Well, after 12 solid days of bowhunting (not in a row, I have a job) I can say bowhunting has officially ruined gun season for me. This was my first year, and at one point I had the biggest 8 point buck that I EVER had a chance to kill, within 10 yards. I could hear him breath as he stared at me. That will NEVER happen during gun season, granted, I never got a shot off, he angled me bad, but who cares. That moment I wouldn't trade for anything. So even though I haven't had a kill this season, I have had a couple opportunities that blew my mind. Gun season will never be the same...
I havent shot a deer with a bow ywt, but, I will not be gun hunting anymore. I am HOOKED on bow hunting!!!!
Going out tomorrow, probably my last chance to bowhunting this year. then I am gun hunting this weekend. Too bad I am not even looking forward to it. Only reason I am still going is my 13YO son doesn't have a bow and is super excited about going. Next year I will introduce him to bowhunting. Going to buy him a bow for Xmas. Then, practice, practice, practice.
You just cant compare bow hunting to hunting with a rifle, i know exactly what your feeling. I Live for bowhunting!
i feel the same way...after my encounter last friday, the feeling is amazing! if u dont bowhunt its a feeling u cant even describe to anyone!
I have many rifles , only one is what I consider a deer rifle. Short off a spot and stalk in dense brush with my 30-30 , I've never had much desire to gun hunt.
It's been a long time since I've hunted with a gun. I can't think of anything more exciting than bowhunting!
It is almost spiritual to me!! To fool a whitetail in to coming within bow range and making that perfect shot and watching him fall within sight is the ultimate rush!!! I wouldn't trade it for anything!
Yep, tough for me to go back to rifle after bowhunting for a couple of years. I still use guns, just not on deer. Hopefully soon Ill be giving up on compound and jumping into the world of traditional bows.
You're doing the right thing. Look forward to it for your son and HAVE FUN! I gun hunted with my son when he was younger just for him even though I have no interest in killing deer with a gun. But I knew how hard it would be to get a deer into bow range with a 5-6 year old. Memories I will cherish for ever now. Good luck this weekend! Tell me he isn't having fun
Sorry you feel this way, but bowhunting has only enhanced all other hunting I do. I still love the smell of gun oil and gunpowder. I still like sliding a couple of 20 ga. slugs into my blaze orange vest. I still like sitting in that big double w/ a shooting rail right on the edge of the big field. Hunting w/ a shotgun is how I learned to hunt. I'm not going to abandon what brought me here just b/c the adrenaline rush is greater w/ a bow and a deer w/in 20 yards. But then, I guess many people are only in it for the drug-like effects of that rush. I'm in it for the experience of being in a tree in the woods with a chance to harvest a deer.
Oh I'll gun hunt from time to time...but cannot nor will it ever be the same as bow hunting. In Indiana atleast I know as long as I can draw a bow and still have an unfilled buck tag I will not hit the woods with a gun. My father has taken bucks with both, and he said his gun one, although it was his first real buck ever still didn't have the same feeling as his bow kills.
I haven't "gun hunted" since my first bow kill many moons ago. It changed my perception on deer hunting. Much more challenging than gun hunting & way more satisfying. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I'll still gun hunt (took a week vacation during our 2nd week rifle) but if someone told me to choose one over the other... I'll choose my bow any day!