Bowhunting
 

I have always wondered why people would bowhunt instead of gun hunt! Thought gun hunting was easier. Now that I have been bowhunting for a year, I see why. Not only do you see more deer, its a higher quality encounter, you learn more about behavior, its more of a challenge, it gets my blood pumping, you see more animals in general and I enjoy being in woods more when bowhunting. For all bowhunters out there, thank you.

I wondered the same thing until last year. I still have alot to learn but I'm having a great time with it. I finally got my 1st one, a doe this year. There is truely nothing like it. I actually hate to see gun season come in now lol. It's amazing how many deer you see when no guns are going off or no dogs are chasing them.

Congratulations on your first bow deer. I am still working on it, but it has been a great season. I am in Maine and there is only around 250,000 deer in the state, lol. I should have started bowhunting when I work in NC.

right on guys, i'd say keep at it, but we got you hook line and sinker now.
remember to keep practicing, dont just grab yer bow at the beginning of next season thinking everything is swell, and it worked out last year so i'll be ok.
put twice as much practice at it if you can.
hang in there croc, you learn from every stupid mistake...more to come too lol... range finder makes a world of difference...a 5 yard pin is the difference between an over or under shot vs a bulls-eye. hope your practicing in the clothes you'll be hunting in, surprises when a world record walk out will haunt you forever. :sad0064:
practicing with field points isnt the same as a bh...sometimes close, but never the same.
wish i could talk yall into a magnus snuffer fixed bh....i think it would save ya some heart ache later. 6 for $35...use 3 for practice, 3 for hunting...might never have to buy another pack..easy to sharpen...i shot 1 into a 6X6 cedar post to see what it would do and it barely bent it.
keep at it.
-haf-

halfbaked is right, always use your mistakes as a learning experience and never lose your determination. A bowhunter much wiser that i once told me "a determined bowhunter is a sucessfull bowhunter."

Oh I definetly made alot of mistakes the first year and I'm sure I'll make several more. Your right on the broadheads and fieldpoints being a little different. Luckly I do practice with my bh too. I really learned alot on this forum that saved me from a headache. Still got alot to learn but I think that I'm a little better than last year. Gun hunting I never really paid attention to the deers behavior. That and practice seems like a big key to bow hunting. I may have to try them fixed bhs.

Great thread,Thank you to all those who posted...., keep them coming : )

I start practicing in march in the barn at work, because up here in Maine its still snowing until end of April sometimes. I love just shooting its great for the upper body and fun recreation. I tune and shoot with my broadheads starting in end of July/early august because are expanded archery season starts 2nd week of september. I also practice all possible scenarios ie.. treestand, blind twisted torso, back of treestand, moving quietly window to window in blind. My girlfriend thinks im crazy lol.

I'd say, a determined and confident bowhunter is going to be "more"... dedicated, tired, emotional, purserving and a whole mess of discriptive adjectives which will eventually equate to "success". Never stop trying and learning! And never let anyone say you cannot do it with a bow! If you are determined and confident, then it is simply a matter of time! This bowhunting gig is a game of connect the dots. The more you experience, the more dots you gather. It becomes easier as you begin to add dots to your reservoir, or "bag of tricks". As Half said, practise and more practice is the first step-know your equipment. It should be an extention of your soul...be humble enough to know your limits.

Good hunting.

Yeah I won't draw my bow unless it's within 30 yrds. With my set up that's all I feel comfortable with. Maybe in the future with a different setup and more practice I may be able to reach out a little farther but for now 30 yrds is what I feel comfortable with. There is so much to learn. Guess that's why I love it so much. Everyone kelp telling me to get a crossbow but that just didn't appeal to me. I did shoot my cousins crossbow but I just wanted something more challeging and boy did I find it. There's nothing like waiting for that perfect moment to draw the bow. And when you do get to full draw and know that it's about to happen, now that's when you have to calm your nerves and and make it happen. Last year I did draw back but somehow the deer felt that something was wrong and decided to run about 10 yards away from me. He was sill only 20 yards out but I decided that since I had been in the draw position and my nerves were a little out of wack, not to take the shot. Not to mention he didn't seem to be as calm as I thought that he should've been. I don't regret making that decision because even if I'd let the arrow fly, there's no telling what would've happened. This year I felt comfortable with the shot I took and the deer never know what hit her. It's an unbelievable feeling.

Not only all the things you said, but gun hunting in many states is not real hunting. It's gunning. When you pick up a bow you learn to HUNT. After so many years the kill becomes only a secondary part of the experience.

I totally agree BGfisher. I am on my second bow season, havent shot a deer with my bow yet and it has to be the best yet. I have learned alot by watching them and they cant see me. It seems like they have no idea im there sometimes.

You got that right. Although I'm new to bow hunting myself, the first year I learned more about deer and there behaviors more than all of the years put together gun hunting. I'm not in no way putting down people that hunt with guns because I still do some but alot of times that I'm gun hunting, I still have my bow with me. I'm not sure that this is normal. Maybe I've lost my mind carrying 2 weapons but I just can't put the bow down lol.

Looks like we started at the same time. I was lucky enough to get a doe this year. You are in for a rush like you can't believe. Just to know when you are at full draw and it's about to happen is a feeling that I never had with a gun. When it does happen just collect yourself and let r rip. I hope everyone has a great what's left of the season!

I totally agree NOT THE DOGS, its addicting and I cant put my bow down either. I shoot a few before work, at luch break and when I get home. I didnt even gun hunt this year because I love the bow. This might seem crazy, but I made a promise to myself that I will not gun hunt again until I get one with a bow.

I should have started bowhunting when I lived down south instead of Maine. Our deer herd is small compared to most other states.

Its all about the experience. I call it the jazz... and after 47 years of slinging sticks I still get all Jazzed up when the season comes around!!!!!!!!!!!! Haven't used a gun to hunt with in over 25 years and I don't miss it, plus you are matching wits with the deer. In my opinion this is giving the deer his best chance of besting you... he's within 40 yards your heart is beating out your chest your arm is shaking and you have to get your s==t together and seal the deal, NOW THAT'S THE JAZZ

Good for you! Nice display of strong will power. I have not displayed that consistently while bowhunting and have injured and lost deer. Those are mistakes that haunt me and I can't take back.

Im glad you are enjoying your Bowhunting experince! I have taken may animals but I hold all my Bow hunting success higher. I like how Mr Miranda puts it " When 200 yrds is just the beginning"