Are you an archer or a bowhunter?
02-11-2010, 06:29 PM
#21
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Almost Heaven,WV
Posts: 4,087
I'm a deer hunter that has learned to proficiently shoot a bow. If I couldn't hunt deer with my bow, I'd probably never pick it up again. I guess that makes me a bowhunter. Same thing goes for my Rem 700 .270 and my Knight 50 cal. muzzleloader. The only reason I own them is to deer hunt.
02-12-2010, 10:43 AM
#22
Typical Buck
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Belgium
Posts: 996
I bought a hunting rig to bowhunt and to practice I started shooting competition indoor 18yards vegas and 25yards.
Now I am a bowhunter who proved his worth and who kicks ass on the range.
I seem to constantly beat the guys with bows looking like they can pick up radiosignals from Alpha centauri or bows that look like the only thing they're missing is the tarp to become a tent for 4.
In my opinion, having long stabs has something to do with compensation......
So I am a bowhunting archer.
Frank
Belgium
Now I am a bowhunter who proved his worth and who kicks ass on the range.
I seem to constantly beat the guys with bows looking like they can pick up radiosignals from Alpha centauri or bows that look like the only thing they're missing is the tarp to become a tent for 4.
In my opinion, having long stabs has something to do with compensation......
So I am a bowhunting archer.
Frank
Belgium
02-13-2010, 01:11 AM
#23
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Scotland & Spain
Posts: 4,125
I would probably never have brought this up except I just read someones signature block that said: An "Archer" tries to see how far away he can get from his target and still connect, a BOWHUNTER tries to see how CLOSE he can get to his!
How many can say they are archers
How many can say they are bowhunters
How many can't seperate the two and claim to be both.
Let's do an unofficial pole.
I'm also a little curious if equipment choice affects this. How many compound shooters consider themselves archers? Is it an old dieing term? I'm not sure if the signature block intended a slur of archers by only capitalizing bowhunters. It almost appears so, but I don't really know.
I consider myself both. In my heart of hearts I enjoy my recurves more than my Mathews which I bought out of necessity when arthiritus didnt allow me to control the string anymore. Although I will say that compound sure impresses me with it's accuracy from 40 out to 80 yards. I think the arrow is up in the air long enough for me to feel that thrill of watching it fly.
How many can say they are archers
How many can say they are bowhunters
How many can't seperate the two and claim to be both.
Let's do an unofficial pole.
I'm also a little curious if equipment choice affects this. How many compound shooters consider themselves archers? Is it an old dieing term? I'm not sure if the signature block intended a slur of archers by only capitalizing bowhunters. It almost appears so, but I don't really know.
I consider myself both. In my heart of hearts I enjoy my recurves more than my Mathews which I bought out of necessity when arthiritus didnt allow me to control the string anymore. Although I will say that compound sure impresses me with it's accuracy from 40 out to 80 yards. I think the arrow is up in the air long enough for me to feel that thrill of watching it fly.
I also shoot in tournaments.
02-14-2010, 05:37 AM
#28
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: North Lima Ohio & Clarion Pa
Posts: 6,453
Bowhunter, when hunting game, Archer, when pursuing the pure shooting aspect of the sport.
Distance has zero bearing on the definition. It is purely intent. Do you wish to kill or have the best score, form, etc?
Even in hunting, distance means nothing to me. The goal of the hunter is to be able to make the kill shot when presented. With a bow, sometimes that's measured in feet and sometimes it's beyond the effective range of NFL Field Goal Kickers.
Distance has zero bearing on the definition. It is purely intent. Do you wish to kill or have the best score, form, etc?
Even in hunting, distance means nothing to me. The goal of the hunter is to be able to make the kill shot when presented. With a bow, sometimes that's measured in feet and sometimes it's beyond the effective range of NFL Field Goal Kickers.
02-21-2010, 08:01 PM
#29
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 114
GR8atta2d seemed to sum it up very well. What bothered me about the signature was that it presumed the archer was interested in only the long shot and that somehow he might be uncabable of making, or even trying to set up a perfect shot on close game.
I agree that distance has nothing to do with it. To me, an archer is someone who has taken to the bow and shows some dedication to mastering it or at least striving to improve. I would hope all bowhunters would be archers.
I think that since coming from a recurve beginning, I may identify more with the term archer, because I doubt there would be much arguement that shooting barebow with a slower recurve takes some dedication to achieve a competent level of repepitive accuracy and confidence. It may be possible that compounds with sights, releases, drop aways and peeps are much, much easier to shoot and kill deer with within days or weeks of purchase. The average recurve/longbow hunter may spend a year or more before he feels the same level of confidence. Then, he must connect with a good shoot to build that confidence.
That is why I think "archer" may be dearer to the barebow shooter and I think in the world of compounds the term has changed to competitive shooter. Now I may get some flac from that assumption from distinguished compound archers... lol.
I agree that distance has nothing to do with it. To me, an archer is someone who has taken to the bow and shows some dedication to mastering it or at least striving to improve. I would hope all bowhunters would be archers.
I think that since coming from a recurve beginning, I may identify more with the term archer, because I doubt there would be much arguement that shooting barebow with a slower recurve takes some dedication to achieve a competent level of repepitive accuracy and confidence. It may be possible that compounds with sights, releases, drop aways and peeps are much, much easier to shoot and kill deer with within days or weeks of purchase. The average recurve/longbow hunter may spend a year or more before he feels the same level of confidence. Then, he must connect with a good shoot to build that confidence.
That is why I think "archer" may be dearer to the barebow shooter and I think in the world of compounds the term has changed to competitive shooter. Now I may get some flac from that assumption from distinguished compound archers... lol.
02-21-2010, 08:10 PM
#30
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location:
Posts: 7,367
Bowhunter, when hunting game, Archer, when pursuing the pure shooting aspect of the sport.
Distance has zero bearing on the definition. It is purely intent. Do you wish to kill or have the best score, form, etc?
Even in hunting, distance means nothing to me. The goal of the hunter is to be able to make the kill shot when presented. With a bow, sometimes that's measured in feet and sometimes it's beyond the effective range of NFL Field Goal Kickers.
Distance has zero bearing on the definition. It is purely intent. Do you wish to kill or have the best score, form, etc?
Even in hunting, distance means nothing to me. The goal of the hunter is to be able to make the kill shot when presented. With a bow, sometimes that's measured in feet and sometimes it's beyond the effective range of NFL Field Goal Kickers.
Dan
