who could give up the gun?

[explodingvarmints]

i was talking to a friend the other day when the subject of bow vs. gun hunting for deer came up. he asked me if i HAD to choose one or the other which would it be? i told him that nobody in my family bowhunted and i got sick of seeing my dad and uncles make the trek up to deer camp (rifle) every year without me cause i was too young. thus i kinda taught myself how to bowhunt. i figure that this has alot to do with my dedication and love of this great sport. don't get me wrong i still enjoy my time in the woods with the shotgun and rifle, but to me it's just not the same. i feel it takes more skill and knowhow to arrow a nice buck than it does to knock em off their feet at 200 yards. i then started to think back and try to count how many bucks i have taken with either weapon. not only did i realize that i have shot more bucks with my bow but could also tell the story in much more VIVID detail and felt a little more proud to share the bow kill story's. my first two bucks were taken with a rifle and god knows i will never forget a split second of either, but i just have a special glow (sounds gay i know so step off... i;m telling a story:lol: ) when i'm in the tree stand with the bow in hand. how about you guys-gals

[holzy]

I could EASILY do withought a gun! In fact, I rifle hunted for 2 hrs last year.

[Swamp Monster]

I enjoy hunting to much to give up either.

[szokr1]

Two deer in the freezer last year by the middle of October....never once went out for the gun season.

Bow hunting by far!!!

[explodingvarmints]

I enjoy hunting to much to give up either.

me too......... see the HAD to choose part.... i felt sick even having to think about that.

[Swamp Monster]

Luckily, we don't have to think about it, so I don't have to choose :D

Bowhunting is more enjoyable, at least here in Michigan, but I consider myself a deer hunter, and deer season is deer season and I choose to be in the woods! Sitting out either one of the seasons is completely beyond my comprehension......

[Kelly Johnson]

For deer hunting I much prefer to bowhunt. Bowhunted all through Mi gun season last year.

I gun hunted one day last year for the Ohio Season.

I woudn't trade my Ithaca 20ga fo anything though....awfull hard to hit a pheasant with a ACC and a Muzzy ;)

[magnumhntr]

I would give up gun season by far. Matter of fact, last year was the first year I seriously gun hunted, and that is only because I'm done shooting 1 1/2 olds, and want all the oportunity I can get to shoot a mature deer. That is the ONLY reason I gun hunt. I usually go duck hunting during gun season....

[Swamp Monster]

awfull hard to hit a pheasant with a ACC and a Muzzy ;)

Don't let all those sponsors hear that kind of negative :D talk!!

[noname]

For deer hunting I much prefer to bowhunt. Bowhunted all through Mi gun season last year.

I gun hunted one day last year for the Ohio Season.

I woudn't trade my Ithaca 20ga fo anything though....awfull hard to hit a pheasant with a ACC and a Muzzy ;)




I agree with Kelly. I gun hunted one day last year and hunted with my bow all the way through all seasons. I used to only hunt with bow or muzzleloader, I traded my muzzleloader for another bow last season. How ever I am also big into duck hunting, It would be hard to hit a duck with a bow.

[TnRidge]

I bowhunted the entire season last year . I plan to do the same this year . It was the most fun I have had hunting in years ,and really kept me in tune with changes in the deer patterns throughout the season .

Bowhunting : Silent ,but deadly .:)

[captainhowdy]

I turkey hunted this past spring with a gun... First time I've shot a gun in almost 11 years... It was strange to be in the woods without my bow... I actually enjoyed it... I kept trying to get the birds in closer and then it suddenly hit me... I can shoot 'em from here... wow! that's kewl... BOOM!

[Kelly Johnson]

Bowhunting : Silent ,but deadly

I think a bigpart of my affinity is exactly that TN. I can hunt 50 yards from another guy all season, we'll both take 2 deer and never know the other is there unless we "bump" at the truck.

It may sound cheesy but...Beautifull morning, deer all over, birds singing, coon in the tree across...tukeys over on the ridge...fat doe walks through....

Now at that point...I SO much prefer the ssssssssT Thwack! to the BOOOOOM! that just kinda destroys the moment.

Plus no one can hear when I miss with my bow :lol:

Howdy....I did the same thing 2 years ago when I did use the slugger. Took 2 with that and found myself waiting till they were at 20-25 yards and than it dawned on me :D

[farmlegend]

I've been bowhunting throughout the gun season since 1992. Great fun to arrow a deer in late November!

[Kelly Johnson]

Hey E.Varmints....you should post this in the Whitetail forum brother.

You can prolly guess what most in the archery section will say ;) :lol:

[drwink]

given up the bow.
But then I bowhunted before bohunting was "cool".
Got my first bow from K-mart, Bear Grizzly recurve when I was 14, 1969 & I was 15 when I first bowhunted some, but there were still pheasants around so spent alot of time small game hunting(shotgun), & did a fair amount of rabbit hunting with that recurve.
Became disappointed with Michigans Pheasant population in the early eighties & bought a Darton bracket compound & bowhunted deer alot. Joined a club, WWCCA & it offered all shooting aspects but was mostly drawn to the archery group. Got a Martin Firecat, acutally 2, Shot leagues, winter & summer, got certified by NAA as a JOAD instructor (Junior Olympic Archery Instructor) & taught that for a few years. Did the 3-D thing & travel around to shoots, did MUCC state shoots & took many trohpies. Became the "Walk thru Archery Chairman" & built the cousre at WWCCA with the help of other members when they showed up. Ran the shoots there for a couple years.
Had seminars & bow tuning clinics. Then moved a hour or so away & couldn't spend the time there as much.
Continued bowhunting till about "95" but it was getting way to popular for me, constantly running into other bowhunters, had several confrontations & hunts spoiled by others. Truckloads of bait etc, but discovered lots of good grouse hunting area's & hated to see my dog sitting at home while I shelfishly sat in a stand waiting for a deer. So I simply said I'm going to start hunting grouse with the Phesants gone, lots of public property to grouse hunt, and getting older I just thought I needed more exercise to stay healthier/live longer hopfully, rather than sit still in the woods all day.
So now I would rather share my time in the woods with my dogs than bowhunt. Oh I'll occasionally bowhunt, around my place & my land where I can control who I'll run into, or won't run into.
Acutally the TB thing in NE part of the state where I go has been good for me, less guy's bowhunting & If I go grouse hunting I usually won't hunt anywhere near where I see a bowhunters truck parked if at all possible as I don't want to spoil anyone's hunt, but have run into a couple & not intensionally.
I just think I kind of burnt out on bowhunting somewhat. Now November 15-30 when firearm season is open is when I do most of my deer hunting period.
Do what you like guys, to each their own, just my story & I'm sticking to it.

Wally

[fulldraw]

I would with out dought give up my rifle to hunt deer with my bow. A matter afact 2yrs. ago my father and I went hunting I could have grab the muzzle loader to hunt with. But nop I grab the bow, either way I would probably only have one shot and I can were camo.

But I deffinitly have more fun with bow in had than rifle in hand when comes to deer hunting or any big game hunting.

fulldraw

[Swamp Monster]

grab the muzzle loader to hunt with. But nop I grab the bow, either way I would probably only have one shot and I can were camo.


fulldraw


The law states otherwise. If you choose to bowhunt during the firearms season, (including the muzzleloader season), you still must meet the Hunter Orange requirement.

[explodingvarmints]

Hey E.Varmints....you should post this in the Whitetail forum brother.

You can prolly guess what most in the archery section will say ;) :lol:

good point.......... thought of that a split second after i hit the button:bash: .

[explodingvarmints]

capt.howdy how ya been since the hardwater? it's been a while

[Dave49749]

I went through a rough patch recently and ended up wit no guns at all, and I must say I don’t miss them. I was never was a rifle fan I loved the shotgun (bird hunter) and handguns. Yes there are times when I would like to go to the range and run a few rounds through a large caliber revolver. The couple years I have spent without hunting and guns i haven’t thought a bout them. The one thing that I always gravitated to was the archery department; I simply love the look of a modern compound, and the sleek lines of the recurve. It took a few years but now that I am enjoying archery I have no desire to ever own a gun.



Dave

[Tom Morang]

Swamp Monster says - "The law states otherwise. If you choose to bowhunt during the firearms season, (including the muzzleloader season), you still must meet the Hunter Orange requirement."


Not true. Bowhunters are only required to wear hunter orange during the gun deer season, November 15-30. Hunter orange is not required while bow hunting during bow season October 1 thru November 14 and December 1 thru January 1.

Check with Boehr if you like............tm

P.S. I also hunt during the gun season with my bow and have done so for the last 16 years. Some guys do seem to have a puzzled look on their face though.

[Thunderhead]

In heartbeat. They could close fireams season all together for all I care.

[I'llbeoutside]

Normally I would take the bow without question. I have taken more bucks and had more quality expiriences w/ deer during archery than gun by far. Unfortunately it does not look like I have a choice this year. I am scheduled for surgery on my arm July 21. Most likely I will be in a cast for 8-12 weeks. This will be the first bow season I have missed in a VERY long time. It kills me just thinking about it. I hope to vent my frustration by scouting for my old man and gun season. I plan to be able to draw/practice by mid Oct. My goal is to bow hunt the late season. Guess I am just thankful for gun season this year!! I am looking into the early muzzle season at the in-laws in KY.

[skulldugary]

Although I favor bow hunting a little more than gun,I don't think I could choose to give one up over the other but if a gun was put to my head I'd pick bow over fire arms because of the length of the season and more days afield.

[barry county jim]

I have tought myself to bowhunt so without a dout I would give up the guns. My dad never has been to interested in the bow side of things. he tought me all the basics when I was young but from oct. to nov. 15 I was on my own. Learned to hang stands in spots that I thought were good. Probably the best complement my dad has given me was when he said I have became alot more patient. I went alot of fruitless years till I became consistant, missed alot of deer in those years but I could dot an I in the back yard.
Now I shoot leages and 3d. In that way bowhunting is more social than gunhunting.

Wish my dad had my passon for bowhunting so he could expierence the things you don't see gunhunting. Thought about heading out of state come nov. 15 but I want to hunt with dad so I stay. We have a good time.

Sorry if the reply jumps around, I have alot of thoughts about this and my hands can't keep up. To many good memories

[Swamp Monster]

Not true. Bowhunters are only required to wear hunter orange during the gun deer season, November 15-30. Hunter orange is not required while bow hunting during bow season October 1 thru November 14 and December 1 thru January 1.
.


You are correct. Why the DNR would not require Orange during the Muzzleloader season is beyond me. An obvious oversite on there part.

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10363_10919_11747-32270--,00.html

[trailsend]

"In heartbeat. They could close fireams season all together for all I care"


Thats a nice thought:confused: Geez ya know some guys don't hunt doves but we would care if that season opens or closes. Open your minds a little.

[Sprytle]

I would hate to have to make that choice. Love them both. They are two totally differnt games. I would pick to bowhunt if i had to. I usally take the first week of gun season off which i could have again this year but unstead this year i took off the week before gun season just because i love those first two weeks of nov. In fact this year i have Nov. 1-17 off!!!! :evil: :D -Bob

[One Eye]

I would choose bowhunting in a minute. I only gun hunt in Michigan out of tradition and this is the only deer hunting my dad still does. He quit bowhunting in 1983, after I was shot by another bowhunter. Unfortunately, my dad could never overcome that.

This decision could come sooner than you think, especially if Michigan ever returns to 1 buck tag.

Dan

[Gobblerman]

Bow Hunting by far. I have not firearm hunted in Michigan in several years. Too many hunters and no seclusion. Bow hunting is much more relaxing and you get to really hone your hunting skills.

[davidshane]

I'm glad we don't have to make a choice like that. I enjoy deer hunting far too much to loose any season.

But to answer your question, if everything else remains as is, I would bow hunt. Bowhunting is simply more enjoyable and the season allow me more time to presue.

[lawnboy]

:sad: I only gun hunt now because it’s a tradition. Other then that I could care less because of all the fools that run through the woods.


Plus I get a huge kick out of the guy that waits ALL year for two weeks of hunting and most of them only hunt one week. They talk and talk and talk about THAT day. Shoot by the time opening day comes around I’ve been hunting deer for so may days that it’s old school by then. Just a different weapon and also I’ve been shooting at ducks and geese for so many weeks that I’ve even lost some of the excitement.

[Thunderhead]

"In heartbeat. They could close fireams season all together for all I care"


Thats a nice thought:confused: Geez ya know some guys don't hunt doves but we would care if that season opens or closes. Open your minds a little.

Thanks for your concern about my mental health.
If you look at the question posed, it asks which would you choose.
I answered the man.
I didn't see your response to the question, or did you post just to make a noise?.

[GVDocHoliday]

I'm with Thunderhead on this one. TH check your inbox.