What did you read in this thread that you consider "elistist"? I'm just curious. I hunt with rifles, muzzleloaders, compounds and trad bows so I know I'm not an elitist. I'm just particular about the company I keep.

Well, yes and no. I'd discourage anyone from picking up a bow and start hunting within a week. That said, proper coaching with todays modern compounds will get you hitting the bullseye over and over in a short time. I had my buddy up 3 times between May and August. He didn't practice much outside of that... but some. I had him hitting the bullseye in a no time and stacking arrows tight at 20 in a couple lessons. He killed 4 deer that fall. He killed 8 last fall, his second season. Mind you, the bow was tuned and set up for his draw length from the get go. All he had to do was listen and shoot. A couple key preshot routines will help him not to panick. You got to talk him through it. For Pete's sake, he's your brother-in-law. Talk him through it, help him get a bow, teach him(short lessons at first) Don't over bow or over draw him. He should be ready in a couple weeks to try it. No way would I tell my brother in law or nephews or close friends... you're out because I don't think you're good enough. Let him find that out. Help him understand. Teach him. Heck, how many bad shots and hits do you see from "THE Experts" on TV. He can't be that bad. It's not rocket science. Yes you may practice all year and you benefit from it, the ability to hold for long times and all that. 20 yard shots become slam dunks.... but not everyone is geared that way. Give him a chance and a helping hand.

That is elitist IMO. It's basically the same principals only applied to a different hunting implement: control your breathing, pick your spot, squeeze the trigger....Gotta agree with the above post....Twenty and in is a slam dunk with todays modern bows......

Bow hunting requires more knowledge of shot placement and your effective range. It also requires more scouting work because our range is limited. You must know their patterns so stand placement works to your advantage - not as critical with gun for obvious reasons.

I've given someone a tuned bow who is a good shot with a gun and they are drilling arrows in tight groups at 20 yards with a little instruction. The ability to judge yardage...nah, get a range finder.

Where he might have trouble is his buck fever since bow hunters are right there with the deer. And I agree with you, wouldn't put him in my "go to" stands either until he's out there doing the pre-season work as well.

Use your best judgment on when you think he's ready. Make it a point for you two to shoot together as much as possible so you can help him out. He could be ready in a week, or two months, but remember he'll never truly learn the sheer challenge without experience in the stand. Heck, he may not even get to full draw on a deer, or he may shoot a perfect shot...hard to predict, but you know how experienced he is in general when it comes to hunting.

I believe the best experience is in the woods. Also, IMO, the chosen stands are up to the hunter with the ownership/rights to the land and the guest gets what is left.

Not wrong but,imo,atleast see what he can do with the bow first.He might be a natural,if so,I wouldn't hesitate letting him go.

Heh...if you think asking someone to spend a little extra time to become familiar with their equipment is elitist, so be it. I plead guilty. I gun hunt and bow, for the record. I can tell you it was much easier mastering hunting with a gun than it was with a bow. I think most of us here would agree that it takes less skill to take down a deer with a scoped rifle at 100 yards than it does one with a bow at 30-35 yards.

If there's no difference in skill level and practice required, please explain to me why there are far fewer archers than gun hunters.

I do agree with you that 20 yards and in is a lot easier, but a lot of new bow hunters don't often know the difference between a 20 yard shot and a 40 yard one...and we're simply saying that they usually need more than a couple days of practice to really be ready to know the difference.

I think some of you are reading a lot more into comments like mine than was intended. All we're saying is that the guy probably needs a little more preparation than he thinks. That's all. When he's ready to go, it will be apparent.

this is getting ridiculous. His stands, his ground and his rules. Let him chose what to do. If his BIL is ready then he will know it. As for your set ups. Thats up to you, but I know how much sweat and time goes into a good setup. I would say if he gets good with a bow sometime during season, you two should go out and put a couple of sets in for him. Don't ruin your setups but find a good place for him to sit so you both can have a good hunt. But in no way should you feel its your duty to put him in your best stands

Thanks everyone for the input, I have decided not to let him hunt our farm, on the other side of the county we have two more properties about 70 acres total that my father is going to let him hunt. Those were my little honey holes and im going to show him where I normally set up. Good luck everyone

Well let's review. What does HOCKEY have to do with it. And he killed a couple nice bucks. You aren't afraid he'll kill another are you? LOL "How To Win Friends and Influence People" is a great book. It could also be named how to get along with the inlaws? LOL I think you're being a little jealous and pissy about it. You willing to let him gun hunt like he has in the past? Obviously you don't want to help him. I say you're causing trouble in the family tree. Dang boy, he's your brother in law... not a stranger.

Besides that, I see in another post where you said he's showed you up twice and it has become a big competition between you, your father and your brother in law when gun season comes around. After further review I think you're being childish and trying to throw the competition out. Your biggest mistake is making hunting a competition. It's about you and the animal. You win or lose depending on your skills. Don't blame someone else for your failures if he succeeds and you don't. Congratulate him and learn.

I dont agree with you at all. I bet most people who claim they have "mastered" the "scoped rifle" cant shoot an 8" group off hand at 100 yards.

The reason there are more gun hunters is because some people dont like to "feel" limited to 30-35 yards. Guns make people feel more powerful.

Really! This is coming from a guy that spray paints an outline of a deer in his back yard. I brought up hockey because that was his sport before. When he couldn't play I introduced gun hunting to him. "That is why I brought up hockey"

Lol....I think its funny your read "How To Win Friends and Influence People" just tells me your a loner. Nothing wrong with that. But if your going to give me your physco analysis I rather do it in person. That way I can tell you my life story, how I was brought up and then you can prescribe me that right medication "DOC". But until then quit playing "Sigmund Freud!!"

Bottom line, my land, my rules. He can gun hunt the s$%# out of the land if he wants but bowhunting is far more serious. If you were serious bowhunter you would know what Im talking about. I don't want someone in my area after I planted food plots, hung stands, planted trees and dug ponds and exspects to jump right in. Give a little to gain a lot. I worked hard so everyone can enjoy "gun hunting" and you worked hard to so everyone can enhoy "their freedom"

If I was in your position, I would not only prevent him from BOW hunting on your land, I would prevent him from GUN hunting on your land.
My dad taught me that hunting is a "one shot, one kill" mentality. Gun or bow. I had to use a break action for the first two years that I hunted. The only way to get a deer with a break action is with practice, patience, hard work, and skill. No short cuts. Bow hunting forces you into this mentality but if you learn it early than its just second nature. I'm not tooting my own horn but if everyone learns to shoot this way, we would have a lot fewer anti's out there.
I agree with the other posters that we owe it to the deer to make clean ethical kills. Ask your other hunter if he would like an arrow through his gut and then die 12 hours later. Not a fun picture.

Also, any and all elitist comments are not only correct but justified. Bow hunting is NOT for the casual hunter, it's for the elite hunter. Why do more people gun hunt than bow hunt? Because its easier!!
When GUN hunting and a deer comes in at a funny angle to you have to gauge the distance between 20-40-60-100-150 yards? No, just point and shoot.
Do you have to wait till it gives you a good angle? Nope, "hit both shoulders, than it can't run."
Do you have to to control your movements, sounds, or scent nearly as much? No again. 100 yards is a lot farther to see, smell, or hear than 15.
Can you empty your gun in 4 seconds? Yes, finally a yes to a question. However I would love to see you empty a whole quiver in 4 seconds.
Do you have to wait till your target is stationary? Back to the no's. I would like to see a deer drive with bows... Actually no I wouldn't.
I could go on for days...

So what you're really saying is no matter how good he was or becomes you don't want him. That changes it all. LOL Why ask the question if you don't want the anwers.
About the book, "How to......" I took 3 Dale Carneige courses when I was younger in an effort to expand my mind and better perform in life. LOL It was required reading. I gave it to Good Will when I became old and crotchetty. LOL

The chalk outline of the deer was in jest when years ago the ethics posse started finding fault with blood on some deer I'd shot. They question anything in those days to include my distaste for "Harvesting" deer. I kill all mine. I haven't posted deer pictures much since then.

I honestly get a better conversation and understanding out of my four year old nephew. When I say "Give a little to gain a lot" means help put in food plots in, plant trees, cut hay, do something for the land and practice with your bow. Did you have a B.I.L that didn't let you hunt his land? Those classes you took on expanding your mind "didn't pay off" because your stuck on me being jealous of my B.I.L.

WOW!! I am surprised of all the "bashing" over this post. To me, and maybe its only me, when someone puts a post on hear they are looking for a second opinion 99% of the time. I doubt that there are people on here that are looking for someone to TELL them what to do, and how to hunt. Everyone has there own ways. They wont work for everyone. I think that 99.9% of the people on here are good ethical hunters or you wouldn't be on here anymore. IMO, people on here wouldn't put up with unethical hunters and they would leave.
I think you, and only you, can determine if he is ready to bow hunt. Your the only one that can SEE his progress. If you think he can, or is ready to bow hunt this year, then let him hunt. If YOU don't feel he is ready, I'm sure he will understand. After all, you still let him gun hunt on your property, so he cant be all bad. I'm not trying to step on any toes. It's just my opinion, thats all.

:confused2:To each his own but I think the reason more people gun hunt is because it's cheaper and guns are common place in society vs archery equipment.

In many states a bow tag is an additional expense to the big game hunter (it is here in NY) add in a hunting stand, extra tag, bow, arrows, broad heads and someone at the pro shop to set it up...all of it prices many people out of the sport unfortunately.

Shot guns and rifles can be picked up pretty cheap all over and you get 12-24 shells per carton for less than $20, you can't touch a good set of arrows let alone broad heads to tip them for $20.

I guess when I take my shot gun out after bow season I become a casual hunter? Maybe I should carry my bow all through gun season so I can remain an elite hunter......:confused0024:

I totally agree that gun hunting is cheaper. My wife reminds me of this every year...
That might have some effect on some hunters as to why they choose guns over bows but you have to agree that guns are easier. I have tried to talk a number of my friends and family into taking up bow hunting and they all tell me that they don't have the time and and the effort to put into it. Yet they will pick up their 30-06, shoot 5 shots at the range two days in advance, go sit out in a stand, and kill a deer on opening weekend. Seriously, how many of your friends do that. No practice, No scouting, No actual hard work.

Not wrong at all, you should work with him after he gets his bow and watch how well he progresses with his shooting. Then you will know when he is ready to take a shot at a live animal.

IMO there is nothing wrong with what your doing. It takes practice and dedication to be an ETHICAL bowhunter. I agree, encouraging him to hunt and practice would be the best thing to do.

I've got totally mixed feelings on this but here goes, I'm sure that anyone that want's to learn I can get them to hit a 6" bull @ 20 in an afternoon sesion with a good compound that and a week worth of guidance should get him inside of 4. IF (big IF) you can convince him to limit his shots to inside his effective range then maybe. Sort of sounds to me like he's a spray and pray type and if that's the case you won't be able to convince him at all, so I would agree with your NO decision. In the end it's your choice and your call, good luck with it.