Thinking about bowhunting next year...
 

I do not wish to take up bowhunting for several reasons, but I am strongly leaning towards it several other reasons. Namely, I only hunt public land. Muzzleloader season here in VA is great because nobody does man drives and you aren't allowed to run dogs. But since I only hunt public land, I am subjected to these hunting "techniques" on public land during gun season and there's nothing I can do about it. And those techniques cause the deer to stay bedded most times and become completely nocturnal. That is why I am considering taking up the bow.

I do not want to bow hunt for several reasons. First of all, hunting deer with green leaves still on the trees along with the obscenely warm October days that are possible here in Central Virginia just seems, to me, well...wrong (not morally, of course). Unfitting is probably a better word. I have squirrel hunted in early October and even that seems odd to me.

I also don't like the idea of not crushing the deer with loads of hydrostatic shock and turning their insides to mush in an instant. I believe that a well-placed bullet immediately sends the deer into shock and they are dead before they realize what has happened. In fact, if a neck shot is possible, I often choose that, which causes instant death in most cases. I realize that the mantra of a bowhunter is to become one with your weapon and practice, practice practice, but you read posts by bowhunters time and again where the slightest thing went wrong which caused they shot to be imperfect, resulting in a lost deer or long tracking job (read: slow death). And the bowhunter that lost or had to track the deer always says that they practice a ton, etc. I find it hard to believe that even the best bowhunter doesn't fire the occasional imperfect shot during a hunt.

Although I don't claim to be perfect, I have only lost one deer, and that was because I (in my first season of hunting) stupidly used buckshot during a hunt (never again). Every other deer I have shot with my muzzleloader, rifle or slug gun has been recovered quickly and easily, even with slightly imperfect shots (which is why bullet selection is key). The thought of wounding a deer with an arrow doesn't sit well with me.

I borrowed this quote from another recent thread because it's a good starting point for a question I have:

It depends on the mentality of the person behind the trigger. When you are talking about some of those I described above...the dog hunters, the man drivers, agreed. Of the last four deer I have killed, three have been less than 15 yards away from me (one from a tree, two from the ground), and one 20 yards away from the ground. I let two bucks go the other morning from my stand, both on the same trail 10 yards from my stand.

So my question is this: what is going to be different for me if I take up the bow? I understand the movement involved in drawing a bow, but I honestly feel I could have drawn a bow on any of those deer I mentioned.

lmao...many others before you and i have asked the same question. you are just gonna have to get a bow and let us know in a couple years. it's different for everybody. some guys/gals its a life changer, for others not so much. for me, it was definitely a game changer. as far away from gun hunting as one could get. so grab a bow, practice for a couple years, and then get ya a hunt in and show us some pics already. i wouldnt wait til the start of bow season to give er a try. we will see if ya let as many walk down that trail without taking a shot with yer bow as ya did yer gun. gl

I'd rather bow hunt than gun hunt for a few reasons:
- warmer weather, no freezing your butt off (NH season starts mid-Sept). Bowhunting in those first cool October days when leaves are changing is awesome!
- challenge. It's plain and simple, harder. Sounds like you've got the "get close" part under control. But now that they are close, you need to draw, aim and shoot without getting caught. It's more movement than with gun (though that close a gun isn't a done deal either)

I'd rather gun hunt mostly because of the increased range. In some states where you see lots of deer, this wouldn't be an issue, but here we see deer MAYBE one in 5 hunts, and that's a good success rate. Now when you only see 2-3 deer per year, but they are hanging around at 40+ yards, that moves them to "saw but to far for a shot" territory. It can get frustrating.

As for effective killing, bows cause severe and sudden blood pressure loss and lack of being able to breath. I've shot deer that sort of just stood there apparently not feeling the arrow go through, walk a few steps and tip over. I've also had to trail gun shot deer, so it goes both ways.

My guess is MOST bad shots are from lack of experience shooting at a deer. You simply can't practice this without shooting at deer. My one and only lost deer with a bow was my fault. Since I've become more "calm" for lack of a better term, when shooting at deer, my tracking distance has gone down and success up.

There are pro's and con's to both gun and bow. Hunting with a bow is enjoyable to me for a few reasons. A. i get from the 3rd weekend in september until the last day in december to hunt bucks and in the early and late season i hunt all day in a stand without hearing a gunshot, so i can choose not to hunt during rifle season if i want. It is also a more blood pumping experience, for me anyway. As far as wounding deer goes, if you are too excited to shoot or you are not sure of the shot. You do have the option of not taking it.

If I get a bow I'd rather get a nicer one that is used. I am sure there are plenty of well-to-do folks that get a new bow every season because they can. Any advice on where to look, and what to look for? I'd hate to go to an archery shop to try out new bows to see what I like when I have no intention of buying a bow from them. Then again, they will be the ones setting up the bow and selling me accessories.

while i only bow hunt,
as you decide, keep in mind, more they push bow hunting,
more they take away from gun hunters,
many places promote bow hunting not because they are pro hunting but as a way to take guns out of the woods,

alot of archery shops buy used bows and take trade-ins so you can still get a used one there and have them set it up for you. i know scheels stores also do trade-ins if you have one of their stores nearby. bowsite.com also has a huge used section. Bows are something that you should try before you buy so buying online isnt always the key unless you have already tried out a particular bow.

im wanting to get into bow hunting as well. ive only gun hunted, mainly because i felt like i wouldnt practice shooting enough to feel confident. of course all good shooters could have a bad shot but the more you shoot the more consistent you become.

LOL, well that's one reason I am interested in bow hunting; I'll have something I can shoot in my back yard all day long! My muzzleloader? Not so much. Lots of time involved in simply taking a trip to the range and back. And I love shooting my muzzleloader.

Give me an example of what you are talking about. Are you talking public land, or local firearm ordinances in general? I live in a suburban county. Even though there are plenty of places with enough land to justify rifle use, centerfire rifles are prohibited but shotguns and muzzleloaders are permitted (and rimfires but not for deer, obviously). In the only area of public land available for hunting in this particular county, the hunters would go apesh** if they decided to make it bow only. And I mean just crazy. There probably would be some dead politicians as a result.

But...and this may be what you are talking about...a more recent development has been the "urban archery" seasons. Basically, it has opened new areas for hunting that were not previously available. Albeit only to archers, I see it as a positive. I (unfortunately) live in a neighborhood, and I have seen deer behind my house. If granted permission, you could feasibly hunt with archery equipment in my neighborhood. Though I am a proponent of personal responsibility, I am not so sure I would be thrilled at the sound of firearms in my neighborhood.

Take note of my avatar. Even though I use and (for now) prefer the use of a firearm for hunting, in no way would I stand for more restrictions...of any kind...on firearms. And the "come and take it" slogan has nothing to do with the use of firearms, or lack thereof, during hunting.

A archery pro shop could save alot of working out "bugs"for you. Getting an idea of what bow fits you and your technique,(shooting with fingers or a release for example )a reputable shop is interested in helping the sport,of course sales help but even if you don,t buy a bow you may return for other items or service over time. Them watching you shoot can avoid bad form/habits too.
I hope to bow hunt again next year,same bow i bought in 81! Same 20 yard limit and quartering away shots or straight down.
Un harried deer interesting to watch and hunt. Shooting a bow takes focus enough to actually be a relaxing break from every thing even in back yard. Good luck should you try it.

I guess you need to ask yourself, "What is the pinnacle of hunting for me?" Is it the same court, same game, same outcome...? I would find the "same"...same experience, same mountain, same folks running through my hunt, etc...extremely boring. That's just me.

With the utmost respect for wildlife, I believe hunting should abound with challenge and lack guarantees. For me, that feeling is enhanced as a bowhunter. It puts me and my prey on a more level playing feild. It's a sense of control I enjoy. Moreover, the longer seasons allow me more time to engage. For me, it's just a matter of time...

With that said, it seems to me you are looking for more control in your endeavors. If this is the case, then why are you hesitant to take on risk? If you race and never crash, are you really racing?

To buy your first bow you really need to have someone with you who knows about bows, or a trusted shop. Assuming you don't know much about them.

Bows have to "fit" you. If it doesn't you will never shoot it well. Some shops are GREAT, some are terrible.

Buying used online is a great way to find deals, however you have to know what you are doing to make sure the bow will fit you or can be adjusted to fit you.

I'd say talk to a good shop in your area. Be honest, tell them you want a good/used bow, but will buy all the accessories from them. They should help you.

cant recall specifics
but think a fairly recent one was i believe in MI,
where they banned(or were trying to) on a certain forest,
and promoted bowhunting over gun hunting
the opposition claimed the noise from firearms took aways from the peace and tranquality for for non hunting visitors, hikers/day trippers, etc..

other more common issues is where they shorten gun seasons to accomodate other seasons, such as bow.

i am not bashing bow hunting
i bow hunt and love it.
just when you are given the oppurtunity to bow hunt from the state
just be wary your gun rights arent being diminished by it

Thats a good statement, bow hunting I believe bring challenges to the HUNT. You have to be more stealthy rather in gun hunting you got some distance to shot from. Not saying thats always the case. You do get close shots with rifle. If your a person who likes to take on challenges and try new things do some bow hunting. Plus you wont have to deal with the cold. Also you get to hunt in rut!! best feeling ever.

The last couple of years my dad and I have grown fond of our new little saying,

"Deer hunting isn't about the deer....."

This is even more true for us during bow. To me gun hunting is a science; bowhunting is an art. The forest is alive when the season begins in Sept. There's is always something to take in. But as stated earlier, its different for everyone. If your really not sure, hunt with a camera the first year. The whole experience for me has now evolved to the point where, just being out there and sharing it with people is accomplishing my main goal. Everything after that is just gravy.....

Okay, I will say this the best I can...I gun hunted for over 20 years, small game to large game, I have many a story to share while doing so. While I did this, I never thought of the "explosion" that it took to drop the game, i thought of the placement it was going to take, to take the game home to put meat on the table. Although there are shots that a Bowhunter wouldnt (shouldnt) take that a person with a gun may, it doesnt make one more ethical than the other. I gave up gun hunting long ago, if you ask me why, usually my respnose is "anyone can shoot a deer from 300 yds out", and I firmly believe that, I done it. Everyone has posted reasons why and I agree with most all, so I am not going to debate them. When I read "shot" "explosion" etc, I am reading that you, sir, dont belong in bowhunting. You are looking for a different avenue in which you can have a more successful season, thats not the life of a bowhunter, we go several seasons, at times, without a kill, which in the end substansiates the love we have for what we do.So, in the end, you have to ask yourself...."why do I love deerhunting?" not," how many deer can I kill?" or "is bowhunting something I should consider?" When you take up a Bow you are all in, here is no in between, thats we we love about it!

Damon: You, "sir", obviously lack reading and comprehension skills. But of course I expect such a response from an archery snot. And I don't categorize a bowhunter who will only hunt with a bow and can't imagine hunting any other way like that, just people like you respond to with your nose in the air and your head up your butt (not sure how that's possible, but you managed it) to someone who is interested in bowhunting.

The first thing I think about as a responsible gun hunter, with regard to my weapon and its use, is, "What is the most accurate bullet I can find for my particular weapon that has the best terminal performance on the game I will be hunting?" Whatever your reason for hunting is, the bottom line is that when that trigger is finally pulled, its going somewhere. I owe it to the game I am hunting to put that bullet right where it needs to go and have it perform as it should on that animal, every time. I do that even with squirrels, which is why I put that little .22LR right in the head, every time. I never said "explosion", and I'm not thinking about blowing deer up. Once the bullet selection has been made and the rifle zeroed where I want it, the only thing I think about once the crosshairs are on the deer is bullet placement. I have heard and read enough stories of lost deer due to poor bullet performance that, yeah, it's a consideration...and what it does to the animal is just the reality of thinking it all the way through.

"Anyone can shoot a deer from 300 yards out." Well, not anyone. But even if everyone could, is that why everyone who gun hunts does it? Am I gun hunting so that just in case I can't figure out where the deer are, I can just "explode one" (as you probably think I'm thinking) from 300 yards out? Or did you not know that people can impose limits on themselves? Maybe people can use the same instruments as others for different purposes in order to accomplish different goals. If you read my post, the last four deer I have killed have all been in bow range. Do you think I haven't seen more deer than those four within gun range? If so, you'd be wrong.

And, again, if you had actually read my post, you would understand that what I love about deer hunting is ruined by many of the tactics that are employed during the general firearms season. The man drives with all their hooting and hollering, trying to get the deer up. The dogs running and barking and disrupting the peace of the woods, running through that spot you worked so hard to find and so hard to get to undetected. The standers moseying in well after day break without any stealth whatsoever.

Your presumptions are all wrong.

And if I decided to take up the spear and loin cloth, would I then be "more" "all in" than you??

To everyone else, your responses have been helpful and thought provoking. I think the thing to do is to go to an archery shop and have them help me find what I need, get the bow and just start practicing. I am certain that I will love shooting the bow to the point of obsession. If I love something, I tend to immerse myself in it.

While it is true that you always have the option not to let the arrow fly, my biggest concern is the imperfect shot when it comes time to let one go. I guess I will find out in the moment whether or not I am willing to take that chance.

Best of luck to you NATO, I hope that you will enjoy this branch of deer hunting as much as alot of us do. Another aspect that might help you is this, Bowhunting up here in the dakotas has led to more opportunities on private land, Landowners around here Are not as worried about bowhunters as far as "driving all over the land" and seem to be more comfortable about letting you close to the cattle. I dont know if it is like this where you are from but just something to think about.

Good move by going to a good archery shop. This is only my second year bow hunting and I'm hooked. A good shop will definetly be the right move. There's so much that I didn't know that i would've been in trouble if I'd just found a bow and bought it. The main reason that I got into bow hunting was challege. I don't regret it. Hopefully if you decide to take it up, it will be a life changing experience for you just like it was for me. Good luck and have a great season.

I bought a bow for many that same reasons that you are considering one. The rifle season in Nebraska is only 9 days and every idiot in the state is out hunting. Quite a few without an ethics (trespassing, road hunting, etc.). I hunt to relax and enjoy myself, not have to tell people that they don't have permission on this ground or get into arguments. I know not all people are this way but that has been most of my dealings the last few years I hunted with a rifle.

I will add that after elk hunting in Colorado for several years with a rifle and killing elk that the last deer I shot with my rifle didn't even get me excited. I almost felt like I was shooting at a target, no adrenalin rush at all. So after taking a year off from hunting and getting into bow hunting I have a whole new outlook on hunting. The littlest deer walking by my stand gives me the shakes. The peacefulness of hunting and knowing that you don't have to worry about someone trespassing or pushing the area that you are hunting is well worth it. I now enjoy myself again and I will probably not go back to hunting with a rifle at this point. I have no problem with anyone that chooses to hunt that way, but bowhunting is an addiction for me and it has more to do with the relaxation and freedom than the killing. I have only shot one deer in 3 years with my bow. I called in a 150" deer this year from 600 yards away and he skirted my stand at 40 yards the whole time looking for the doe he knew should be there. That is outside my comfort zone and I had to let him walk. I know with a rifle he would be at the taxidermist now, but I had just as much fun calling him in as I would of had shooting him with a rifle.

This is one mans feeling and I am not trying to tell you that you are less of a hunter because you prefer a rifle. I am just saying that bowhunting changed my whole outlook on hunting and I am very glad I started to do it.