For those of you who will tote a bow instead of a gun, what tactic do you deploy? I haven't given it much thought for this season, but if I should decide to go, it will be with a bow. I have gone out in the past years only to get overun with gunners, so if I go this year, I'll need a new tactic? As with my general funnel areas in these big woods, they all have high terrain, which is the problem, as gunners setup on these advantage points. And it's always been a fear of mine, to stick a nice buck with a lethal shot only to run 80 yards or so into the hands of a waiting gunner? And even though you put a lethal shot on him, without a doubt, if a gunner puts a bullet in him before he drops, you will not get your deer. So to avoid this very possible scenario, I'am going to have to hunt a thick area where gunners do not have an advantage of seeing a long ways. Not really an area I'd pick with the deer moving, as my open funnels will produce more, but more hunters too. will have to hunt the thick areas, if I should go. What's your bow tactic, for areas that get good pressure?
No one have any bow strategies for bow during rifle? I was out today looking around an area I bowhunted, but went in the thicker nasty stuff and found some awesome sign. Located a tree to get my climber in for the first day, although still question the setup? First I picked an area with sign nearby that is thick, in hopes the gunners do not come in there, but hopefully push a good buck in there? There is sign of a good buck using this area, by a couple decent tracks I saw, along with two leg sizzed trees rubbed. It's just a gamble as this buck could really be anywhere come the first day? The thing I question, will he want to come to this thick area, once the troops hit the woods, and secondly, if so, will he make it? It's just hard to visualize getting a good buck in bowrange when others have rifles? My guess if he is around, he'll be packing the mail through open areas of least resistance, until he realizes humans are everywhere? Just really not the spot I'd pick if packing a rifle, as many open areas outside of this thick area would be a better bet, as he's making escapes if around? Although going to gamble on this thick spot, in hopes of a good one coming in there to stay? And even at that it's a big thick area, and still has to come within bowrange?
Regardless of what weapon I have during gun season, I am alwyas trying to give some distance betwen myself & other hunters. Doesn't always work. Regarding actual setups, I haven't bow hunted gun season yet, but I handgun hunt a good bit and every deer I killed with my revolver has been in bow range. So that said I get into some pretty thicker areas that I think the deer will travel through and at leasat slow down or stop for a little bit.
