Rifles....are they cheating
 

I love to hunt I bowhunt and shotgun hunt. I know what a challenge it is to get with in 30 yards or less for a bow shot but is it fair to take game 300+ yards away with a high powered rifle?

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

I don't think gun hunting is cheating. I don't do it though, I perfer bow and arrow. Just little more of a challenge.

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

I sincerely hope that this thread does not get out of hand.

To answer your question....No, I don't think it is &quot;cheating&quot;. I sure as heck can't hit anything at 300 or 400 yards with a high powered rifle but I can darn well hit a quarter at 20...<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

100 yds? 300 yds? Hold a little high & kill it! W/ a flat shooting rifle, deer are pretty much a done deal. I used to shoot a 6mm mag @ woodchucks. If I could see 'em I could hit 'em. A kid on tv shot 250 yds & missed low on a mule deer. The deer had no idea what happened or where it came from. He ran 30 yds & stopped, the kid killed him w/ a 2nd shot. I've never hunted deer w/ a rifle, but from what I've seen in the woods, it shouldn't be too hard. I look forward to next bow season for my chance @ a nice buck.

Phil.
I guess I never answered the question. I don't think rifles are cheating. They serve a purpose for the people that use them. I've seen disabled people shoot rifles & shotguns that couldn't shoot a bow. There is absolutely nothing wrong w/ people's choices, be they bow or rifle, as long as they are legal & etical.

Edited by - pdq 5oh on 01/30/2002 11:00:14

Edited by - pdq 5oh on 01/30/2002 11:01:45

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

Getting a good kill shot on a deer at 300 yards isn't a slam dunk for most people, by any means. Most folks are good to a hundred yards, tops. Quite frankly, bowhunters can't keep the herd numbers in check. If not for gun hunters, we'd be neck deep in sick and starving deer. At least until they all died off.

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

All my shots with a rifle in my area are well within 150yds or less.
I would not say it was cheating to shoot a deer at 300yds.If it is a clean kill
and legal, I see nothing wrong with it.

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

WOOOOAAAAAHHHH NELLLLLIEEEEEE!!!<img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> I have probably as strong as an opinion on this subject as one can possibly have. I'll hold tight for a bit however. Right now I'll just say that I've never gun hunted deer and I never will. Anxious to see other's posts.

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

Wow! Sounds like Wolfen68 is holding back and loading both Barrels.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

No they aren't cheating, they are just a different type of hunting. Using a rifle makes you no less of a hunter than the guy who uses a bow. I will admit a bow is more challenging in some ways, I'm a prime example. I've killed many deer with a rifle, but I took up bow hunting (exclusivly) 3yrs ago and haven't killed one with my bow yet! I will admit most of the reason is me passing them up but a bow does present many more challenges, the biggest being the distance factor.

To say a rifle isn't hunting would be very childish. It's all hunting just different ways of doing it.

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

I have a few thoughts on this......

1. Yes, rifle hunting is cheating and all rifle hunters must be jailed immediately as they have nowhere near the ethics or morals that even the lowliest bow hunter has. JK
2. No, rifle hunters are not cheaters, they are in fact the only true hunters since bow hunters have such a high rate of wounding. JK again
3. Both rifle and bow hunters share the woods. Each can be a wonderful hunter or a scum parasite. It is up to each hunter to be decide which he wishes to be. Not kidding.

I hunt with both (weapons/methods) and strive to be ethical and judicious with my shot selection, as should all hunters.

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

Not cheating! Just a different, legitimate way of hunting.

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

I will agree with BTBOWHUNTER,As long as its legal and the animal is in a fair chase invirement,I see nothing wrong with using a rifle,its just another way to hunt.I use a rifle to hunt varmints with,and have taken a couple over 450 yards.I don't think it would be that big of a challenge to harvest a big game animal with a rifle,but thats only my opinion.And given the right oppertunity(spl?)I wouldn't mind giving it a try.

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

I don't classify rifle season as cheating. I'd hate to see it abolished. For me, its become more of a social affair than a hunt these days but it still has its challenges.

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

#1 if it were not for rifle hunting most species elk deer especially would over populate there region and starve out and die in winter. the average joe hunter is not as skilled a woodsman as the average bowhunter and getting within 30 yards to a broadside animal is out of the question. and as all hunters are responsible for taking care of our herds, rifles are a important part of the equasion
#2 here in north idaho the # of animal vehicle colisions each year is equall to the # of animals killed during a givin hunting season. if it were not for them cheating rifle hunters the # of people killed in these colisions would more then likely go up.
#3 the % of hunters in the US has steadily gone down since the late 1970s . thus i think anyway we can get the younger generation involved is a good way. if we cannot teach the youger generation our hunting ways the inner city populations will no doubt vote our hunting away from us by calling all hunting imoral and such.
#4 im just guessing on this one from personall experiance but the amount of time spent in the feild for a bowhunter is much greater then a rifle hunter. not all of us have unlimited time to bag our trophies. alot of people work long tedious hours, and may only be able to hunt 4 or 5 days a givin season. the rifle gives these people a chance

in conclusion i say rifle hunters are just that .....HUNTERS i think there is more then enough wild game to go around. if game became less prolificate and less likely of overpopulation then my views may be changed. this is also a northwestern view it may not be the same view taken by others in different areas of the country.

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

I've hunted with a rifle for as many years as it has been legal for me to hunt. I only started bow hunting last season.
As for the hunting part of it, id much rather use a bow. Rifle hunting, its not the hunt but the people i hunt with that keep me doing it every year.

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

About 98% of my deer hunting is with a bow. I do enjoy the 2%, though. Maybe it's for the company I keep during that season...maybe it's the enjoyment of more time in the woods...Who knows???

I do consider it &quot;a bit much&quot; when I see a guy 25 feet up a tree wrapped with camo netting blowing a grunt call...with a rifle capable of shooting 300+ yards. Not that there's anything wrong with it, it just ain't for me.

That said, I haven't killed a single deer with a gun in the past 3 years (compared to 9 with a bow). Maybe I'm just jealous cause I'm not a good gun hunter!!! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

Trophy buck walks out into a soybean field to feed 300 yards away.
Hunter A shoots him immediately from his tower stand with a .300 weatherby mag. Hunt over. I would have to say they made a good shot.
Hunter B lets call him Natty sees this trophy buck come out into the beanfield 300 yards away and he says allright this is what I call hunting I have to crawl thru this beanfield on my hands and knees pushing my bow ahead of me and stay downwind and try to crawl up to within 30 yards to get a shot at this buck. Been there,done that, got him too.
Who is a better hunter.

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

Is hunting with a rifle cheating? Only in archery season!
Is hunting with a rifle less challenging? IMHO, in most cases...probably.

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

guess you would have to define cheating and that defintion is gonna be different for each individual and how they see, and what they plan on getting out of there hunt!

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

Is using Scentlok suits cheating? those cameras? Tracking with a dog? The list goes on and on. I like the challenge of a long shot.

Check out my website at http://www.geocities.com/deerhunteri...oors_Page.html

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

i dont really think it is cheating to me, because i bow and shotgun hunt and rifle hunt. But i will never shoot a deer over 100 yards, i usuallylike them around 50, i love to get them in close.

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

I rifle hunt and bow hunt. I wouldn't say its cheating either.
Some people say the new bows are not the same and that would be considered cheating.
What about the new in-line muzzleloaders?
Maybe we should all get spears and hunt with them. lol

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

Honestly, I think that sumtimes it could be considered cheating...because... I was watching realtree outdoors n I guess they spotted a big buck...so they decided to stalk it which was only about 15-20yds and they were talking in a normal pitch...as to say they are cheating??? In my oppinion yes but rifle hunting is sumthing that just doesn't get me excited.

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

Getting a good clean kill with a Gun isn't necessarily a done deal. BUT... most deer are taken at less than 75 yards anyway. Sometimes you got to hear <font size=4><font color=red>BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMmmmm</font id=red></font id=size4> What ever is your thing ..... have fun. Heck, we use guns to fight wars. I guess it should be alright to gather a little food with one.

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

....This just in.....PETA has spoke to a wide section of the deer poulation.....99% of all deer feel that rife and bowhunting is cheating...one deer refused comment due to fear of retabution....DeerThug is reported to have said that rifle huntin is still huntin and that can't be bad.

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

I dont think gun hunting is cheating...i mean from past experiences hitting a dove or rabbit is very difficult with a bow.!!

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

WELL HERE IS MY .02 ON THIS, I'VE HUNTED WITH A BOW AND WITH A RIFLE, I LIKE THE CHALLENGE THE LONG SHOTS GIVE, AND FOR BOWHUNTING ITS HOW STEALTHY CAN YOU BE TO GET A DER TO COME CLOSE ENOUGH FOR A SHOT. I DON'T THINK IT IS AS LONG AS THE DEER IS TAKEN LEGALLY

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

On public land it is very easy to see animals during bow season but much more difficult to get a shot. In rifle season a lot fewer animals are seen but the chance for a shot is greatly increased.

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

In my opinion rifle hunting is not cheating you should just try hitting a moving deer at say 150 plus yards
running full tilt because he was just kicked out of slough that was so thick the walkers didnt bother with carrying guns. In No. Dak.if it wasnt for gun hunters we would have deer up to our door handles laying along the road<img src=icon_smile_dead.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

I don't think there is any way to compare the two...bowhunting or rifle hunting. We don't allow rifle hunting in Iowa, but we do have to deal with &quot;party hunting&quot; during shotgun season where 25 guys surround a patch of timber and it sounds like WWIII...more like killing, than hunting.Every year we have monster bucks killed this way(some buy people who know zero about deer hunting) and there is no way I can admire the hunting skills of someone who does this when I know how much time and work I put in to take a buck of the same caliber. However,I do know how important our gun season is to keep the deer herd in check.

I guess I would have to say...bow,rifle,shotgun,etc...a person has the right to hunt the way they want to as long is it is 'in season' and legal.Posting this topic on this board...as a diehard bowhunter,I can't see getting many positive responses to rifle hunting...might be a different story on another board. Sorry to get off the subject a bit.

TB

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

Wow!!! I am beginning to like wolfen on Prozac.

I hunt bow, shotgun, and rifle. Is a rifle fair? You bet, I love to bow hunt because the deer are so laid back and you see tons of them, once gun season rolls in it seems like the same woods that were full of deer during bow have no deer. Hunting with a rifle is easier than bow, but it is far from being unfair, deer totally change their patterns during gun, the big bucks and older does rarely move once the sun is up and they use different trails. It is a lot easier to pattern deer for bow because the deer do not change their patterns during bow, gun is different, they have no pattern per say that compares to pre gun.

The Tazman

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

A scoped rifle is the most effective meat maker we got. I've never hunted with one, but wouldn't hesitate if survival counted on whether or not we had meat to eat.

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

I Hunt 1 Bow
2 Black powder
3 Rifle
I don't think that any form is cheating. Each one offers different challenges and I enjoy them all. I enjoy hunting and will be out there with whatever is legal at the time.

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

Everyone should be allowed to hunt(except
poachers). Everyone has different skill
levels. Would you deprive someone who cant
sneak to within 25 yds of a deer the right
to partake of the bounty of the land? No
rifle hunting is not cheating at all. I
certainly would not want to go after a
brown bear, a lion, or cape buffalo without
one. I know they have all been taken with a
bow but more power to the guys that can do
that. I love to bowhunt but I have no qualms
whatsoever about picking up my .338, .270
or .54 MLS.

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

Rifle hunting is less challenging than bowhunting.

Rifle hunters who exclusively rifle hunt generally know much less about deer and deer behavior than bowhunters who exclusively bowhunt.

It is more difficult to harvest a BC buck with a bow than with a rifle.

Bowhunting generally requires a greater investment of time and energy to obtain success.

Rifle hunting is much more dangerous and many more hunters are injured or killed every year in comparison to bowhunting.

The majority of deer poached each year is done with rifles.

Rifle hunters are capable of harvesting deer ranging 10 times farther than bowhunters.

On the flip side...

Due to the effectiveness of the weapon, not necessarily the hunter, the majority of deer harvested is done with a rifle which keeps the population in check.

Rifle hunters contribute a large proportion of money to the various conservation and wildlife departments via license and tag purchases.

Rifle hunters are backed by a very strong political lobbying organization in the NRA which does help all outdoor enthusiasts.

But for me, it's bow only for deer and it always has been. I'll never understand the pleasure rifle hunters have about plunking a deer from 100-300 yards away or even 50 yards for that matter. But then I guess anti's must think it barbaric for me to shoot an arrow through the lungs of a deer so it suffocates to death and is drowned in it's own blood. I have high standards for hunting deer and it comes down to a difference of mindset. Rifle hunters are necessary in maintaining a healthy population of deer. I, personally, would like to see all states go to shotgun only for whitetail deer.

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

I beg to differ with you on this one Wolfen68!! I will not relinquish lightly to not being considered on the top of the list as Presidential candidate of the &quot;prestigous&quot;, &quot;&quot;***** against guns club&quot;&quot;!!! <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> But since I see that Frank has &quot;served&quot; warning I suggest that we keep opinions between us. :) Lets compromise,.....You can take west of the Mississippi and I'll take east of the Mississippi!! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Actually, I agree with Arthur P that if we relied on bow's,....it would be a true mess!! I PERSONALLY lost the challenge of gun hunting years ago and just plain enjoy the bow hunting. I always say &quot;that I'd rather take a doe with my bow,..than a trophy with a gun&quot;. I may change that to &quot;I'd rather take nothing with my bow than a trophy with a gun&quot;!. :)

I would like to see them make shotgun season legal with a single shot only! I'm sick of hearing Boom,......Boom, Boom, Boom Boom,.... 9+ outa 10 times I hear a shotgun hunter take a shot. After that second shot I have to really question how &quot;aware&quot; that hunter is with respect to the next 4 shots, and where the lead is going!!! And usually the first shot connects!

Edited by - PABowhntr on 01/30/2002 11:51:06

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

wolfen great post, I will only take issue with one statement, &quot;Rifle hunting is much more dangerous and many more hunters are injured or killed every year in
comparison to bowhunting.&quot;

In Va. there was a total of 5 hunting deaths this year, only one was due to a gun, another to a heary attack, the rest were people falling out of tree stands. I still can not get over the fact that people are either to lazy or to stupid to use a safety harness. I will concur that in a weapon accident a gun accident is far more likely to result in death than a bow accident.

The Tazman

RE: Rifles....are they cheating
 

I hunt and enjoy both. And for all the people who say it's too easy. Climb down out of your tree stand and come on a desert hunt. Not as easy as it seems when you are hunting low populated areas and end up hiking 10+ miles a day lugging a backpack and a rifle. I am not complaining. To have pretty much the whole desert to myself without many hunters in sight, I wouldn't trade it for the world. Just saying, don't say it's easy.