Another debateable question
 

First off, I will say that there is no better trophy than one you take with a bow, but when rifle and ML season comes around I normally leave the stick and string at the house. I agree, the reward is not as great if you kill a trophy animal with a gun, but I still get enjoyment and satisfaction out of it.

Anyway, the deal is, I have already shot my buck for the 2004 rifle season. I can't shoot another buck with my bow until rifle season is over. I am allowed to shoot a doe this weekend with a rifle. Instead of taking a rifle out, I decided that I am going to shoot my grandpa's S&W .44 mag revolver with open sights. My max distance that I feel comfortable at is 50 yards. I have shot it several times and I believe I can shoot better groups with my bow at 30 and 40 yards than I can with this pistol. Not saying I can't hit good with the pistol b/c I can, I just shoot better with my bow at that yardage.

Here's my question. Say I could shoot a buck. I go hunting with this pistol that limits me to nearly the same distances as my bow, giving about 15-25 yards depending on the archer, and a large 150" deer walks out at 25 yards and I take it. Is this less of a trophy if I had not shot it with a pistol and shot it with my bow? Although it was shot with a "rifle", it was still in the same situation as a bow hunter would be in. What's your opinion?

I believe more deer are taken with a bow every year than there are with an open sighted pistol. I still think the bow is the ultimate, but the pistol hunt would be a very close second.

RE: Another debateable question
 

I don't know a whole heck of a lot about the pistol aspect of shooting, but I have heard many say it is tough. I say if it is more of a challenge to you than your bow, the trophy should be just as respectable. It's all about YOUR sense of pride and what YOU have worked for personally.

I don't think anyone on here can tell you that it would be less of a trophy considering the skill that is involved (but I am sure some will try...).

I would worry more about your consistency and the chance you may miss the "sweet spot". If you are more accurate with your bow and you know Mr.Monster was waiting on you to harvest him, I'd probably take the bow. HOWEVER, if you want to have a pistol trophy on your wall, go for it if you know you can kill it.

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I agree. If I HAD to gun hunt it would be with a pistol!

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Well IMO it would be considered as much of a trophy to me., but thats me... hunting with a psitol is quite a challange and a steady rest is needed to make a good shot most of the time. And if it where me i would say a pistol ranks right up there with the bow, as far as being more of a challange to using a rifle or shotgun.

RE: Another debateable question
 

Even though your accuracy is similar with both weapons, the bow is still going to be the better trophy IMHO. You don't have to draw a pistol like you would a bow, you can shoot through much smaller holes with it without as much fear of hitting branches and the follow-up shot is immediately available as well.

Of the 6 deer I've taken so far this year, half of them were taken during one of the firearms seasons . . . with my bow.

RE: Another debateable question
 

I am carrying a pistol this gun season and let me tell you if I manage to take a deer with it, I am going to be the happiest guy around. Opening day was a lot of frustration waiting to get the perfect shot, and a miss on a not so perfect but still should have made it attempt didn't help matters. I did pass my 2 best shot chances cause they were button heads but my patience and standards are wearing low. Pistol hunting is very challenging.

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I've never been able to do it, if you take a deer with a pistol my hats off to you :)

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i have taken good bucks with every weapon legal here in IN. for examples 150 inch 12 pointer with a shotgun, 151 inch 10 pointer with a muzzel loader (patch and round ball 54cal.),137inch 8 pointer and 142 inch 11 pointer with my bow, and 138 inch 10 pointer with my 44mag. . there are others but those are my best and i won't settle for anything less now, but anyway i can honetly say my bow kills are my most rewarding. if, however ,you have never used a pistol on a trophy deer it's a thrill too.



SIZE MATTERS LET'EM GO ANOTHER YEAR
RESPECT THE ANIMAL YOU HUNT
HOYT USA
QDM

RE: Another debateable question
 

am sure is not the same.. . there are so many more thngs depending you while bowhunting... I have never really considerd pistol hunting .. I often think that compound bows are a bit to fancy. I think that greater the challange the greater the reward. But if that great challenge is with a pistol than more power to you.. I really type this one out.. Forgive the tought prosses

Tim

RE: Another debateable question
 

I scout hard & hunt hard. Yes I love bowhunting the most. I respect the hunt & the deer the same no matter what I use to take it. The areas I hunt 100 yard shot is probable the farthest I can shoot with any weapon. If I can get a mature deer with in 25 yards it makes no difference to me if I shoot it with a gun.

RE: Another debateable question
 

It depends on why your hunting. Are you hunting strictly for a challenge?

They could outlaw everything for hunting except a high tech rifle with a laser range finder scope and heat seeking amunition and I'd still hunt.
How about you?
Enjoy your trophy. If you have to question yourself on wether or not your harvest would be gratifying with any weapon you use then maybe your hunting for the wrong reasons.:eek:

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I just put a slice of cheese on my trophy!!!!!!:) Next I'll wrap a bun around it and eat it!!!!! I'm not sure which trophy it is? My deer taken with my bow this year or one of the two taken with my gun? That's what I like! Taste's GGGREEAATTTTTT! Good luck!:)

RE: Another debateable question
 

Are you hunting for something to brag about to others or are you hunting for the meat and/or challenge between you and the animal? You are the one that is pulling the trigger and you are the only one that can answer this question. If you are worrying what others think, it's for the wrong reason you are hunting. You asked for an opinion. That is mine.

RE: Another debateable question
 

"Is this less of a trophy if I had not shot it with a pistol and shot it with my bow?"

A trophy is in the eyes of the shooter, not his peers. A fine trophy if taken with a pistol, not the challenge level that a bow is though to compare apples to apples.

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my question is why cant you shoot a buck with a bow during rifle if your rifle tag is full?archery season runs straight threw rifle.
call the game warden in your area and ask him

RE: Another debateable question
 

I have to agree with that statement. But IMO I believe it is still more difficult to take the animal with a bow. You likely won't have shooting lanes and a clean shot is required with a bow where as the shooting lane with a pistol can be much smaller. Dave H sumed up my thoughts very well. Thanks Dave.;)

RE: Another debateable question
 

Wow, now all you have to do is kill a 160 incher with a spear and a 153 incher with a knife and you will be complete!! :D

I appreciate your opinion, and all others. I was not posting this b/c of what I would feel or what others would think of me. I just posted this thread to get the opinions of others and see what they felt about it. The only reason I am attempting this is for the challenge. I think it would be 10 times easier to go out and harvest a doe within 300 yards. I figured I would limit myself and accomplish something that I haven't ever tried before. I hunt purely for the love of the sport and the tremendous rush and feeling you get when harvesting an animal. I also enjoy eating the game that I take. So for he replies saying that I may be in this sport for the wrong reason, I will disagree with you. I was raised to respect all wild animals and to get the best out of every outdoor experience, including the days you go out and see nothing.



I am pretty sure you can't shoot more than one buck during rifle regardless of the weapon. That is what my taxidermist told me. I was talking to him saying that atleast I can go out and harvest a buck with a bow now. He corrected me and said that you are only allowed one buck druing rifle. ( atleast I hope he is right, or I would have waisted 2 weeks of being in the stand). We looked in the regs and couldn't find anything that backed him on it, but he was 95% sure he was right. Now thinking about it, maybe you're right, I should call the Game Warden and ask for sure.


Well, anyway, I went out yesterday, the last day of rifle, and tried to harvest the doe with a pistol. Got skunked, never even saw a deer. Oh well, there is always next year to try it. Good luck to everyone, and once again thank you for your opinions.

RE: Another debateable question
 

the check in station told me the same thing and checked both bucks i shot thursday against my bow tags.big arguement started
so i called the game warden ,explained what happened,i told him that bow and gun run together,so he told the check-in station to change one to a rifle,glad i called because that would of ended archery season for me.so call it might come in handy next year
its why i like bow hunting during gun season ,does and bucks are legal all season long.