Have not shot a deer with a firearm going on eleven years and am proud of it!! Archery Rules!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well hunting with a rifle is illegal in IN so we'll have none of that. I bow hunt, shotgun and muzzleloader. The shotgun I used when it's extreme cold or snowing, and the muzzleloader is old faithful I break out just to change it up a bit.
Mainly bow. But have killed with shotgun and muzzleloader. I dont have friends who bow hunt so I go gun hunting to enjoy their company and I have a blast!
I bow and muzzleloader hunt. Something about watching the smoke roll out of the Encore gets me jacked up. Just because this is a bowhunting site, there is no shame in using any weapon you find enjoyment. Hell, even one of our fellow staffers gave up bowhunting for turkeys this spring after 2 hours and grabbed the shotgun. Mueller!!!! :D
I have hunted with a shotgun and rifle since I was 12 years old. Mostly bowhunt, but I enjoy hunting no matter what my weapon of choice happens to be. Although bow hunting is by far my favorite.
Bowkills are much more satisfying to me, but I'm not above taking the blackpowder gun and rifle out from time to time.
I have enjoyed seeing the responses. I have only harvested two deer. Last season was my first as everyone knows and the one of the two that I was most proud of was the shot gun. He was 100yd out and I was shooting with a brass ball sight. I was shooting 1oz slug. I was hunting a stand I set up 75yd out my front door. He walked down my driveway and when I finally had a good shot he stopped. I squeezed the trigger and he took off. I knew I hit him but, took a second shot anyways. On the second shot he was on the run at about 130yd and I took the second shot. When I found him piled up, He had two holes, I hit him both shots. One took out the lungs and the "on the run shot" was in the rear hip. I guess that sporting clay shooting came in handy for deer after all. I'm am not bragging or maybe I am a little. Just proud of that one. lol I had to share it even though it was not with a bow. Oh and no I do not believe you should shoot at a running deer and have no idea what I was thinking when I did it. If he was running on the first shot I would not have taken it.
Bow in MN, rifle in WI. Although, that could change now the WI lets you bowhunt during the rifle season....
I enjoy hunting with all types of guns. I haven't used a rifle in a while now, but I regularly use revolvers & shotguns. This fall I actually plan to save more doe tags for pistol hunting, instead of trying to fill them with my bow. I'm also kind of torn with regards to my buck tags too. I love getting a nice buck with my bow and I'd really love to fill both tags with my bow, something I've yet to do. BUT I'm also getting very itchy to take my first buck with a handgun as well. Lots of decisions to be made this fall.
If it's legal, I'll hunt with it. That being said I plan on hunting the rifle and archery seasons in PA this year, Don't see the need to get the muzzle loader stamp.
I picked up the rifle last season for the first time in a few years because I went to a families deer camp who I didn't know real well and didn't want to explain myself or offend anyone with bringing a bow. They hunt exclusively spot and stalk in the deep woods of the U.P. Now that I know them better if I make it to camp it will be with bow in hand knowing the chance of success will be near zero. I just don't get the excitement out of gun hunting like I do bow for some reason, plus I'm probably the worst shot ever with a gun!
Haven't gun hunted since 2005 or so. I enjoy bowhunting. I may one day get back into gun hunting, but I don't see it happening anytime soon.
Starting last year became more exclusive with the bow. I still join my 70 year old Dad with the shotgun for the IL season and the rifle (will probably be the shotgun this year though) for the WI gun season. This is the one week that we look forward to hunt with each other each and every year. Bought a Savage 220F 20 gauge bolt-action slug gun this winter that shoots like a freakin' centerfire rifle out to 180-200 yards. Might never pick up the smooth bore 12 ga, .30-06 or .300 WSM again! Seriously, I personally get more satisfaction with harvesting a deer with archery equipment versus a gun. Been trying to talk my Dad into a crossbow so he could join me on those adventures also as I know he will not be joing me much longer.
