Bowhunting

[turf08]

I have said this for the past few years and Im gonna say it again, I really would like to do a complete hunting season using only my bow. I think I could actually pull it off through MZ season, but once all the big boys start running, I want to hunt our food plots and they are 2 acre+. The past 2 years all my good bucks have come into the plots but never came within 60yards, and that would be my absolute farthest id shoot. My other issue is during the winter its hard to stay in the stand with only a few layers on my upper body. If i put a lot on I hit my string on my cloths. Has anyone else made it all the way through season using only a bow?

 

[Os2 Outdoors]

Bow only here. Except really late season if I decide to shoot a few more does with a rifle. Haven't shot a gun buck in years.

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[Treestand Troubadour]

I bow hunted exclusively for years. I never hunted with or killed a deer with a gun up until two years ago.

 

[WRbowhunter]

I hunt the 2 weeks of MZ then go back to bow for the remainder of the year. Sometimes its tough bowhunting when the temps are in the teens.

 

[Mike Belt]

When the big boys have more of a tendency to move I want my most optimum weapon in my hands. That isn't a bow. Aside from that, I've bow hunted the end of December in some really cold weather and had to wear my heavy duty stuff. I was pleasantly surprised at how accurate I was with my bow while doing so. Just wear an arm sling. You can buy them or do like I did. I camouflaged an Ace bandage and wrapped my arm. I never had a problem with my sleeves.

 

[Mudbone]

I pretty much only bow hunt. Mainly because most of my spots are bow only. Hard to find rifle spots anymore. Sure wish I could afford to buy me some property.

 

[hitek7]

I find that on the extremely cold days that I want to bowhunt, the adhesive back body warmers really comes in handy. A good layer of Under Armour, Sweatshirt, and mid weight (windproof) jacket combined with these body warmers does well.

 

[tree_ghost]

This will be my 6th season of only taking a bow to the woods. I wouldn't have it any other way. The challenge of facing a buck up close and personal and being able to close the deal is a total addiction to me...

 

[stik]

by the time bow season is over, i am ready for it to be over. i would never hunt with a bow if there was not a season for it.

 

[TN Whitetail Freak]

This will be my 4th year of bow only....killed my last buck Nov 23 , 2011....I won't forget the feeling I didn't have....I rattled up a buck and dropped it at 75 yds in an open field.....I didn't have that rush or have the shakes and I didn't like it so I sold my rifle....I've killed 2 dozen deer since then with the bow and shake with the adrenaline rush every time

 

[turf08]

I didn't have that rush or have the shakes and I didn't like it so I sold my rifle....I've killed 2 dozen deer since then with the bow and shake with the adrenaline rush every time

I agree completely with this. I shot 2 really nice bucks last year with a rifle and it didnt do anything really for me. This is one of the main reasons I want to try the bow only thing. I shot several does last year with a bow and I nearly shook every limb out of the tree after the shot. The adrenaline rush is amazing. Why would anyone do drugs when they can just bow hunt????

 

[Treestand Troubadour]

There's just somethin about it that you can't find anywhere else. Its awesome havin two or three does under your tree and knowing you can't hardly blink without bein busted. You don't get that with a rifle and a field full of does two hundred yards off

 

[redblood]

by the time bow season is over, i am ready for it to be over. i would never hunt with a bow if there was not a season for it.

x2. I have killed a lot of deer with a bow. rifle is just more efficient

 

[Debo03]

I've been bow only for about the last 6 years. Nothing else even holds a candle to it..

As for you OP and your situation with big buck encounters in 2 acre food plots.. I would recommend trying to narrow down where those bad boys are bedding and try to intercept them coming from bedding to those plots rather than hunting on the actual plot... That way you catch them inside bow range and You also up your chances on catching him in the daylight because he isn't going to step out in the open during daylight very often!

 

[stik]

There's just somethin about it that you can't find anywhere else. Its awesome havin two or three does under your tree and knowing you can't hardly blink without bein busted. You don't get that with a rifle and a field full of does two hundred yards off

i have had just as many deer under me when hunting with a rifle or muzzleloader.

 

[TboneD]

There's just somethin about it that you can't find anywhere else. Its awesome havin two or three does under your tree and knowing you can't hardly blink without bein busted. You don't get that with a rifle and a field full of does two hundred yards off

i have had just as many deer under me when hunting with a rifle or muzzleloader.

To me, hunting is about getting close, no matter the weapon, and I love it when they're close enough to spit on.


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[MSRiverRat]

I haven't picked up a gun for deer hunting in 6 years. To each there own but I prefer the overall hunting experience with a bow much greater. Killed my KY buck last year with a bow on Nov. 16, middle of their 2 week rifle season.

 

[Prowler]

Over the last several years I have gravitated away from my rifles and done completely away with the smoke stick. In the last 3 seasons I have hunted with a bow 133 trips and 11 trips with a rifle. Much more satisfactory to me to get one with a bow. Gotta be more cautious about every single step along the way. It has definitely cost me a few that I could've had
With a longer range weapon but The bang cannons just aren't the same imo.

 

[Mike Belt]

It all boils down to whether you're hunting more to kill something or more for the experience. A rifle makes it much easier than hunting with a bow and provided you can hit what you shoot at, your chances of making a kill are much better. I'm middle ground on this. I like the experience of the hunt but at the same time I want to be able to maximize my chances at any range and in any terrain. I do agree that a deer within bowshot will really shake you up and there's much more skill involved in getting a good shot off on a doe or a buck.

 

[AT Hiker]

I am willing to bet if every TN Deer member had the chance to go out West and hunt a mountain deer/elk they would change their perspective on hunting (a vast majority would). The experiences and closeness to nature is unlike any bow hunting experience around here can provide. Heck, you can mimics some of that here within Cherokee and Big South Fork but it lacks the openness which is critical to me.

What Im saying is once I started hunting West I practically gave up bowhunting here because the Western hunting filled a void, kinda like bowhunting does to some here. Plus I would rather be a few thousand feet higher in elevation come September versus sweating my butt off and slapping bugs in a tree here.


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[gator-n-buck]

I use what ever the season calls for...

 

[JDBinTN]

I want to go bow only, just not the same killing one with a gun.

 

[Vermin93]

I enjoy bow, muzzleloader and rifle, but I definitely prefer to bowhunt whitetails and I especially enjoy the challenge of doing it on public land.

When I get enough points to draw some good western hunts, I will probably put in for muzzleloader or rifle. However, I am intrigued by a few of the guys who do a lot of bowhunting out west. That looks to me like the ultimate challenge.

 

[Winchester]

I love to hunt with a bow and its my favorite weapon to use, that said I always break down and pick up the Rifle when season allows! I do most years bow hunt through MZ season however! Nothing like the Challenge and satisfaction of getting a good deer close enough to slip an arrow in his ribs without him ever knowing what hit him! Now that's Hunting!!