Quote:
Originally Posted by Pudelpointer
Many of us started bow hunting (and continue to bow hunt) because it provides a challenge. Once you have stalked to within 35 yards of a big mule deer, you will realize that rifle hunting most Muley bucks is just not that difficult (my opinion only). As others have said, it can be more of a shopping trip then a hunt.
If I had to choose whether to bow or rifle hunt for each species I would choose to bow hunt Mule Deer, Elk, an Black Bear, and rifle hunt everything else. Why? Because bow hunting them is a challenge, rifle hunting them is mostly meat for the freezer. Yes, I could hold out for only 190" muleys or only 350" elk, but that becomes more about just finding that class of animal; once found the odds are pretty good the hunt is almost over.
Bow hunting is about challenge; challenging the animals eyes, ears and nose, and challenging your own abilities, like the ability to move quiet, to move faster - or slower, to remain motionless for hours, to crawl through a cactus patch without a trip to the emergency room. It isn't just about longer seasons.
You ask why archers get a long season, why they hunt earlier, why they get a chance when deer can be patterned (by the way, not many big mule deer bucks can be patterned), etc., etc. The only reason is simple, because bow hunting is very much more difficult then rifle hunting, even if you can shoot all your deer at close range with a rifle. Try it and you will understand; heck I have a couple older compound bows here that I will loan, to any rifle hunters who think bow hunting is easy, for as many years as it takes for them to take a big mule deer buck.
This is a serious offer.
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Thanks for the offer man. I have shot 2 mule deer in the last 10 years. Both were shot at about 30 yards in coulee's. I honestly believe if I had a bow I would have had the same outcome. Although I may have had the honor to take one in velvet. I also believe I could have taken 2 bigger deer if I did bow hunt but I didn't because other bow hunters beet me to them because of this loop hole. This was in a CWD zone where I have draw a tag every 2nd year. So I probably have about the same success rate as most bow hunters.
In the sunny south with lack of trees when the crop is still in the field(bow season) I think it is actually easier to stock a deer. I work in agriculture and walk many canola/wheat fields and see deer close up all the time. After the crop comes off patterns change and deer become way harder to find. If it is such a thrill and a challenge.
You like bow, I like rifle but you have more oppritunities! Why?