A deer could suffer many types of death. Nature is not overly kind or compasionate. The majority of the deer I have taken had no idea of their fate and probably were more startled than in pain. Most of the gun kills dropped immediately and the majority of my bow kills seemed to react to the bow noise and then calm down before blacking out. I am a bit of a softy and pride myself on very humane harvests. The advice of lots of practice and smart shot placement will give you a high probability of a humane harvest if you choose to pursue game. Good luck.

Get them in real close- 10- 15 yrds and you should be fine. when you get shooting 25 -30 yrds the deer can react so much more, sometimes more then you can see. watch some hunting videos when they shoot long shots then play it back in slow motion. deer can move fast so keep your shots close .

Scrider - I' d advise you not to bowhunt - maybe not hunt at all.

Sure we strive for a clean kill - but whoever said it had to be " painless" - in fact I' m sure its not. I would suggest however that a bad bow hit is TONS less fatal than a bad gun hit - so I don' t see your logic.

Death is Death and if you cannot accept it - stick with bowling.

Great topic.

When you get right down to it, I think it is somewhat brutal. Break it down to what a bowhunter is actually doing, shooting a razor tipped projectile into the body of an animal and it could be pretty tough to accept for some people. Leave the humane reasoning out of the equation (starvation, car accidents, coyotes) out of it.

That is why we practice practice practice, to make the best $%^& shot possible when the right opportunity presents itself, and reduce the unforseen as much as possible.

As pumped as I was my first year, I had bow problems just before opening weekend. I did not go out (and was bummed) because I had no confidence in my ability to deliver a good shot.

This year, after recovering my first deer with a bow at 2 am, and getting up at dawn to recover my brothers deer, I practiced practiced practiced again.

It' s about choice, confidence, patience, and comfort with your place in the food chain. I hope you take the opportunity because you will never look back.

Ruts on dude, go get em!

The Trashcanman

Why not try hunting but being ultra-selective about shots you will take. I think you have gotten some great replies to your question, but as stated, the ultimate decision rests solely with you. The doe I shot this year gave me a slam-dunk shot and she died in less than ten seconds. If nothing else, I' m glad you and your son are having fun shooting.

Another thought - I think farm hunter hit on it - death is death to an animal, but I don' t agree with not hunting. In fact, you should hunt this year. You have plenty of season left (if you have late bow after gun where you' re from). Hit the range a few times - if you are not shooting instinctively, what practice you' ve put under your belt won' t go away. It' s like a gun - if the pins are on, you' re on.

Think about it this way: nature in itself, is extremely brutal, far more brutal than we could ever be in my opinion. Watch the nature shows, Discovery, Animal Planet, whatever - lion eating their young, killing by suffication, poisens, attacking and eating while still alive, critters eating each other, taking the young, etc........ Think about it, nature itself is brutal.

So really, don' t think about it and just get out there and hunt.

Another thought - I think farm hunter hit on it - death is death to an animal, but I don' t agree with not hunting. In fact, you should hunt this year. You have plenty of season left (if you have late bow after gun where you' re from). Hit the range a few times - if you are not shooting instinctively, what practice you' ve put under your belt won' t go away. It' s like a gun - if the pins are on, you' re on.

Think about it this way: nature in itself, is extremely brutal, far more brutal than we could ever be in my opinion. Watch the nature shows, Discovery, Animal Planet, whatever - lion eating their young, killing by suffication, poisens, attacking and eating while still alive, critters eating each other, taking the young, etc........ Think about it, nature itself is brutal.

So really, don' t think about it and just get out there and hunt.