind of bow.

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

That's cool, Bruce. Good luck with it.

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

Me too out of neccesity! Them little buggers from the empty lot destroy my Garden and dig under my shed! The neigbor dogs that chase them everytime they are let out make the ground pigs super cautious!

I did learn last year not to shoot them with a field tip. I pegged one at distance when I was out shooting and watched as my arrow ran acrossed the field and into a hole! Got some old style mechanicals I may try out on few!

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

LOL wish I lived closer, I would give you a hand LOL. I am going to be using 100 grain standard slick tricks and 100 grain thunderhead xp's. I am shooting right at 55#'s and the plan is LOL :Dfor the arrow to pass through and "pin" the GH to the ground. Then, if still alive when I get to him, a .22 short.

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

Watch out Jeff. They do have professional Ping Pong Players. Please don't go that route too.[8D]

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

Instead of refering to changes in your hunting as stages, why not call it what it really is. MATURING

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

MM....I think a lot would take issue with that....and while I see where you're coming from.....I disagree with calling it "maturing" (much like I did in the "stages" thread).

I don't see theshift from compound to trad as "maturing".....or even a progression. It's just somewhere I wanna go.

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

Please help me understand why everything has to be challenging. I mean I hunt deer because I love seeing them, eating them and enjoy mounting the occasional nice buck. I don't want to conquer or beat them at a game or anything else. Killing a deer is challenging, ok, so what, if you are bored with it and need to make it a challenge then you are hunting for the wrong reasons in my opinion. That's my opinion, noone has to agree with it!! If you want to make it challenging, then stop going to the grocery store and hunt for your family's food with the bow, grow your own food in the garden, that would be a challenge!!!!!!!!

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

VA....I don't expect for people to hunt the same way I do....or for the same reasons.

Hunting is very personal. I would not say..... "Killing a deer is challenging, ok, so what, if you are bored with it and need to make it a challenge then you are hunting for the wrong reasons in my opinion. ".....because "I" don't need to know why you hunt.....or care how you do it. You and I are friends....so you know I mean no malice with that.

What makes it "fun" for me.....is likely quite different than what makes it "fun" for you (and others). That's fine:)

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

Jeff, Couldn't we all say that about the threads you start?

answer "I" don't need to know why you hunt.....or care how you do it

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

You can say anyhting you like, Charlie. I meant no malice in my DIRECT comment to VA....and I know him well enough to know he wasn't offended by it.

You can always exercise your disinterest in my threads by skipping over them.;)

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

Good idea thanks.

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

[blockquote]quote:

because "I" don't need to know why you hunt.....or care how you do it .[/blockquote] Jeff, Couldn't we all say that about the threads you start?

X2

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

That's difficult when they occupy 2/3s of the first 5 pages of the Bowhunting forum.J/K buddy.

I think it's interesting seeing what makes other guys tick. It doesn't necessarily change my interests, but sometimes it brings a new perspective to things.

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

Sorta like a car wreck,hard not to look.

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

Gosh, looks like I'm bowhunting for the wrong reasons. I'd better quit.

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

There's a difference between looking......and stopping to kick the people in the car, Charlie.;)

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

That's what I was thinking;)

Anyways I have lots of thoughts on this. I like hunting my way. I don't just want to get a deer, I want to get a deer playing by my limitations(whatever they may be). Probably the reason I never made an attempt to worry about killing a deer past 20-25 yds.

Yea I too have gone down the trad road too, but mine was more of a "I want to kill one that way" kind of thing, as opposed to trying to make it harder. Yes it is harder and despite being proficient there are FEW people on this planet who can release and arrow from trad gear, with the same certainty as most can with a compound.

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

deleted by me, I apologize

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

I am kind of on the edge, but mostly agree with GR8 (so you're not the odd man out:))I don't have enough time; nor, real WANT to get into traditional. Maybe someday. As for now, bring on the technology, it's a good thing;)

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

I don't take anything to heart on here by anyone, Jeff and many others know that about me. Im simplystating that yes hunting is personal, but it seems to me that many people get into hunting, especially deer hunting and bowhunting inparticular and want instant success or overnight status of being a guru or a mature buck hunter only and if it doesn't concern that, then it's not worthy of discussing. I just feel like we are getting away from our tradition has hunters and creating a facade of what people may want to see. I mean we are selling buck sperm now, we are growing deer ranches, we are paying big $ for trophy hunts just so our egos and our status can grow overnight. Deer hunting in general shouldn't be a challenge, if you want challenge or stimulation I suggest you try to read WEB DuBois's "Souls of Black Folk" that willcertainly challenge you or stimulate your synapse.

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

I respectfully disagree, VA. Many choose the weapon we choose based on the "challenge". I'd venture that's a big reason a lot of people choose to bowhunt.

What's the difference in my approach and the guys who pass on juvenile bucks waiting for something with a little more age structure? Passing on jakes in hopes of the big tom? Isn't it for the "challenge"?

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

Yes, and no. "Some" hunt for the thrill. "Some" for trophies. "Some" for both. "Some" for food. I have to agree Jeff, nobody should care how you hunt or why. But we do like to learn from one another here, shoot the breeze, have a good time. (Sort of like why I actually hunt)

If it ain't Rocket Science, why should we make it as challenging?:D

LT

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

Can we agree on......"Adding a new dimension" to one's hunting?;)

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

That is cool Jeff. I can sorta relate. But once you get good at it, don't just let it lose it's glimmer because you find another way more challenging.

Example: I forced myself to learn guitar because I wanted to. I became a mediocre player to say the least. I went from one style to the other so that I could be a "well rounded" guitarist. Then one day it hit me. I spent so much time trying to learn everything new and better, until I lost sight of what was enjoyable about playing to begin with.

Does that make sense?

LT

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

Sure it does. I play as well (Martin D-28) and have certain types of music I don't attempt.....because I just enjoy listening to it.

I don't have the drive to play....that I have for hunting, though. I hope THAT makes sense.

RE: Another take on the "stages" of a hunter....
 

I think it's fun to use different weapons and different tactics...I went out and priced a recurve last summer, man they have gotten expensive...I used one from the late 60s until the mid 70s, when I bought my first compound...I can still remember the first time I pulled back that compound, after using a recurve, I was absolutely amazed....

I have never "bought in" to the lastest and greatest technology in bows...I stopped when releases came out, just seems to me that a bow should be shot with fingers...That's one reason that I still use a bow that is longer than most axle to axle, still shoot aluminum, feathers, no stabilizer, no peep, only two pins, etc...I love the challenge of a bow and actually have never lost a deer with my current bow, which is about 10-12 years old, I did lose one with the old Bear Whitetail, but it sure wasn't the bow's fault...

I will say this...A compound is a giant step forward over a recurve and offers several advantages...It is sure harder for me to shoot a recurve while in a tree stand, the extra length just gets in the way and I love the advantage of being above the deer...When I was initially using a recurve, I hunted on the ground, that does make it tougher...

Here in NC, our bow season is before our gun season and we have a week of muzzleloading season after bow...I often use my muzzleloader during our regular gun season...I made my own muzzleloader, even though it is a flintlock it is another giant leap in technology over a compound bow...It extends your range out to 75 yards or so and makes hunting on the ground much easier...

If a hunter is only going to kill a couple of deer a year, using a weapon that gives you more of a challege does add more to the experience...

If a hunter is killing multiple animals a year, to help control the population, it is doubtful that he can make a difference (if he has a job and family) on the population with a recurve bow...That is the usually the deciding factor on which weapon I take to the woods...

Most of us don't hunt for food anymore, it's a hobby, do what makes you feel good about the time you are able to have in the woods...