Why do you bow hunt?

[Shrek]

To all the elitist out there I will tell you one thing is for sure. For the last 30 years the compound bow has been the weapon of choice for trophy poachers where I live. I know some of them and they poaching spectacular bucks and have never been caught. You see and hear lazy road poachers who actually have little impact but the smart and dedicated poachers are quietly killing the chit out of top quality animals all year.

 

[DWarcher]

To all the elitist out there I will tell you one thing is for sure. For the last 30 years the compound bow has been the weapon of choice for trophy poachers where I live. I know some of them and they poaching spectacular bucks and have never been caught. You see and hear lazy road poachers who actually have little impact but the smart and dedicated poachers are quietly killing the chit out of top quality animals all year.

This thread is about bow hunters not poachers.

There is a difference you know.

 

[Ryan Avery]

Keep this thread on track!

 

[StrutNut]

In MN, there is just more opportunity to hunt. I enjoy shooting my bow gear over my rifle or smoke pole but will use any/all if needed. for the most part I am a meat hunter and also a weekend warrior so I gotta make the most out of my time in the field. If I hunted with only a rifle/shotgun for deer here in MN, I might be restricted depending on the unit from only 2 days in the field to up to 3 weekends unless I take PTO which I typically do but usually with my bow the week before the gun season during the rut. If given the choice, I do prefer archery hunting over gun but it depends on how much time I have. 2 kids in sports is tough on the hunting!

 

[Shrek]

This thread is about bow hunters not poachers.

There is a difference you know.

Yes it is , there's some elitist who espouse to the opinion that archery hunters are "better" class of hunters. The reality is that it attracts both the best of the best and the worst of the worst.

 

[robby denning]

Because archery seasons give me more opportunity than typical firearm seasons

 

[Archelk]

I love the challenge! I also feel closer to nature and the animal I am stalking because my senses are heightened, trying to strategically get within bow range.

Pretty much sums it up for me.

 

[69ChrisCraft]

With respect, you are cherry picking and generalizing to suit your fancy.

Lumping gun hunters together into a "more unethical than bowhunters" category, is supposition. Slippery slope to stand on, when one puts one's self on a pedestal...

Fact is: a slob hunter is a slob hunter, regardless of what tool they're using. Carrying a bow does not magically makes a hunter more 'ethical', nor does the perceived self gratifying attitude.
Do you really believe unethical shots are not taken by archers?
Do you really think animals are not wounded/lost by arrows?
We all know there is an unfortunate side to hunting when things go afoul in the woods, is that really something you choose to base an ethics argument on?

Like I said, slippery slope when one chooses to play the 'ethical' card, and both sides wind up the worse for it.

We're all hunters.
Slobs are not limited to firearms, not by a long shot...

You are absolutely right. I know it's a generalization and that's not fair but I have to be honest and admit that's how I perceive it to an extent. I somewhat sympathize or at least relate with the general public and how they perceive hunters because I catch myself doing it all the time. I'm just being honest, my perceptions change all the time. I do enjoy shooting my rifles but I just don't feel safe where there is a high concentration of hunters.

Back on topic. I knew within probably 5 minutes of shooting a bow for the first time that I was hooked for life. I've recently got into some traditional archery and am loving it. I still haven't decided if it's something I want to pursue game with just yet. I really enjoy the slower flight of the arrow and watching the trajectory.

 

[Big Sky]

Because archery seasons give me more opportunity than typical firearm seasons

This. When I started bow hunting I could hunt my home unit every year while most people had less than a 1% chance of getting a rifle tag.

 

[BroodBuster]

I bow hunt mainly because I can hunt deer while they are behaving like deer. During my few years rifle hunting it just seemed that luck was the biggest factor as they were being pushed hither and fro.

A huge bonus is the extended seasons so I get way more time in the field.

And an even bigger bonus is it frees up Oct and half of Nov to bird hunt with my pup!

 

[Nick Muche]

To all the elitist out there I will tell you one thing is for sure. For the last 30 years the compound bow has been the weapon of choice for trophy poachers where I live. I know some of them and they poaching spectacular bucks and have never been caught. You see and hear lazy road poachers who actually have little impact but the smart and dedicated poachers are quietly killing the chit out of top quality animals all year.

Shrek wins for the most idiotic post of the century!

 

[Pmiller45]

I bow hunt for the moment when you're finally in range, and that crazy feeling you get when the bow rolls over the hump and you come to full draw and settle your sights. All the preparation, hard work, and miles to get to that point. Finally the moment of truth has arrived and it's all coming together. Yet, it's not over, there is still so much that can happen. No feeling like it.

 

[Rizzy]

I just started, I was ready to learn something new and take on the challenge!
The weather is better during the Archery seasons and Idaho has some great OTC Elk hunts. My goal is to build my bow and harvest an Elk with it, what could be more gratifying. Drawing a Goat tag may have screwed this up a little though

 

[id450]

I love a challenge. Although, I have been hunting now for 6 years without a single shot on a animal.bow hunting has defiantly suited my need for adventure . I have to admit it's starting to get a little discouraging, but my drive to be in nature keeps me going. I'm hoping to heal up from a broken collar bone by mid sept and go some place ? For a OTC deer or any elk hunt??

Good. Topic, fun to read . Thanks