Well said. I don't look down on gun hunters at all. It's not so much the weapon a hunter chooses that I'm concerned about. If I'm going to have an issue with someone it will likely be because of an issue involving their character, morals, ethics, and work ethic. For example, the amount of trash littered about by bow hunters within the public land I hunt here in IL is disappointing. At the archery range, in the parking lots designated for bow hunters, and in the woods I find field tip or broadhead packaging, used sent containers, beer and soda cans, and other bow hunting related types of trash. The acts of such individuals doesn't speak well for the other bow hunters who hunt such lands nor oes it sit well with me. I grew up gun hunting with my family. I have a lot of great memories gun hunting with my family and friends. The shotgun was how I was introduced to hunting. Since then, I have found my passion in bow hunting. With three deer down so far this season I doubt I will be using either of my shotgun tags this year. I may be in the woods come shotgun season but it will be more of a supportive role for my father, brother, and nephews. I will be there to follow blood trails, drag deer, cook lunch, and support those who want to fill their tag. My nephews are still learning to be hunters so I will do all I can to help them out. Shotgun season is about the only guaranteed weekend I will see my brother so yeah I will be there. I got my father back into bow hunting this year and he (like me) enjoys any time spent in the woods. I'm looking forward to spending time with those who choose to gun hunt. C
I agree 100%. If you harvest an animal in a legal fashion I have no problem with it. People who ride the roads and shoot from vehicles and shoot what ever walks by, thats what gives gun hunters a bad name.
Ditto. The type of hunters that I don't care for tend to get more "exposed" during gun season than bow season. Not saying every bowhunter in the woods is perfect, but you see and hear a lot more craziness during gun season. No problem with the weapon or season....... problem with the type of hunter you are.
JZ & Peak are right on... Look, I'm a Hunter. Sometimes with bow, sometimes with a rifle, sometimes with a pellet gun. I'm a Hunter. I like bowhunting most, but I'm a hunter. It's like Chirstianity for me... I'm a Christian. I was raised Catholic, attended Lutheran church, got involved with the Vineyard Church and right now I go to a Baptist Church. I'm a Christian. I like the Vineyard Church, but I'm a Christian. We're all in this together, like it or not... might as well like it
I'm not afraid to admit, I view gun kills and bow kills VERY differently. No big deal, IMO, one is much more challenging than the other. This is why I chose to start bowhunting. I mean, I still gunhunt with friends, well, go hunting with friends that are gunhunting....but its like said earlier, a lot of the downside of hunting is exposed during gun season and the weapon takes the blame. My opinion on gunhunting wasn't cemented until I started hunting out west.....on many of the hunts I have experienced out there, I'd have tagged out the first day easily with a gun. Which I failed to see the challenge in. I still own guns, I still gunhunt with buddies, but I also still view gunhunting in a more negative light than bowhunting. Sue me.
Trevor....I feel much the same way you do. But, the question was.....do you look down your nose at gun hunters? Not pickin'.....just sayin'. Degree of difficulty inherent with each weapon.....notwithstanding.
Hell to the no, despite the dumbass rate taking a major % up in the woods and the fact that the deer are like nocturnal after that I dont because My first deer was with a Shotgun, and I am a gun hunter as well, and its just fun to get out there with a gun.
I don't think I necessarily look down at gun hunters, as I am one myself, but I do get frustrated with them. The main example I have of this is the section of land my family owns in Wisconsin. I typically bowhunt there 10 to 12 times before gun season, and let any immature deer live. The second my grandpa, uncle, and other family members come up for rifle season, all of those smaller bucks get shot opening weekend. My chances at a big mature buck are less every year because of this. While this is not true in most cases, it is with my family. I've tried countless times to educate them to the idea that you can't shoot the little ones if you ever want a big one, but it doesn't work. I've since given up trying, and don't try to manage for mature deer there. For the last few years I've gone up there and just tried to have a good time, drink some beer and bs, which is what rifle season is all about for me now. With my bow I take hunting seriously, not with a rifle.
I don't see anything wrong with gun hunters, as long as they follow all the rules and respect the land that their hunting on. I'm planning on taking my girlfriend out during gun season this year.
True, but there are people that are deer hunters and people that go out deer hunting. Big difference.
Ditto what Tony said!! 2 different experiences, and they are both awesome and eagerly anticipated! Funny things is...and I think someone mentioned it. I think more Gun Hunters think poorly of Bowhunters than vice-versa. I just had this conversation with a fellow hunter at work. They truly believe we wound more than we kill, and someone following this forum would only get fuel for that fire.
I wouldn't take anything for the days I spent Deer hunting with my Dad or being in deer camp with the guys, And ever now and then I will still show up in deer camp just to hang around, shoot the chit, tell stories of the Bearwok and to show them I'm still the best shot in Northern Mich, even though I can't tell you what the last year I killed a deer with a rifle was. With that being said, I am a Bowhunter!..... Know and Understand, Gun Lobbyist "are not" Bowhunter Friendly. I have seen a once generous bow season cut and slashed so much it's now just a filler to go in between special interest gun seasons. Do I look down my nose at gun hunters, NO! Do I understand there has been an invasion by special intrest gun/crossbow groups on my bow season. You can bet your ass I do!
Perhaps, but ask each person the definition of each and you will get as many different answers as responses. Same could be said about bowhunting. Maybe the Traditional guys see all compound shooters as "guys that go bowhunting" not bowhunters. Maybe guys that build their own bows, look at the rest of the over the counter traditional hunters.... so on, so forth. Look, there's an awful lot of hatred & fear towards hunters... I just wish less of it was from other hunters.
Fitz, I hope you don't mind me saying this, but we must be carved out of the exact same mold! You have hit the nail on the head as far as I am concerned. I could not have said this better as far as hunting and Christianity! Amen, my brother! Sal
Sliv: Gun hunting lobbyists, IMO, aren't "anti-bowhunting" as much as they are "pro-gun hunting opportunists". Again, that's my opinion. Our state bowhunter's assoc. got in a big tizzy with the NRA because they were promoting a longer firearms season in NC (it was on the agenda for our NCWRC 2 seasons ago). I don't blame the NRA one bit. They're looking after the best interests of their constituents. I say "bravo" for them for being so vocal. Do I agree with what they were promoting? Heck no. But, I don't blame them for their stance.
No one said they hated or feared hunters, just people who shoot at deer with guns. You can't possibly consider those people hunters, can you? I'm pretty sure you just walk in the woods with a gun and sixer of Busch, and the deer fall down. Its more like shopping than hunting.
Why not? I'm sure they say they're hunters. I'm sure non-hunters would think the same. Yeah, there are hacks out there that I would rather not have hunting (driving, speaking, procreating, holding public office) but you know what? just because they don't have the same practices, habits, even ethics as me, does mean I'm gonna look down at them. Just saying... ... oh yeah, the Thread title says "gun hunters" too.
It should say "gun neanderthals" C'mon Fitz, you've been around here long enough to know I was being sarcastic.
