Bow vs Gun
 

Hey guys. I don't want to turn this into a gun vs bow war, but i have a few questions. This is going to be my first year hunting deer and I've yet to purchase a weapon (unless you count my duck/geese shotguns). The gun season is much shorter than the bow season, so with a bow, I'd have more opportunities to hunt, which would be great. However I do realize the challenge in bow hunting.

So basically, could I start deer hunting with a bow or should i go with a rifle?


Thanks.

uo to you. ya ever shot either? maybe its worth it to grab sum1 who has a nice size chunk of the big picture and get em to take ya shootin. you will know after ya have a go round with each one, which is a better suite fer yerself

being able to bow hunt the rut vs. gun hunt the rest of the year, may make you more addicted, bowhunting that is....warmer weather, nicer anyway, more deer activity.

wouldn't say being able to shoot a gun helps you bow hunt and vice versa...

Why not do both, I've shot a bunch of deer with my duck gun.

i vote both too. If you can only pick one id probably look into muzzleloading, here you get the extended season and muzzleloading is in for most of the prerut and rut, where firearms comes in on the tail end of rut

I would use a gun for you first year hunting. That is what I did the first year I deer hunted. I just really got into hunting now so I recently purchased a bow and they are a lot of fun but quite a challenge to get good at shooting and tuning it and all of that.

I started out with a gun, before i got my bow. I would defenantly start with a gun before i go to bow. With a gun you can make more erros than with a bow and it will be much easier for starting out. learn to hunt deer with a gun before a bow. Learn about how deer react to wind and such things while gun hunting, before you go to a bow.

Whitetails have fantastic senses and I think you may be surprised what they can smell, see, and hear. Consider a few other things before deciding....How are you going to hunt? From the ground or in a tree? What is the concentration of deer in the area? Are you hunting open country?

A gun is definitely much easier, but bowhunting is an addiction. Nothing like getting these animals in close and having a longer opportunity to watch them in their natural setting. If you get a bow and are comfortable shooting with it, I'd recommend being prepared to hunt archery early, and if things do not shape up the way you want, pull out the firearm later in the season.

Oh, and now is also a good time to start studying whitetail behavior articles if you don't have much experience with them.

Thanks for the replies guys. If I go with a rifle, I'll probably go with a Handi rifle so i'll be able to hunt a little earlier. I'll be hunting from a stand, from a small area on my farm, and also possibly my uncle's lease in the woods(far better place than mine).

I would get yourself a good bow and start shooting it as much as possible. There is a lot to learn about bow hunting and also about learning to shoot a bow and getting your broadheads to fly correctly. But don't let that scare you, its all worth it and there are plenty of books and articles out there to get you up to speed. I started out with a rifle and wish I never would have. A bow makes almost no noise, your close to the animal, the feeling of accomplishment is unmatched, and they are just fun to shoot. If you do get a bow, you will need to dive right in and don't be afraid to ask questions. Its tough, but imo its worth it. Plus you can shoot your bow almost anywhere when you want to do a little practicing. Just my 2 cents! Good luck with whichever you chose.

I hunt with both but if I was limited to one, I would choose the bow. Longer season, more challenge, and most of my shots, gun or bow, are inside forty yards.

Nothing against firearms, in fact, I shot two deer last year, both with a 30-06.

Gun season is obviously the high reward part of the year. Depending upon where you hunt (here in Ohio we can only use shotguns and muzzleloaders), your shotgun could be converted into a slug gun for as little as 5 bucks and an IC choke tube. Although rifled slugs don't have the ballistic capabilities of a rifled barrel shooting sabots, they're definately an economical way of getting you out deer hunting.

That said, there's far more accurate methods to pursuing deer, such as a rifle (obviously) or a cantaliever rifled barrel for your shotgun with Hornady SST slugs. If you want something with a better performance than a shotgun, but are willing to sacrifice some on the range, go with a muzzleloader. You'll be able to shoot out to around 200 yards with fairly flat trajectory, and even push the limit to 250 or so with increased drop. This also allows you at least 1, if not 2 extra weeks/weekends for hunting with a gun, as there are separate muzzleloader seasons in every state (as far as I'm aware).

For bow hunting, you can get a fully decked out bow for as little as $300 new. It's going to be slow, noisy and ugly, but you're still going to have a blast with it. If you can't commit a lot of time to hunting, I suggest not even wasting money on a bow. If you're ready and able to spend countless mornings and afternoons in the treestand, then I would highly suggest investing in a bow. The excitement and anticipation of hunting the rut, coupled with the satisfaction of taking one of these beautiful animals with a couple of sticks and a string (yes, I realize we've progressed far beyond that) makes bowhunting whitetails an unrivaled hunting experience. You simply cannot get the same experience from any other type of hunting, and if you are fortunate enough to take one come September or October, you'll understand what I'm talking about.

My suggestion is to get on the classifieds here, and look at gun broker. Buy yourself a beginner bow as well as a gun, and take advantage of both awesome opportunities. If you fall in love with it (which I have no doubt that you will), then you can upgrade your bow. Until then, no sense in dropping a grand on something you may never use again.

Here's a few links to some package bows. They're a great way to get started. They're not the fastest or quietest, not even close. But I'd rather bow hunt with one of these than not bow hunt at all!

http://www.basspro.com/Bear-Archery-...04466/-1658791

http://www.basspro.com/Parker-Bucksh...9#BVQAWidgetID

Thanks guys. I'm going to go to the local shop soon and get set up with a used bow for hopefully a decent price.

i started with a gun too...but if ya started with a bow, and ya learned how ta stalk, a gun would be problem free.

Gun hunting isn't even comparable to Bow hunting in my book. But just like others said "why not do both?". In my opinion I say start with bow hunting...

-South

Gun vs. Bow....
 

Hmmmm, don't pull the cannon (.444) out much, I'm usually tagged out prior to 15 NOV. Think of it this way, you can hunt w/ your bow during gun season, but you CAN'T hunt w/ your gun during bow season. You can always toss some slugs in one of them thar shotguns you already have.

Quicker success, greater distance advantage, more opportunity due to distance with a gun. If you cannot attain both, then start with a gun to have the greater advantages. Gain the confidence and success from being able to reach out further and get a deer.

When you want it to become more challenging and up close excitement then grow into a bow hunter.

Quick success equals greater confidence equals more longevity in the sport.

JMI.

I have two deer seasons behind me and the first season I used a bow the whole 3 months of our season. I had two shot opportunities one was a hit with my new bow and one was a miss. This past season I hunted with a muzzle loader and my bow,killed two with my bow and had only one clear shot with my ML. The bow is my favorite way to hunt but I hope to take one with the gun this year as well as the bow. You can learn and have success with the bow your first year but it is a greater challenge in many ways. I'd do both but I would not miss out on all that time given during bow season for anything. We get almost 11 weeks to bow hunt in Indiana and just 4 total for Gun/ML. So the bow gives better odds in some ways because once the shooting starts the deer tend to scatter and come out later.

Bowhunting is best
 

I am a bow hunting addict! There is no bigger rush then stalking and taking a deer within 80 yards using a bow. Rifle hunting is good too, but the rush and the sense of accomplishment is not as rewarding. It takes more patience and skill to bow hunt.

I would say for a Beginner I would try Rifle/Gun Hunting first.....Bow Hunting is great and it takes a lot more time and skill to get a Deer with a Bow in my opinion.I do both because I love the more time I have to be Outdoors Hunting and learning about Deer and their habits and travel patterns,Bow Hunting has made me a much better Hunter and gave me more patients while Rifle Hunting too..........try them both and enjoy the benefits of both Hunting Seasons.

80 yards? what kinda bow you got?

Don't leave home without it!!!
 

You don't have one of these Halfbaked?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ballista.gif

Thanks guys. Question.

How many more deer could you have had the opportunity to take if you would have used a rifle instead of a bow? As in you saw but didn't get close enough.

I plowed a plot that my stand overlooks today. It's about 75 yards across, which is obviously too far to take with a bow, but I really like the idea of bow hunting. Just don't want to miss an opportunity.

Thanks.

maybe move your stand midways in the field off the side? 30-35 yard shot either way u look?

You take up to an 80 yard shot with your bow???

You can't just buy a bow and go hunting. If you want to do it right, you have to learn how to shoot it. I see all these bowhunters take two shots practice and they're ready for the season. I used to shoot competition and shot 100 arrows every day practice to keep my "form".

You don't want gut shot deer running around in the woods.

Rifles (black powder or centerfire) are a different story. Not as challenging to learn to shoot them well.

And bowhunting is a "solo" technique. Just you all alone.

Rifle hunting is more of a group thing IMHO.

if u want plenty of opertunities but u like rifles then u could get a cross bow its much easier than a compound bow or recurve etc...

Louisiana
 

Im from Louisiana (Allen Parish), Id buy a bow if I were you. Then if you decide to hunt with a gun take your shotgun with some buckshot. If it is something you think you will like buy a rifle next year.. What part of LA you hunting?

In some States Your not allowed to use a crossbow unless Your Handicapped or an older Age where they allow it to be used then,be sure to check the Game and Firearm Laws in your State before buying any type of Bow or Firearm for that matter.

I have seen many Deer that were too far out to where I could safely and ethically be able to shot them with a Bow,thats why its so challenging to Hunt with them.Your not going to walk out the first day and shoot something...it takes a lot of time and patients and You have to learn to shot it accurately.Another thing is learning to hunt with the wind directions and staying scent-free while Bow Hunting...the Deer will be a lot closer to You when hunting with a Bow...over time You will learn to be a better Hunter while using a Bow and a Rifle.

I would start with a gun. Unless you are up for the bow hunts which have a lot of ups an downs. But, when one does come in on you it is a whole different world. Which ever you decide to do just practice. If you want to bow hunt you better start shooting soon because it needs to be something that you are very comfortable with when you get in the tree. Confidence, patients an learning the way of the whitetail is the key.

Little different take, here......

I started with a compound bow (deer hunting). I took several with it, and looked to add to the challenge by switching to all traditional tackle in 2009.

A friend invited me to a hunt last season (rifle hunt). I accepted. Though I didn't take a shot on that trip, I did hunt with the rifle on our opener, here, taking a nice little 3.5yo buck within minutes of shooting light's onset.

Was it the same? No. Was it an enjoyable hunt? Certainly. I shot the only deer I ever pointed my rifle at......@ 20yds., from the ground.

Late last season, I purchased an in-line ML. I had a blast trying to figure out which load it liked best. And, I'm absolutely looking forward to doing all my firearms hunting with the ML this season (and likely - all those to come). I took one doe with the ML on our closer last season (again, inside 25yds and from the ground).

To ME, I like the ease (not what you're thinking) of firearms hunting. By "ease", I mean.....I walk in; find a tree to lean back on and that's it. No hauling in a stand. No climbing up or down. After climbing 100+X in each of the last 2-3 seasons, I view this style hunting as a cakewalk. Would I enjoy shooting animals with a firearm (or, any weapon) @ long distances? No. But, that's just me. I can understand how others receive great pleasure in dialing in those shots. To each their own. I pretty much set up in the same spots I would bowhunt from, with a firearm.

Try all kinds of hunting. You never know what bug might bite you. If you'd asked me 3 yrs. ago if I'd enjoy firearms hunting....I'd have told you "no way".

Have fun.

I agree, find that level of difficulty which suits you...have fun!

I didnt read the replies up tell now but I bet someone was bashing the other side. Bow hunters bash the lazy scum gun hunters and the gun hunters hater the elitist bow hunters. Same as xbow hunters.

To me the weapon you choose shouldn't matter. It depends on the level of challenge you want and how much time you want to put in. I enjoy bow and gun. They both have their challenges. A bow is a close range weapon but deer are more natural and relaxed. Gun season around here is highly pressured and makes it harder to pin down a deer in a natural setting. Either way I love being out there. As a matter of fact I'm off 35 days in a row in late Oct. to late Nov. and I'll use both gun and bow..unless I tag out early with a bow. So do both and maybe you will see that you enjoy one over the other in a few years. Good luck.

I got a bow this year to extend my season from just a muzzeloader. Also I live in more of a metro area and the pressure on deer during the gun season is crazy. In some places it looks like a pumpkin patch with all the blaze orange dotting the woods. Hunting pressure is something you should take into consideration. I would suggest a bow because like so many have said before me it's addicting. If you go with a rifle I say get a muzzeloader. More of a challenge, but still easier than a bow for a first time hunter. Good luck.

The bow would allow you a LOT more oppurtunity to spend time hunting and out there learning about the animals. Overall, everyone I know enjoys bowhunting a LOT more than gun hunting. I say maximize your hunting experience and get the bow.

Good luck and good huntin'