I weened myself off gun hunting long ago. The hunt was over too quickly. Since I never missed with a gun there was never a challenge... And then I lived at Berry College during my college days and deer were so plentiful that it was not an excitement to me. But most of all my youth weekends were spent working for my uncle in his taxidermst shop in Tallapoosa GA. I got enough deer moments. I could skin a deer out as a kid in minutes. But 6 years ago I had a traumatic experience and it changed my life. I got into archery and back into hunting. I will only gun hunt if I am unable to draw a bow. There is just so much to consider and work at. Bow hunting is a unique art. I respect all you gun guys though. The only thing I'm not in favor of is these treehouse style hunting blinds and buildings. To me you need to make a connection. That is be as close to the game as you can be. If I ever hunt from a hunt house then I'm not able to climb a tree or sit on the ground. But i'm not oppose to those popup ground blinds. Just old school. It's my opinion and I whole heartedly respect the gun hunters and support your right to do so!! SO with all that said I missed three good deer this season... Bow Hunting makes the season last longer...
My hunting experiences began with the rifle and deer camp with my father-in-law. He is the reason for my hunting, but as time has passed on I prefer bow hunting only. I still sneak away every now and again(2 to 3 years) to hunt with good friends at there deer camp with rifle.
I'm predominantly archery only for deer; I get out a hunt or two with the gun every once in a while. I don't do this every season, though, maybe every other. I'd say I'm 80/20 for turkey in favor of the bow, depending where I'm bird hunting. I gun hunt for waterfowl, obviously. I miss my deer gun as I sold them all because I hardly ever used them, more specifically, my muzzleloader; I loved that thing. I do plan to take a trip out West for a muzzleloader Elk hunt, one year.
I have gun hunted for 29 years and bow hunted for about 20 years. Every year I get more into bow hunting and less into gun hunting. Gun hunting is more social to me since I hunt with my brother and dad and now my nephew. I could easily give up gun hunting because it just doesnt seem like a challenge to me any more, but I will keep doing it because I am much more successful with a gun and I enjoy eating venison. I have thought about trying black powder to see if that would be more challenging, but I dont want to spend the money on a gun only to find out that I dont really care for it.
I still gun hunt, and m/l hunt as well. I like them all. My first choice would be bow if I could only choose one.
Love to bowhunt. however when it's time to take the smoke poles out and lower the boom on Bambi it's on! We have sunday bowhunting here so I still hunt with my bow all season but during the week I take my muzzleloader out. Next week gun season will start & I will take my shotgun or my 45-70 TC Pistol. Not much of a rifle hunter. Have several rifles but I rarely take them out. Not a fan of pickin deer off 200+yds away. Feels like I can do that at home off the porch I guess so if i'm going hunting some sort of close encounter is needed.
Bow only for me, but I see that changing as my kids get older. A gun will provide more opportunities to get them out, and a better chance at killing something with them along.
Here in WI we are tag specific 1 buck with bow and 1 with gun so I do both. I am not a big fan of gun season it gets too crowded out there. But am a huge fan of the muzzle loader season :D
Bow and gun for me. I have good friends that I deer hunt with that only gun hunt. Love to share time with them in the woods as well.
Only bow for going on 10 yrs now.... I just didn't get the "thrill" anymore with a gun. If I ever lose the "thrill" with a bow, then I may start knifing them.... :D
I used to hunt with Both but quit hunting with the gun and even sold my ML this year as it just sat there! There is nothing wrong with gun hunting but it just was not a thrill for me anymore as is the Bow hunting!
I'll be rifle hunting this year more then I bowhunted, first and hopefully the last time that happens for awhile.
I do not have anything against those who prefer a "thunder stick", however my preference is a string and a sharp stick. It is more personal experience for me, the setup, the prep, the closeness of a harvest, the primal instinct of making it all come together with a well placed shot. Looking through optics at a deer 500 yards away and simply pulling the trigger just does not make it as challanging or exciting for me.
I have Rifle hunted all of my life until this year, Bowhunting was just a way of extending my season here in Florida. When I was in College my family joined a lease in SC that only has rifle season and I simply got burnt out on gun hunting and the politics associated with a big lease. This is my first year Bowhunting only and I have to say it is harder than I thought leaving my .270 at home, and the jury is still out if I can last til January without pulling Rosie out. Yes my gun's name is Rosie!
I absolutely love hunting with a gun. My thrill level doesn't hinge on what weapon I'm using at the time. I'm just there to shoot deer. :D
Last year was the first in 7 years that I'd hunted with anything except a bow.Missed all of that archery season and blackpowder because of a screwed up shoulder,but took my 300 out because I could at least shoot it off of some shooting sticks.This year I got in the last week and half of archery with my crossbow and took my old Hawkin out for blackpowder and took a good mature doe with it.And I'll probably carry that old Hawkin through rifle season this year.
I only plan on using a gun this year if I go hunting with my neighbor. We try and go at least once a year. I have to use my shotgun or muzzleloader for that. The shot is 80 - 120 yards, so needless to say, a bow won't quite be effective.
I hunt for myself with a bow only in the USA. There are exceptions as I work as a Professional Hunter in Africa and I must by law have a rifle with me. ( it's not disney land) I do shoot game with the rifle there frequently. My personal enjoyment for hunting is with a bow. In America where I live most of the year, I hunt exclusive with a archery kit. Now I do have friends that hunt only rifle and I get invited to join them. On those rare cases if I have an unfilled tag I would join them with a rifle. These areas are high desert with rolling hills and no trees for 100 miles in any direction. Without the time to build blinds at the few water points, it's a rifle hunting proposition for the most part.
That is an awesome moment haha! Not saying gun hunters aren't as committed, because some are...but I'll be honest I'd be fine if guns were just banned altogether haha! :D (There are exceptions and circumstances where I know people can't bow hunt so don't take my comment and run with it fellas!)
