JRW

Steve,

As usual, you're right on the money.

In 1934, Wisconsin became the first state to have a designated archery hunting season. Back then there were no treestands, no camo (except plaids, perhaps), bows were made of all-natural materials (as were arrow shafts). Dry chemical hand warmers, GPS's, replacable-blade broadheads and Goretex? Those things didn't exist.

So it looks like we're both out of luck. Although, I did kill a doe with a home-made hickory longbow and a wood shaft once. But I shot her out of Loc-On portable tree stand, so that one's out too.

Silver lining: they used bow sights back then, so at least you've got that going for you.

Mark S

Ya suppose a long bow shooter way way back, who had to hunt just to feed his family, who'd never seen a recurve before, looked at a new recurve for the first time and thought, "that's too easy, it's going to ruin my hunting"?

I wonder what the compound bows of 50 years from now will be like. How much easier will it get? I did borrow a compound bow this year that I hadn't shot before since mine was being worked on. I put on a sight, shot 3 arrows, and proclaimed I was ready to hunt. Yeah, they aren't that hard.

I've been bowhunting for 3 years, excuse me, I've been compound hunting for 3 years now. Haven't gotten a deer yet. Took a shot one day, nice doe, 15 yards, perfect broadside, right over the back. Stupid me got excited and couldnt' decide which pin to look at. If I'd had my recurve, I have several of those by the way, I think I could have hit it since I wouldn't have been fumbling around with peeps, releases, cheek buttons, and tru glow pins. Yup, recurve would have been easier, right? Maybe I shouldn't have even been out in the woods in the first place with my lack of experience.

Which side of this argument am I on? Is their a side? Probably sounds like I'm leaning towards the compound hunting group. I thinkeveryone's rightby the way. I just don't see how the clashing of different opinions will solve anything. I guess that's why were here though, to share our opinions. Or is it to start arguments? I love the internet!

Bow's don't kill deer, hunters kill deer. It's too bad a few hunters out there have the mindsight they do. Wish there was a way to make them understand. As my dad would say, time to thin the man herd.

Sincecompound hunting is easier, maybe the season for using a compound should be shorter? That would be a fun thread!

I do know one thing, I wish the world would go back to riding horsesor even bicyclesso all of these cars would stop polluting the environment and using up our resources. Sure a car is so much easier, but they're ruining the world for my kids. I probably won't change the world, but I think I'll stick to riding my pedal bike. At least I know I'm doing the right thing. That's the challenge of it right? Not only is riding a bike harder work and takes more time, but it's the self gratification that I'm doing it the hard way while the rest of the world takes the simple path and doesn't even care. Makes me enjoy it that much more.

I think I'll just go buy a gun to deer hunt and make my life a whole lot easier. So what should I get? Shotgun, rifle, handgun, blackpowder? Anyone?

bigcountry

I doubt it, because both have thier advantages and disadvantages. Recurves have been along for thousands of years.

spaniel

I shoot plenty of deer I don't eat....I feed 3-4 families in a given year. A couple where that venison helps keeps a couple middle-aged gentlemen who grew up on meat and potatoes and don't want to listen to their doc's pleas to lower their cholesterol in meat they will eat that also makes their docs happy. A couple more where they need the venison but don't have the time, skill, or manpower to hunt their own.

Around here deer are over-populated. Hunter numbers are decreasing. If none of us shot more than the 1-2 we'd eat personally, we'd have a disaster!!! Hunting is not just a SPORT, itis population management.

I have NEVER left an animal I shot in the woods. THAT is not ethical IMHO.

This is my first foray into this forum; I shot traditional for years, then compound the last few as I don't have a traditional bow right now (last one broken in a move). I gotta say I'm disappointed folks. I've been in the muzzleloader world for many years, and just like there what I see here is narrow-mindedness and bickering and hating on anyone who doesn't do things JUST LIKE YOU. So keep it up, this is just what the anti's want, hunters so divided and bickering amongst themselves that they can continue to push us further and further!

You think traditional archery makes you more of a man? You think it's so hard? Try hunting with a spear. Maybe we should ban longbows from "traditional" season and make it spear-only, no treestands. The whole argument is silly and counter-productive.

LBR

Where do you see this? Specifically?

Who said this? I must have missed it.

Chad

burniegoeasily

I think the notion comes from some here using terms like, Slob hunters and the likes.

Double Creek

I've been successful with both types of bows and I hunt with them interchangeably. The compound is a much, much easier weapon to shoot.

I killed 4 deer this year, all within 15 yds, 1 with a longbow and 3 with a compound. The compound really doesn't give me more of a hunting distance to work with. Where it shines for me is the fact that I can pick it up and drill a target at 20yds without touching it for a month. I couldnt do that with a longbow. I'd have to shoot weekly to maintain that type of accuracy.

The compound isthetype of weapon that I need for where I am in my own life at this point.

I don't agree with Stealthy about it not being bowhunting. I think it is. Is it in the same category as trad bows? No. I do however wish all compound shooters would spend a few years hunting only with traditional bows. It will open their eyes and make them a better hunter to boot.

spaniel

Specifically? Are we reading the same thread and forum?? Narrow-mindedness is thinking your way is the only way. All the belittlement of compounds, degrading compound hunters and insinuating that it makes them slob hunters, that traditional guys have better morals, must I continue?

As for more of a man, it's quite clear between the lines with the nonstop belittlement and slob hunter/unskilled hunter insinuations and stereotyping.

I shoot both traditional and modern in both bows and muzzleloaders. I tend not to frequent forums on the traditional side though I'd like to get into it more, because of this divisiveness I see. I can tell you that if it turns me off as someone that does it, it must certainly turn off people looking to get into the sport. I shake my head, I don't understand why we can't do what we enjoy despite relatively minor differences and benefit as hunters and outdoorsmen by working together.

stealthycat II

they call women in Iraq property .... I guess since there are millions of Arab's believing that its the truth then huh ?

you can call a cat a dog all day long .... your whole state can .... and that doesn't make it true either


a compound is allowed in archery season, they're not a negative, they've got 2 limbs, a string and they shoot arrows .... they're not really bows anymore because the limbs don't do anything but hold the cam's .......... that's the truth you're looking for


no

they're designed to be easy - human nature screams "give me easy"



compound hunting isn't easy compared to rifle hunting, I never suggested it was


yeah, no one ever misses 15 yard shots with recurves



actually LOTS come of these threads IMO


spaniel you're pro-crossbow then ?

Mark S

What do you think bowhunting is?