35 years ago I thought bow hunting was much more difficult than gun hunting, even though I took many animals with my recurve. I now think bowhunting is easier in most respects. I pass up numerous opportunities at very close ranges each year with a bow. Also, without question I see more large bucks during bow season than I ever did during gun season.

Advantages of bowhunting:

1) There are more deer (haven't been shot yet).
2) They are not spooked.
3) The rut occurs during bow season (at least in New York)
4) Fewer hunters
5) More huntable areas (can hunt closer to houses because you don't bother anyone)
6) Weather is better so I can stay on the stand longer.
7) Much longer season.
8) More daylight hours to hunt.
9) If you take a shot and miss, the animal is more likely to stick around or be back again in a day or two.

Advantages of gun hunting:

1) Can shoot at longer ranges ( in New York - shotgun only- that distance is extended by about 50 yards.)

2) still thinking.....

In any given situation the bowkill could have very easy or difficult. The same holds true for a gunkill. I know people want to feel good about be a great hunter and all, but bowhunting today just isn't that difficult.

Sorry Straightarrow your all wrong. You gun hunters don't even think this maybe true. It's awefull out there in 50 degree weather. If it's not snowing it doesn't even feel like hunting. The last thing you want to do is stay in the stand all day. That's not good for your health. You may get a blood clot, have it break loose, go to your brain and die. Who wants that? It is also very dangerous to hunt without others around. You don't want to run into a bad situation and no one find you. When you gun hunt there is more of a chance someone would stumble upon you and call for help. Besides think of the stories to be told as your loading up to go home after the hunt. Who would want to miss that?

Yes, if you thinking of bow hunting only think twice. I completely hate it out there that time of the year and just wonder why I gave up gun hunting all together.

On the contrary! I pass on many animals every year for different reasons. Too small (fawns) , big doe with fawns at her side, young bucks early in the season (can fill freezer with doe). I can afford to be selective as we (Wi) have a very lengthy season and when all is said and done I know my freezer will be full. Others dont have the luxury of being as selective as I can be when trying to fill the freezer.

Not necessarily a challenge , but rewarding YES! The big buck (trophy) thing is also a primal instincts trait or whatever you want to call it (testosterone?). It's our nature to be competetive against one another which is what I consider the trophy buck syndrome to be , competitiveness. We all have it. If I go out and kill the biggest sabre tooth tiger then I can pound my chest and have any woman of the tribe I want. I'm not setting out to do it for a challenge , I'm setting out to do it for bragging rights.

Needless to say I'd be pounding my chest! Who wouldn't?

Bowhunting today can still be as difficult and challenging as it was 35 years ago, or even 50,000 years ago. Just depends on where you draw the line with technology. A whole lot of folks have come to realize that 'bowhunting' had gotten too easy and have gone to traditional, or even primitive, equipment; and their numbers are constantly increasing.

What a bunch of old women! Go hunt have fun screw every body that dosent like the way you hunt.

Quit being so simple. We're trying to have an debate thank you. But I do agree.

Killing a big buck is a challenge that you look forwar to and accept you just don't quantify the challenge as one of the reasons that you hunt. However, I hope after re-examining this conversation you would surely agree that it plays a role.

Straightarrow,

I hear the reasons you listed but all that tells me is that it may be easier to see deer during bow season. But, that's the whole point is that you can see 50 big ones within 50 yards before you ever get a shot bowhunting where you would have gotten a shot at everyone gun hunting. How does your resume read when it comes to big deer? How many and how big with a gun and how many and how big with a bow?

Arthur, I know what you mean. I'm in the process of making a self-bow. The challenge will be back, for sure.

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For 35 years, I've bowhunted in an area that was , and still is, dominated by the classic "if it's brown it's down" type hunter. 85-90% of all bucks are shot before they are 2 years old and 95-97% are shot before they are 3. Shooting a mature buck here, is more of an accident then anything else.

I've never even seen a mature buck while gun hunting, though I admit it's been 10 years since I've done a lot of gun hunting. During bow season, I at least see one every couple years. In fact, this year I missed a 150 class buck (hit a twig). This deer was relaxed, making a scrape 20 yards away. That would never happen during gun season. I would never even see him during gun season. He'd be hiding during the day and would probably be completely nocturnal. If you don't get the big ones, by 8:00 am opening day, you probably won't. It's a war zone around here and the older bucks know it.

During bow season, I not only see a lot more bucks (10 times as many wouldn't be an exageration), and they are not scared. They come closer and do not spooked as easily. It's fairly easy to grunt one in, or rattle one up - something the you absolutely will not be able to do here during gun season.

Yes, bowhunting with all the modern stuff we use, is much easier in my opinion.

This is incredible- you think there may be a few opinions on this!!
What the hey, if it's legal- to each his own. I'm personally a bowhunter for 30 years and respect hunters as a whole. But- No idiots allowed!!

Man, by your rules there wouldn't be any bowhunters LEFT! [8D]