Why do you bow hunt?

[charvey9]

After hunting most of my life with bow and rifle, I went exclusively bow a few years ago.

Originally the two major reasons I swayed toward bowhunting were the opprtunities available during the Oregon general archery season, and getting away from rifle hunters and hunting pressure in general. In Oregon, nearly the entire state is open to OTC general archery tag for deer and elk and the season is 4 weeks long. I have only lived in Oregon for 9 years, and still don't have a "honey hole", so being able to hunt so many different zones is appealing. I also have to schedule my vacation pretty far in advance, so knowing I will have a tag and when the season will be plays a factor.

I also got really turned off from rifle hunting after an experience in one of the general rifle seasons a few years ago. The mountain was crowded, and then witnessing a group of guys from two different camps unload on a cow then argue about who killed it almost made me sick. That just was not a scene I wanted to be a part of.

Since then, I've just come to love the challenge and solitude of bowhunting. I still like firearms, shoot regularly, and even have my FFL. However, I do not feel very challenged when hunting with a rifle. Its more about just seeing an animal than hunting. I'm not the worlds best shot, but am very good with a long range rifle. My father is a midwest 1000 yard regional F-class champion, so I have a lot of experience shooting at distances from 600 - 1000 yards growing up. I know enough about ballistics and long range hunting equipment that much of the challenge in shooting big game with rifle is removed.

 

[Vids]

I grew up in MN, and whitetail hunting is the big thing there. Firearm season was only one weekend a year back when I was young, it drove me nuts to have to wait all year for two days of hunting. During high school my buddies and I took up archery so we could hunt deer for four months out of the year.

I love hunting in general, and whatever weapon gets me out in the field is my weapon of choice. I love elk meat so I'll never be ashamed to drop one with a rifle. After I take a few of any species I switch to archery to increase the challenge, that's what I've done with deer and turkeys now and probably will with bull elk in the future. I prefer elk hunting during archery season because of the weather, less hunters and more rutting action. However, I can get two tags every year so I'll probably hunt both archery and rifle for the foreseeable future.

 

[amy hanneman]

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.

 

[littlebuf]

There is still something I will always love about a late deer season with my rifle. Nothing like that smell of a cold winter day mixed with the sulfuric sent after a shot on a buck. I'll never give up totally on rifle hunting, I just love shooting deer with one too much.

 

[MattB]

A hunt with a bow starts where a hunt with a rifle ends...

 

[2rocky]

1) more opportunity ( Seasons at better time, less tag demand)
2) The ability to practice shooting at a moments notice, indoors or outside.
3) The attitude and values of most experienced bowhunters closely aligns with my core values.

I still hunt with my rifle, especially with family. Funny thing is my biggest animals are from Bowhunting.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

It affords me the opportunity to begin my season earlier, and in essence make the season longer. Better weather (usually), animals aren't generally freaked out of their minds from all of the human intrusion yet, and it's just plain fun.

 

[5MilesBack]

I agree with you somewhat where I prefer the advantages bow season offers me... But lets not kid ourselves. They purposefully stack these advantages for bow season vs rifle season, and the success rates are still substantially lower. Much longer season, during peak rut, and STILL less successful? Because it is harder.

For cows I would agree, but I see way more bulls every year bowhunting than I ever did while rifle hunting. Just easier to get on them IMO, when they tell you where they are. You can go out for 5 days during rifle season sometimes and not see a single elk. That never happens to me during bow season. Obviously it's much easier to shoot a rifle (especially quickly) when you find them, but for pure opportunities on bulls........way more opportunities bowhunting.

 

[Nick Muche]

Several things come to mind when I am asked this question and most of the time my reasons are not online with 99% of the others who enjoy bow hunting. Most see it as an extra opportunity or they do it to increase field time prior to rifle season, nothing wrong with that at all. I personally do not care if it is -30 or 110 degrees, if there is something to hunt and I have a tag and the time, I will be bow hunting.

If my livelihood relied on my ability to bring home meat for the family, the choice would be simple and I would be rifle hunting. It's cheaper, less time consuming and easier.

I don't bow hunt to save money. I don't bow hunt to spend as little time in the field as possible. I don't bow hunt because it's easy.

I bow hunt because I am absolutely enthralled with every single aspect of a successful hunt. My goal is to place an arrow in a legal animal in the time that I have set aside to do so. Some folks say that no matter if they kill or not, the hunt was a success. I do not live by that "rule". Sure... The hunt may have been an outstanding experience, time shared with great friends in the outdoors usually is. If the arrow did not kill what I set out to bring home with me, it was not successful in my eyes.

I crave seeing an animal unaware of my presence with hopes to close the distance and arrow it. I long for the opportunity to stalk an animal, draw my bow and make the shot. I dream about patiently waiting in a likely spot to ambush unsuspecting game, unnoticeably draw my bow and make the shot. I count down the days where I may have a chance to encounter an animal at extreme close range, bow in hand.

To me, there are three things in my life that mean much of anything to me. Family, Good Friends and Bow hunting.

You'll notice that I said the word "I" many times in this post. That is because this is how I feel about bow hunting and why I bow hunt. I do not expect my reasoning to be popular and I am fine with that

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

The earth sits a little better under my feet while I am bow hunting. I'd just as soon do away with rifle hunting altogether if I had to choose. For me the challenge and satisfaction is so much greater with stick and string. I find that it attracts a different type of hunter as well, one that I'd much prefer to share the woods with, one the in general is more respectful and dignified towards the animals, the woods and other hunters. I can teach someone to shoot a rifle with sufficient accuracy to go hunting in an afternoon whereas bow hunting takes dedication and continued practice and effort.

 

[SHTF]

Cause Im an Native American and its in my blood. Along with this beer Im drinking.

 

[velvetfvr]

The earth sits a little better under my feet while I am bow hunting. I'd just as soon do away with rifle hunting altogether if I had to choose. For me the challenge and satisfaction is so much greater with stick and string. I find that it attracts a different type of hunter as well, one that I'd much prefer to share the woods with, one the in general is more respectful and dignified towards the animals, the woods and other hunters. I can teach someone to shoot a rifle with sufficient accuracy to go hunting in an afternoon whereas bow hunting takes dedication and continued practice and effort.

Sums it up pretty good. I the satisfaction is awesome but I think its one of the hard and more natural ways to hunt. Shooting my buck at 200 yards with a rifle didn't get that rush like when I just sneak up to a animal that's in bow range. I find it fascinating to get in an animals personal bubble and take them. Also it isn't about the kill, just being 8 yards from a forkie or 80 yards watching a bruiser feed is plain awesome.

 

[Buster]

My bow is like another limb to me. Imagine having two legs but only using one to hop around on.

 

[Sea37]

To get a longer hunting season. Tired of waiting all year for just one month of season.

 

[bowinhand]

Tired of waiting all year for just one month of season.

Ha! try five days for first rifle season in Colorado!

 

[bowuntr]

Because I like it... Ed F

 

[KMD]

Personally, I don't bow hunt for the added challenge, I bow hunt because I am a hunter.
I choose to not put the pursuit of bow hunting on a pedestal over other methods of taking game. The justification for wanting to do so is understandable, and I respect that bow hunting presents it's own set of difficulties and potential rewards for realizing success. Just choose to not align myself with those bow hunters who dribble of elitist snobbery over their decision to limit themselves to archery only hunting.

Again, I respect the choice to accept the challenge of being a dedicated bow hunter, as I am a bow hunter myself during archery season! Just rubs me wrong when the ego of a dedicated bow hunter takes over and the snobbery begins to percolate. The resultant air of perceived superiority can be nauseating...

To me, you either hunt, or ya don't. Every season presents it's own obstacles, every tool requires a certain level of competence, and every successful hunt rewards with a sense of fulfillment....and meat on the table!

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

Just choose to not align myself with those bow hunters who dribble of elitist snobbery over their decision to limit themselves to archery only hunting.

You got me I'm an elitist. Lmao
Seriously though most of us rifle hunt as well and if I am going strictly for meat I am taking a rifle. Some hunters on here mostly or even exclusively rifle hunt that have my utmost respect. I am in no way saying that bow hunters are a superior breed (maybe a little ). In my experience the instance of guys who set up hunting camp, stay drunk all week, are loud and obnoxious, trash and shoot up the place is almost entirely rifle hunters.

 

[Bighorse]

I hunt with a bow for the challenge. I also set high standards for utilizing a firearm. I live in SE Alaska and in the rainforest tracking isn't easy and in many cases impossible. So dealing with short days, in remote locations, with heavy rain leaves archery a poor option. I still increase the challenge when using my rifle.

I do bow hunt just to increase the challenge and add more sport to my time in the wilderness. Nothing has gotten my heart to beat like a close encounter with a herd bull Rosy and a bow in hand.

 

[JasonGNV]

It started off as the seasons worked better for me and my schedule. First time out with a bow in hand I realized my skills as a hunter needed to greatly improve. Hunting with a bow is a completely different challenge and way of thinking. Everything about bow hunting has consumed me, practicing, working out and teaching my son. It's the challenge period, the stalk and being miles back alone that keeps me hooked.