I know this might sound sappy,but I was just wondering what bowhunting means to everyone? I hear alot of people brag and talk up the dear that they bagged at 40 to 60yrds with their $1200 dollar bow and their fancy laser sight and spectacular arrows wich is fine all the power to you. if I could afford it I would have all the top gear as well, but in my opinion I accomplish the samething with my $400 dollar bow.

Anyways when I think of bow hunting I think of the dear I had called into 10yrds from my ground blind or the elk we got so close that the pounding of my heart could be the cause of us getting busted. Bowhunting to me means sitting in my groundblind or treestand just enjoying the beauty of nature even if I don't see anything, or going on a week long elk,moose,bear hunt with good friends.

Also from the time hunting ends to the time it starts bowhunting means burping garlic and having a few beers with your hunting pals just shooting the **** about previous hunts or what they should do this up coming year and thats what bow hunting means to me. Sorry for the long thread and the sappiness of it but I was just curious what bowhunting meant to all fellow hunts.

Good luck and safe hunting to all of you in what ever game you hunt. And the next time that you are in the woods stop an look and listen and thank the hunting gods for giving us and allowing us to have and participate in such an amazing hobby.

Although I dont bother with "fancy laser sights" or the "spectacular arrows
I tend to spend a pretty penny for my equipment but I'm pretty sure we're on the same page except for one thing.....I wouldn't dream of shooting my "dear" with my bow.[] Especially 40-60 yards , that would be unethical!

Guilty of an expensive bow the shoots bad right now w/Red Dot Scope. If I don't get it straightened out this morning I have no problem going back to my $200 bow w/pin sights(though I will probably move my scope over). I've killed many of deer with it and for that reason it was hard to justify buying a new one.

Enough about the bow. We need to go on some trips together. I always look forward to that cold beer, hot wings and pizza loaded with garlic afterwards. Lets not forget the BS flying.

Good Luck

Hunting is hunting, i dont place a monetary value on it. I would consider myself to have middle of the road gear, not the cheapest, not the fanciest, but i enjoy my hunting just as much as the other guy.


Getting a deer (or any other game) is a great feeling but i can still have a good time without shooting anything.


I dont think the price of your gear should dictate the value of the experience

I agree with the above statement. But if you've got the cake to burn and the $1200 set up feels right, more power to you. IMO it's what you get out of hunting, Not what you bring in to the woods. With that said I spend quite a bit on hunting but that's not the point.

Take Saturday the 18th for example. I spent 4 hours(only 4 hours) in a heavy rain waiting for it to let up so the deer would start moving. It never happened but I had a great day none the less. The sound of rain hitting the canpoy around me, the touch of fog in the woods, the big gray squirrel gathering nuts at a feverous pace as though he had no other mission in life made it all worth it. Every time out is diffrent. Yesterday morning I had a pileated woodpecker(I know I spelled pileated wrong, oh well) you know the 18 in tall woddy the wood peck looking birds in a tree 20 feet from me. He was working the tree over real good and making a racket at the same time. How often do you normally get to experience things like this?

Hunting to me is getting up WAY before sunrise and packing all my gear into the truck, including my $200 bow and maybe $30 camo coveralls. But the joy of being in the woods all day and not a da*m thing to worry about. Its perhaps one of the greatest feelings of all time. And of course, who doesnt like shaking uncontrolably when even a doe walks into view. I mean i dont stop shaking for up to a half hour. So i dont know about all the expensive equipment and stuff, but i just enjoy being out in the timber and seeing deer. Have a good one

I am usually a sucker for buying gadgets of all sorts for my hunting. I haven't been able to bowhunt for 3 years now though, and I just moved back to the central VT area that I grew up in after 8 years of being in PA. Unfortunately money is tight this year, so I will have to hunt with my 1996 PSE Polaris Express. I am not overly thrilled about it, as I am usually the guy with the latest greatest gun/muzzleloader/shotgun when in camp, but what the hell, I will be in the woods during my favorite time of year. That is what matters to me most. As long as I see some deer, even if does, I will be happy and satisfied. There is something very fulfilling about spending time in the woods where I used to run around as a kid, I killed two spring gobblers this year less than 100 yards from where I killed my first buck as a 10 y/o and that feeling is what it is all about, not what you carry in the woods with you. JMHO.

Ha Ha that sounds like my Cousin. Single, good job, no kids, nothing to do with his money but buy the latest toys and gadgets. (Hope he reads this board). Now don't get me wrong I spend more than my share of money, but he always wants to one-up me. He has better camo, a faster bow, multiple tree stands, Etc etc (although my quad blows his away) yet my deer-pole sees more action than his! You can't buy everything you need at a store!

See ya at camp in a few weeks buddy