Gun Season with a Bow?

[Patrick]

#56107

SteveMcD wrote: Anyone else Bow Only? 8)

Yep!

2 years ago, i intended to but my son wanted to hunt with me, and wanted me to use my rifle…so I relented, and used a rifle a couple times. Last year I hunted the entire deer season with only my longbow. I probably will not deer hunt with a gun again.

[Chris Shelton]

#56126

I have been approximatly 95% bow only for my entire traditional bowhunting career. I started 3 years ago when I was 15, and ever since I have been hunting with strickly my curve. I have used a 12 gauge for dove season, and once or twice for waterfowl. Shot two rabbits with my 22, but the percentages of what I have harvested over the last three years with my bow demolish what I have taken with my firearms. I like to shoot long range, and have killed two groundhogs at 250 plus yards with my 22, so that was the selling point that I think I will never buy a centerfire rifle, if I can do that with a 22, imagine what I would be able to do with a 300, 270, 308 or 338? Heck even a 223? I was thinking of buying a flintlock muzzleloader though, but bought a longbow instead!!! Anyway, I like feeling like I am hunting and not shopping, lol!!
Chris

[William Warren]

#56259

Don’t know if I will ever be truly bow only. I still love the smell of burned black powder early in the morning. Side locks only. It is a traditional weapon in its own right. And if I’m hunting with family that does not bow hunt I may break out one of the rifles. As they say, when in Rome do as the Romans do.
Duncan

[Steve Sr.]

#56690

I’ll agree with Duncan.

Black powder it’s own draw from many of us loving the “old ways”. Even my pump 20ga was made in 1953. Hmmm. Seems to be a pattern here.

I’ve mentioned before the loss of my place to hunt I’ve had exclusively for over 30 years.

The new area where I’m allowed to hunt has “conditions” attached to the permission to hunt. Should I fail to take 3-4 deer out? I wont be welcome back. Period. If I take more? I get more “exclusive” rights. Simply a sign of the times. The farmers want the herd reduced and dictate who hunts.

Its a good spot, lots of deer but rough to hunt with a bow being the type of cover that is low, wet and few trees. I wont give up the bow because therein lies the “fun” for me, the challenge and my true love but the need for meat for myself and two other households and the farmer’s own instructions mandates that I can’t always do what I want.

I also “lost” two nice bucks during firearms season after I shot them with a bow (and rapidly dying) that were hammered 60 yards away by a gun hunter so unless I have exclusive rights to hunt, and it’s big enough I don’t have to hunt the edges of the property, that won’t be repeated. Too many people, not enough space.

I try, as I do in all my life these days, to look at the glass being “half full” instead of half empty. I am thankful to hunt and to have a place to do so. Looking at the nations accross the pond for comparison, we have it pretty dang good even though things have changed…..and will continue to do so. If for the better or for the worse…we each must decide.

Saturday our firearms season opens. My 20 is sighted in, as is my 54 cal Renegade for ML season. Saturday will be an exciting day regardless but my hopes lie within friday the 13th.

Unlucky? Naaa. To me it will be a day of hunting and reflection thinking of my start in traditional bowhunting.

Friday the 13th is my birthday, Howard Hill’s birthday, the last day of our early archery season and just being out there will be a special time for me giving thanks to our Maker, to HH who first thrilled a young boy sitting in front of a black and white tv (in a non deer or bow hunting family), to all those I’ve been blessed to meet and also those whom have dedicated years of their life and offered information for us to enjoy the sport as we do now.

As you would expect, Dr. Ed Ashby’s name is the newest on that list of heart felt “thank you’s” offered up to those giving unselfishly.

The REAL dilemma will be in 2010 with “our” birthdays fall ON the first day of firearm season. Me thinks there will be a stick bow in my hand that for that opener.

So, nope, I’ll be out there gun hunting too but hopefully my buck will be hanging in the garage from a great time in the field on Friday. If not, it will have to be a “good one” for me to drop the hammer on a buck. It IS however the time that the really big ones seem to appear so I’ve mixed emotions on that happening but bucks in bow range have eluded me this year.

Bow season DOES continue past “firearm” and “black powder” seasons. Fewer and smarter bucks, less cover…….more challange. 😀

God Bless and Good Luck…….to each of you individually.
Hunt safe!! It does tend to get a bit “hairy” here at times during firearm season.

I tip my old worn camo hat to those that are “bow only” and pray someday to join you on that list if conditions allow.

Steve Sr.

[RRZESCH]

#56786

Here in Missouri we have a good number of archery only areas. These areas are great to hunt during the gun season, you do have to buy a gun tag to do it because the archery tags close during the gun season. To me the gun season provides some of the best bow hunting in the archery only public lands.

RayMO

[Don Thomas]

#56861

I’ve been bow-only for big game for decades, and there’s lots of good bowhunting to be done in firearms season. Here in Montana, the gun season includes the entire whitetail rut (one reason we don’t have more big deer), but that’s my favorite time of year to be in the woods with my bow. The gun hunters really don’t bother me much. In Montana, 95% of archery tags are sold for one reason only: that’s actually the best way to kill a really big bull elk. The real bowhunters are still out there with their bows in November, hunting the hard way. Don

[Chris Shelton]

#56993

alot of talk about these bow only places, I think I need to get on my dnr to get some of those, we have alot I beleive in Eastern Maryland, but those are in the suburban areas. I want some out west:shock:

[Jason Wesbrock]

#57052

Here in Illinois, we are not allowed to bowhunt during the general firearms season. Thankfully, I do most of my bowhunting in Wisconsin CWD Zone where there is no break in archery seasons.

I’ll admit, it took a few years for me to get used to being afield during rifle season, having never killed anything bigger than a goose with a gun. For some reason, I still feel a bit off balance trying to be stealthy, blend in, and get close while basically dressing up like a Day-Glo carrot (and a skinny carrot at that).

I’m a lot more selective of where I bowhunt during rifle seasons. You couldn’t pay me to set foot on most public land, and some of the private land I have permission for always seems to be in the middle of someone’s deer drive or line of fire. But there is one small woodlot I like that has no bordering rifle pressure, and it’s usually a productive area once the gun start sounding off.

[William Warren]

#57065

NC has lots of Archery Only Game Lands. Once gun season starts guess where all the mature bucks go. To the Archery Zone, Safety Zone, and Residential areas. Unfortunately there is no hunting in the Safety Zone.
Archery is allowed on private land during Muzzleloader and public or private during Rifle. It is wise to pick your strategy carefully and it helps to have a knowledge of deer escape routes. Deer sanctuary can be found if you take time to look.

[SteveMcD]

#57417

Snuffornot.. I do what you do. Head for the Archery Only areas. It does not take the deer long to figure out where the guns are not. And it’s a continuation of a quality hunt. I have nothing against guns. I just prefer to bow hunt more.

[William Warren]

#57445

I’ve also had good luck hunting private and public land that abutts residential areas. The neighbors can’t hear me bow hunting and the gun hunters mostly avoid these areas for obvious reasons. But getting into these areas can be challenging unless the locals welcome hunters. The best spots I have had were where I had friends that would let me park in their yards and enter the public land through their land. Never saw another hunter for years!

[Chris Shelton]

#59191

J.Wesbrock wrote: Here in Illinois, we are not allowed to bowhunt during the general firearms season.

For some reason, I still feel a bit off balance trying to be stealthy, blend in, and get close while basically dressing up like a Day-Glo carrot (and a skinny carrot at that).

Hmmm kinda a werid law, but I suppose they do it for saftey?

I hate having to wear orange, but there is no way I would go without it with some of the nut jobs around my area. It is hard to get close with that blaze on, and here in Maryland we only have to wear a hat!!!

[Jesse Minish]

#59240

Where I live in Idaho we have archery season then any weapon season. I only use my bow and am glad we get to during what is really gun season. I wont hunt certain areas though when it is any weapon season it is to scary.

[rayborbon]

#59652

Not bow only.

However if you are scared to hunt because of rifle hunters then you can always hike into the mountains. Seems like if you have the time to do it – it’s a simple enough solution to avoid being scared. Most people don’t go more than one mile from their transportation. Wilderness is no motorized vehicles and very little hunting pressure if you pick a good spot where I live.

[Jason Wesbrock]

#59753

Greatreearcher wrote: [quote=J.Wesbrock]Here in Illinois, we are not allowed to bowhunt during the general firearms season.

For some reason, I still feel a bit off balance trying to be stealthy, blend in, and get close while basically dressing up like a Day-Glo carrot (and a skinny carrot at that).

Hmmm kinda a werid law, but I suppose they do it for saftey?

If I recall correctly, the way it was explained by someone in the DNR was something to the effect of how bowhunters get 100+ days afield in IL, so they can give up seven days to stay out of the gun hunters way. Honestly, I can’t say I disagree.

I hate having to wear orange, but there is no way I would go without it with some of the nut jobs around my area. It is hard to get close with that blaze on, and here in Maryland we only have to wear a hat!!!

The first blaze orange vest I bought was one of those cheap, shiney ones. In early morning and late afternoon light, it almost looked like it glowed. I immediately got rid of it and bought a more muted, softer fleece one that didn’t seem nearly as reflective (although still perfectly safe). I usually end up killing at least one deer every year with my recurve while wearing that newer vest, and I can’t say I’ve noticed being spotted by deer any more than while wearing camo.

Either way, it’s still a mental thing for me, trying to be stealthy while wearing a color specifically designed to stand out. It may drive me half nuts (assuming I’m not already), but it sure beats sitting at home on the couch.

[Jesse Minish]

#59789

rayborbon wrote: Not bow only.

However if you are scared to hunt because of rifle hunters then you can always hike into the mountains. Seems like if you have the time to do it – it’s a simple enough solution to avoid being scared. Most people don’t go more than one mile from their transportation. Wilderness is no motorized vehicles and very little hunting pressure if you pick a good spot where I live.

That is what I meant by I wont hunt certain areas. I still hunt but just wilderness areas or the few private places I can hunt.

[MontanaFord]

#62670

I hunt our archery season because it gets me outdoors and give me an opportunity to appreciate nature in a quiet state. I also hunt our rifle season with my rifle. I tend to hunt faster and cover more ground during rifle season. Perhaps this is because even if I spook something and it stops well beyond bow range, I can still harvest it? I don’t know for sure. I don’t think I have the confidence in my hunting ability to fill my freezer with just my bow at this point in time. I have the confidence in my shooting ability, just not my hunting ability. I get lucky from time to time, but I’m too impatient of a hunter to sit still long enough or move slow enough through the woods. Add into that the fact that I grew up with a rifle in my hand, and it’s hard for me to let go of something familiar and constant.

Michael

[Chris Shelton]

#62841

J.Wesbrock wrote: If I recall correctly, the way it was explained by someone in the DNR was something to the effect of how bowhunters get 100+ days afield in IL, so they can give up seven days to stay out of the gun hunters way. Honestly, I can’t say I disagree.

yea cant argue with that reasoning about no bowhunting during gun season. Just kinda seems like almost- No you can not challenge yourself, time to go shopping,lol.

J.Wesbrock wrote: The first blaze orange vest I bought was one of those cheap, shiney ones. In early morning and late afternoon light, it almost looked like it glowed. I immediately got rid of it and bought a more muted, softer fleece one that didn’t seem nearly as reflective (although still perfectly safe). I usually end up killing at least one deer every year with my recurve while wearing that newer vest, and I can’t say I’ve noticed being spotted by deer any more than while wearing camo.

Either way, it’s still a mental thing for me, trying to be stealthy while wearing a color specifically designed to stand out. It may drive me half nuts (assuming I’m not already), but it sure beats sitting at home on the couch.

Hmm, well I got within bow range of a great buck wearing my orange hat, only to miss, just wondering were you on the ground with that vest when you have killed deer?
Chris

[Jason Wesbrock]

#62911

No, I usually hunt deer from a treestand…especially when I’m bowhunting during a gun season.

[SteveMcD]

#13260

Well today was opening day of Gun Season in the New York Southern Zone. And it really brings tears to my eyes. All the wheel guys have forsaken their bows for Shotguns & Rifles. And I’m hunting 20,000 acres pretty much by myself! 😀 8)

[LimbLover]

#17485

I’ve never had the urge to hunt with a gun. I hunt a lot on public land and I won’t touch public land during rifle season. Private land yes, public no.

At least this is what I think so far…this is only my first year hunting period lol.

[Road King]

#52178

Steve, this is the first year that I have hunted with my recurve during the muzzloader and rifle season..I have my own property so I’m not too worried about gun hunters..I shot a seven point buck that someone on the adjacent property must have jumped..This was the second week of the rifle season..My rifles never left the safe this year…Mike:)

[bruc]

#52801

I hunt with bow and rifle in Manitobas rifle season. It runs in mid November for three weeks which is during the full of the rut. Where I live we can use bow or gun but have to apply by the regs. for rifle. If it nice out I take my bow. If it is really cold I take my rifle. the exception would be inside my double bull blind with a heater. I used this system last year in an ice storm that we had and it worked very well. When in a tree stand I take my Blaze orange off and hang it from a branch. Around Killarney there is very little hunting pressure in any season.

[Author]

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