Greg / MO

I sold off my deer rifles after getting into bowhunting hard and heavy... I just don't think I could (well, think is the wrong word here; I KNOW I can't...) derive the same enjoyment from a gun kill as opposed to a bow kill.

It's very simplistic, but for me it comes down to the difference between hunting and shooting. I grew up with a gun in my hand, qualified expert with the M-16 while in the service (meaning I never missed a target out to 300 meters) and basically got to the point -- like tons of other people -- that if I could see it with a gun in my hand it was dead. It was that simple.

I've said it before, but when you see an animal with a gun, the hunt's over. When you see it with a bow, it's just starting.

Rob/PA Bowyer

Another one here. I won't say I won't ever and I have been out in rifle season with my bow. I haven't carried a gun for deer since the late 90's. I have shot my recent turkeys with my shotgun, love it but I'm going bow oriented that way too...at least that's my goal. I suddenly remember I did flintlock a doe in 2002.

tsoc

My first passion is archery hunting,but I would never give up the diversity of rifle hunting and muzzleloader hunting.With a firearm I feel like I can "take it to them",cover ground etc.,itis not nearly as passive as bowhunting is for most of us.There are very few people that can stalk and kill big whitetails with a bow,consistently.
So firearms hunting fulfills the desire in me to roam.I think still hunting and stalking are a blast! If that doesn't stir some adrenaline or sense of challenge in a hunter than I am not sure what will!

Washington Hunter

Greg, I don't think I could have summed it up any better than you did right there.

Jimimac

I totally agree. I've had some greatgun huntssneaking along the Hatchie river bottom in Tennessee. Wouldn't trade it for the world.

Rob/PA Bowyer

Where did you get that? That is the exact statement that was told to me on my elk hunt in 97.

I was in town after shooting my bull. A guy approached me and said are up bowhunting elk? I thought, oh here we go....I said yes, prepared and he said, I envy you guys. I asked why. He said and I quote, "I'm a rifle hunter, when I see an animal, I shoot, the hunts over, when you see an animal, your hunt begins." end quote.....

MO_Bowhnter

I am going on a managed deer hunt with a slug gun this december and did so last year as well. Last year I took my first deer with a rifle and it was just as exciting as my first with a bow. I don't own a rifle of my own though so I stick to bowhunting only.

atlasman

I have always and will always hunt with a gun. I should clarify that 200-300 yard "shooting" type of hunting doesn't interest me at all. I think every deer but 1 or 2 I have gotten with my gun were within bow range. My longest kill was 65 yards. I shoot a smooth bore short barrel Rem870 with Breneke MP slugs. DEFINATELY not the most accurate thing out there........so it is still a respectable chalenge IMO. Most of my early kills were off the ground with open sights...........maybe harder then killing a deer from a stand with a bow IMO.

Gun season has a TOTALLY different feel to it.........and I love that too.

Perhaps most importantly is the fact that my father gave up archery after a few years of recurves and then one of the first BEAR compounds. Gun season is all he has hunted for years now and there is no way on earth I am gonna miss a chance to go hunt with my dad.

spudrow

When I killed my first deer with a bow it was the most fullfilling thing I ever did as a hunter. I wanted to give up gun hunting but never did. I enjoy both types of hunting. I guess it's the thrill of out smarting nature or maybe being on an evenkiel with nature.

BowHunterFett

No matter how it's odne, it's great. Bow Hunting is awesome, but muzzle loading is a blast too, so "Whatever trips your trigger!" Right on.