Bow only 2021....
- Thread starter redblood
- Start date
bowhunterfanatic
Well-Known Member
If I had the ground to do it I'd never carry a rifle. Unfortunately for me it's hard as heck to bowhunt 30-60 acre fields, especially late season.
I understand that.
Lincoln Co Archer
Well-Known Member
Meh, to each their own. Luckily, we live in a state with a relatively long deer season that gives us the flexibility to hunt with whatever weapon we choose to carry.
No doubt. Not lobbying for season changes just wondering if we have other bow only guys out there
tree_ghost
Well-Known Member
I have been bowhunting whitetails exclusively for the last 13 seasons. I love the challenge. Just do whatever gets you excited in the woods!
Coop87
Active Member
When I was in my early 20's I killed my first deer with a bow. Fast forward 13 years later and I have never carried a firearm with me deer hunting. It was the combination of an adrenaline rush like I've never experienced, a more primitive approach to harvesting an animal, and the time spent tuning/practicing with a bow that made it such an unbelievable experience. I feel like anyone can sight in a rifle and take an animal at 100+ yards. Learning how to get within bow range is at another level.
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2017
- Messages
- 828
I can't make myself MZ or Rifle hunt anymore. Hard for me to get fired up and going for something I could teach my wife to do in half a day. The challenge and adrenaline is what I'm in it for these days. Bow hunting will smack you around so I guess i am just a glutton for punishment. Just when you think you have the sport and the deer figured out, you don't.
fairchaser
Well-Known Member
It's in the teens this morning with a wind chill in the single digits. I couldn't pull a bow back!
In my part of the state, shooting a 4,5+ buck with a bow might take you 10 years. Best of luck to you! I do like getting close but also like the challenge of making a long shot, say over 200 yards.
I agree that shooting a 2.5 year old buck from a shooting house window at 50 yards is no challenge.
For me, the challenge of only killing mature bucks is sufficient. I don't ever figure I've got that licked. Now with CWD, it's gonna be even tougher.
In my part of the state, shooting a 4,5+ buck with a bow might take you 10 years. Best of luck to you! I do like getting close but also like the challenge of making a long shot, say over 200 yards.
I agree that shooting a 2.5 year old buck from a shooting house window at 50 yards is no challenge.
For me, the challenge of only killing mature bucks is sufficient. I don't ever figure I've got that licked. Now with CWD, it's gonna be even tougher.
No desire to personally
Wish you a merry Christmas and a great 2021
Wish you a merry Christmas and a great 2021
DoubleRidge
Well-Known Member
I haven't gotten there yet.....but have been considering shifting some vacation days..... normally I take the two weeks of muzzleloader and the week of Thanksgiving off....in the future I've been thinking about taking some days off the last week of October then bow hunt end of October and the first week of November.....then second week of November start with muzzleloader and hunt the remainder of season with the smoke pole.
Best friends brother hunts with traditional archery gear the entire season and has for years.... totally determined to get a P&Y buck with traditional gear.....I admire his dedication.
Best friends brother hunts with traditional archery gear the entire season and has for years.... totally determined to get a P&Y buck with traditional gear.....I admire his dedication.
huntncoach
Well-Known Member
I mostly hunt with my bow. My buddy bow hunts exclusively. Typically, I carry my bow through archery and MZ then if I haven't taken any deer I will pick up the rifle. Love the challenge with the bow, though!
THEdonkey0515
Well-Known Member
No I enjoy bow hunting, and have taking many with a bow...but I also like to try new things, or use something I haven't in years.
Like I got my old 30-30 outta retirement, and killed with it for the first since 2008.
I wanted to use a shotgun for the first time a couple years ago just to say I've done it so I did that for a while.
I've just started getting into pistol hunting in the last year think I will enjoy it alot.
I want to do more iron sight hunting with a rifle/muzzy just because I never have really.
So I like to try and do different things while deer hunting I wouldn't wanna use 1 type of weapon only that just me.
Like I got my old 30-30 outta retirement, and killed with it for the first since 2008.
I wanted to use a shotgun for the first time a couple years ago just to say I've done it so I did that for a while.
I've just started getting into pistol hunting in the last year think I will enjoy it alot.
I want to do more iron sight hunting with a rifle/muzzy just because I never have really.
So I like to try and do different things while deer hunting I wouldn't wanna use 1 type of weapon only that just me.
Last edited:
Woodman
Well-Known Member
Personally, I enjoy hunting with "all" the weapon options (Bow, Muzzleloader, and Rifle). Glad we live in a state where we can make all those choices.
philsanchez76
Well-Known Member
I've only been hunting for 3 seasons now and bow hunting is by far my favorite! However, there is something SO satisfying when muzzleloader hits and I can take those deer who were taunting me out past 50 yards!
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2015
- Messages
- 1,211
I was bow only for a number of years (8ish) even switched to a recurve for a couple of years. A lot of that decision was driven by where I hunted (suburbia) and the time I had to practice. I prefer to bow hunt and if I had the right property with low hunter density that's what I would stick with. I use all the weapons allowed during that given season depending on the mood I am in and the property I hunt that day. It's funny that I am pretty dialed in with my 308 and 7mm-08 out to 500 yards but haven't shot a deer past 40 yards in about 12 years. I definitely get a rush with any weapon I use but nothing gets me as fired up as getting one with my bow.
i feel the same wayPersonally, I enjoy hunting with "all" the weapon options (Bow, Muzzleloader, and Rifle). Glad we live in a state where we can make all those choices.
No but thought about it . I have bow hunted during muzzy and rifle seasons before . Now not a choice as my shoulder won't let me bowhunt at all, since have purchased an Xbow .
Count me in that group, mostly. My approach is a little different and maybe even off putting to some. I bow hunt bucks. I love the sport, the challenge, the archery, preparation, everything about it. That's the deer hunting I really enjoy. Everything from my stands, habitat work, etc. revolves around buck hunting with a bow. I'm eat up with it.
But for freezer filling does, I use a gun. It's hardly even hunting. I walk out and pick the deer, pull the trigger, and drag her to the truck. No thrill or enjoyment or challenge, just meat acquisition like going to the market. I love deer meat and that's how I get it.
But for freezer filling does, I use a gun. It's hardly even hunting. I walk out and pick the deer, pull the trigger, and drag her to the truck. No thrill or enjoyment or challenge, just meat acquisition like going to the market. I love deer meat and that's how I get it.
I would rather kill a deer with my rifle using my hand loads. That's a special challenge and gratification as well
JCDEERMAN
Well-Known Member
Not for me. If I can have a gun in my hand, I will certainly have one. The only exception would be elk hunting. I would only go after elk with a bow.
EJ1
Well-Known Member
Been bow only for about 5 years. Gun hunting just doesn't do anything for ME anymore.
I haven't killed a buck in three season, but have filled the freezer with does. Had my 140+ shooter under 30 yards twice this year during muzzleloader and couldn't get a clean shot. That is what it's all about to me.
Bow hunting and the prep is just so much fun.
I haven't killed a buck in three season, but have filled the freezer with does. Had my 140+ shooter under 30 yards twice this year during muzzleloader and couldn't get a clean shot. That is what it's all about to me.
Bow hunting and the prep is just so much fun.
I've been bow only hunting for close to 10 years now. Not really sure why. I guess because I found a good little piece of land that is bow only and only 5 mins from my house. So I got off the lease I was on that was a hour 1/2 drive and haven't looked back
jemo4570
Well-Known Member
I archery hunted only from 1979 through the 1986 seasons (before marriage). Mostly in west Davidson Co and on Cheatham WMA. During hunts in two different years on the same property, I had a massive 12 pointer within 30 yards and a giant nontypical within 20 yards that I couldn't get a clean shots at. Never saw either again and didn't hear of anyone else taking them. It would have been nice to take either (BOTH) with a bow, but if I had had a gun/muzzleloader they would be on my den wall right now! Now they are just a "what could have been" memory!
I have always loved bowhunting and have done so exclusively for the past two seasons. As has already been mentioned in this thread the art of hunting which involves getting a deer within 250 yards of my .270 just doesn't motivate me anymore. And this is coming from someone who has never really killed a mature deer with a rifle. Would like to see a thread like this be bumped all year long in 2021 to see everybody's pics, plans, and success stories as next season unfolds.
I like hunting with all weapons personally.
For me it's a time issue, my time only allows me to hunt 10 days a year. To be successful I put a rifle/ muzzleloader in my hand.
TboneD
Well-Known Member
Personally, what makes the hunt more meaningful to me is not so much the weapon used, but how close I am to the deer. Yes, I admit to be very proud of the doe I killed years ago with my old longbow, but I'm also proud of two 9 pointers I've shot with a rifle on the ground inside of 40 yds. Once upon a time I was stoked to be in a tree in LBL first part of January. Then a doe came by and I realized I simply couldn't get on her fast enough to draw, much less let an arrow fly. It was in the single digits that morning, so I was dressed up like the Michelin Man. So there's that...and winter clothing's effect on your shooting form to consider. Also, drawing a heavy bow after sitting in the cold can be more than just difficult, you can make yourself a candidate for rotator cuff surgery.
But as for the hunting with firearms, what I'd like to know is just how much the gun opener affects deer movement. Is my drastic reduction in deer sightings one week into gun season (where I hunt, at least) because of guns a blazin'? Or is lockdown as much a big factor? Or is it because I'm on public with no food plots? How does this relate to the OP? If I knew that gun hunting was biggest factor, which there is certainly A LOT OF around where I hunt, I guess I'd be more stoked to keep shooting the bow, or at least hunt thicker areas and closer to edges and such like I'm still toting a bow. I'm reminded of a lease in Perry County my buddy was on years ago. He could take a friend during bow season and I was surprised when he told me their rule that you couldn't hunt within so many yards, maybe 100 if I recall, of any of the food plots.
But as for the hunting with firearms, what I'd like to know is just how much the gun opener affects deer movement. Is my drastic reduction in deer sightings one week into gun season (where I hunt, at least) because of guns a blazin'? Or is lockdown as much a big factor? Or is it because I'm on public with no food plots? How does this relate to the OP? If I knew that gun hunting was biggest factor, which there is certainly A LOT OF around where I hunt, I guess I'd be more stoked to keep shooting the bow, or at least hunt thicker areas and closer to edges and such like I'm still toting a bow. I'm reminded of a lease in Perry County my buddy was on years ago. He could take a friend during bow season and I was surprised when he told me their rule that you couldn't hunt within so many yards, maybe 100 if I recall, of any of the food plots.
For me it's pretty consuming. A large part of my life year round revolves in some way around bow hunting. Practice never ends, nor does scouting, nor does planning and prep. From broad heads to food plots, mocks scrapes, water holes, various types and numerous stands, buying property, knocking on doors, on and on. Its a year round effort and is constantly on my mind.
Not many things in my life is as rewarding as honing in on a specific buck and pursuing him with a bow. Getting married, having kids, having grandkids all rank up top but bow hunting is following them up pretty close. Never has gun hunting been anything even remotely close to that for me.
Not many things in my life is as rewarding as honing in on a specific buck and pursuing him with a bow. Getting married, having kids, having grandkids all rank up top but bow hunting is following them up pretty close. Never has gun hunting been anything even remotely close to that for me.
I hunted bow only this season and it cost me from killing my #1 target twice! Gotta love bow only.
