I'm curious to hear if there are others on here who just don't like hunting deer with a gun anymore and switched to bow only. I used to hunt NJ 6 day and NY state rifle season religiously every year. And in 1999 I was hunting a private farm in NY state opening day watching over a dried up marsh and 5 does were making their way to me when this guy unloaded on them all five rounds and four dead deer. The one doe managed to get away and ran under me. That was the changing point for me. I just lost interest in that type of hunting that day. And since I use my compound and longbow and use them in gun seasons as well. Lets here why you switched.
When and why did you switch to bow only and decided to put the gun down?
hemlockheadcase
21 - 34 of 34 Posts
Joined
·
1,418 Posts
The saying goes " when you see a deer while hunting with a gun the hunt is over, when you see a deer while hunting with a bow the hunt has just begun".
Joined
·
5,838 Posts
I hunt the no gun county parks . So I can avoid the orange army idiots . So much nicer !
Joined
·
14,376 Posts
I went bow only when I realized just how much better, good looking and smarter then everyone else I was, but soon after I stepped in a pile of dogshit and it dawned on me maybe I wasn't and that down deep I like guns as much as bows.
In the end I let the spots I have and the time I have to hunt them decide if it's gun or bow. Oh and don't forget many of the compounds and crossbows you guys use today have the same or greater effective range then the buckshot guns did back when I started so is "Bow only" really all that if your not using Longbow?
In the end I let the spots I have and the time I have to hunt them decide if it's gun or bow. Oh and don't forget many of the compounds and crossbows you guys use today have the same or greater effective range then the buckshot guns did back when I started so is "Bow only" really all that if your not using Longbow?
Joined
·
104 Posts
17yrs ago have only killed one deer with a rifle 1shot 1kill that was in Saskatchewan, just didn't have the same heart thumping as a close range pounce on a deer that can out duck your arrow even at shot chipshot distance.
Watching and waiting for the perfect shot it's just better for the soul, not to mention it's much more peacefull except for all the icecream trucks, barking dogs, screaming kids, traffic noise! But that's NJ suburban hunting.
Watching and waiting for the perfect shot it's just better for the soul, not to mention it's much more peacefull except for all the icecream trucks, barking dogs, screaming kids, traffic noise! But that's NJ suburban hunting.
Joined
·
1,230 Posts
Compared to most folks on here, I’m relatively new to hunting, and have yet to take a deer with a firearm, even though I have an inline M/L and Slug Gun. My first few seasons hunting, I was with a hunting club and my spots got TONS of pressure from both fellow club members and farmers with damage permits. So other than Fall and Permit Bow, I never saw a deer when I was out with a firearm while I was a member of that club.
This past season I had access to a property that I could gun hunt on, and most importantly, the property actually had deer. But this was my first season on this property, and I ended up not get any firearm permits, mainly due to the fact that I didn’t quite like the “beyond” of where I’d seen deer moving when I hunted there during bow season. Instead, I hunted a bow only property, which proved very productive.
Other than brown and down deer drives, I’m not anti-gun hunting, but Bowhunting has without a doubt become my favored hunting method due to the ability to hunt throughout Fall, which has always been my favorite season, and of course, through the rut. I also get a special kick out of hunting during the coldest days of the winter or after a large blizzard during Winter Bow.
This past season I had access to a property that I could gun hunt on, and most importantly, the property actually had deer. But this was my first season on this property, and I ended up not get any firearm permits, mainly due to the fact that I didn’t quite like the “beyond” of where I’d seen deer moving when I hunted there during bow season. Instead, I hunted a bow only property, which proved very productive.
Other than brown and down deer drives, I’m not anti-gun hunting, but Bowhunting has without a doubt become my favored hunting method due to the ability to hunt throughout Fall, which has always been my favorite season, and of course, through the rut. I also get a special kick out of hunting during the coldest days of the winter or after a large blizzard during Winter Bow.
Joined
·
624 Posts
I switched in Jersey 5 years ago. I do gun hunt out of state once in a while and for bear since bow wasn't allowed until this year, which will be my goal. I enjoy the challenge of bow hunting and feel more of an accomplishment when I succeed. Another thing I've done is target a buck or two and only hunt a particular buck throughout the season. This means you may not get a buck, however I will take a doe for the meat.
Joined
·
8,654 Posts
I have been on again off again. I quit because I only had public land (stopped hunting the family farm) . Gun season was just too crowded so I tried the bow. I am not sure what year but I can tell you my compound was one of the first compounds made lol. I have a picture somewhere of me with a deer taken with that bow. About 12 years ago I got permission to hunt some private property in West Milford NJ and I picked up the shotgun again because we had a large property and only a few hunters. I bought a muzzle loader for bear season on that property too. about 3 years ago I went back to bow only when moving to the pines and was not sure how much hunting pressure there was. I will try shotgun next year in pines
Joined
·
4,189 Posts
I switched to bow only about 10 years ago. Got a great piece of private property that is bow only. Don't even want to gun hunt anymore.
Been thinking of your quote. Very true. I copied it, thanks. I gave up the compound years ago and went back to the recurve for that same reason. With trad, you have to get close, very close. Twenty yards is my absolute maximum. I'd lump crossguns into the gun category too.
One size does not fit all. I like to hunt, and like to use any and all tools depending on area, terrain and animal behavior. I have been addicted to archery for well over 49 years and continue to be. But, that being said muzzleloader, shotgun, rifle and handgun can be just as much fun at any given time. The challenge of the hunt is all in the hunters mind not in his hands.
21 - 34 of 34 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
