Giving it up

[cecil30-30]

I started archery hunting 5 years ago,and have grown to like it,but I just feel that im putting un needed pressure on the deer before muzzy even opens up.I feel that im educating the older deer.In the 5 years I bowhunted,I only seen one buck over 3.5 yrs old and I hunt alot.I'll probably miss it,but I do know I won't miss the sweating, the ticks,and that little buzzing sound of a mosquito landing on your ear to suck you dry..LOL It'll also free up some extra money to buy other hunting related items.. :D

 

[shopson]

You don't see the mature bucks cause they like to hide until the women are ready.

 

[Vermin93]

I'll probably miss it,but I do know I won't miss the sweating, the ticks,and that little buzzing sound of a mosquito landing on your ear to suck you dry..LOL

If I were you I'd get some Under Armour HeatGear, Sawyer's Permethrin and a Thermacell and get back out there next bow season!

 

[AllOutdoors]

I started archery hunting 5 years ago,and have grown to like it,but I just feel that im putting un needed pressure on the deer before muzzy even opens up.I feel that im educating the older deer.In the 5 years I bowhunted,I only seen one buck over 3.5 yrs old and I hunt alot.I'll probably miss it,but I do know I won't miss the sweating, the ticks,and that little buzzing sound of a mosquito landing on your ear to suck you dry..LOL It'll also free up some extra money to buy other hunting related items.. :D

I'm with you. I killed lots of deer with a bow when I was younger. Bought a new crossbow last year and its been shot maybe 10 times at a target. Since I quit bowhunting my property, I see more mature deer during the rut.

 

[splitter]

I love bow hunting to much to give it up, even if i never kill a big buck because of it

 

[cfmartin1833]

i understand but i like to use bow season to do some of my pre rut scouting too. I know my hunting property pretty good but I find sign in alot of new areas during bow season. But i am very big on scent control during bow season so that Im not spreading my scent around everywhere!

 

[DMAG]

Hunt muzzleloader season with a bow. Bowhunting to me is the greatest thing since sliced bread, so to give it up, man that be rough.

 

[cecil30-30]

I have 3 pieces of private land to hunt,but since I started bowhunting I can defiantly tell a decrease in mature deer sightings on them.

 

[easy45]

I could never give it up

 

[bigasports]

^^^^^^^^DITTO^^^^^^^^^

 

[tickweed]

cant believe you would stop.

 

[AlanH]

no!! lol

 

[cecil30-30]

Its just bowhunting..I only bowhunted so I could have more antlerless opportunities...

 

[JGreg]

I would never give up bow hunting.

 

[BluegrassDan]

Cecil, this year I approached bow season a little differently. I used to be out there nearly every moment I could, exhausting myself and being frustrated before muzzleloader or rifle season even started. This year, I only went a few times and hunted very easy-to-access areas where I knew the does hang out.

Then when muzzleloader started yesterday I went into the deep woods and killed a buck.

 

[bowriter]

I'd give up muzzleloader long before I'd give up archery.

 

[Elmer]

If it wasn't for a couple bow only places I probably would. I love smoke poles

 

[ROUGH COUNTRY HUNTER]

needs to get colder

 

[Mike Belt]

I've said for years now that archery season is probably the saving grace for many bucks because the element of surprise is gone and the bucks generally have the hunters figured out by the time prime hunting time arrives. Don't get me wrong because there are many good bucks taken during archery and I love to hear that "thump" sound of the arrow hitting home but I prefer to leave my prime areas "virgin" until just before the rut kicks in.

 

[W.Seay]

Bow hunting= educating mature bucks in my opinion. I wait til gun and then sneak in on them!! I have killed several old bucks by doing this.

 

[megalomaniac]

I started archery hunting 5 years ago,and have grown to like it,but I just feel that im putting un needed pressure on the deer before muzzy even opens up.I feel that im educating the older deer.In the 5 years I bowhunted,I only seen one buck over 3.5 yrs old and I hunt alot.I'll probably miss it,but I do know I won't miss the sweating, the ticks,and that little buzzing sound of a mosquito landing on your ear to suck you dry..LOL It'll also free up some extra money to buy other hunting related items.. :D

smart man.... IF you are hunting older deer (4.5)

if you're just hunting any buck, keep doing what ur doing

 

[redblood]

Bow hunting= educating mature bucks in my opinion. I wait til gun and then sneak in on them!! I have killed several old bucks by doing this.

if you are truely seriuos about killing mature bucks and that is your ultimate objective, then giving it up is the right decision

 

[Crosshairy]

Best maybe to hunt another property than give it up entirely.

That's what I was going to say. I have certain places that I hunt only during certain parts of the season.

I hunt public land more during bow and muzzleloader season, for example.

I also apply for archery-only quota hunts, as that gives me a lot of extra opportunity.

To your point about the heat - I'm with you there. I don't hunt that much during archery season (relatively speaking), because it's mostly too hot. I don't really care to hunt if it's more than 60 degrees or so outside.