Who continues to hunt with their bow in the general season? I'm one who does, but not exclusivly. There are areas I hunt that just scream bow. Frank
I'll hunt with the bow til it gets too cold for me to sit in a tree stand then I hunt with a smokepole.
I hunted during the rifle season last December because that was the time I had the Little Delta Bow. I was in my blind and was taking this video of a button buck when some slob poached a deer off of our company land less than a 1/4 mile behind me. I was suprised at the non-reaction from the button and really questioned my sanity at being there.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v511/aeronut/Movies/th_MOV02026.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v511/aeronut/Movies/?action=view¤t=MOV02026.flv)
Dennis
I only bowhunt. Having lost my hearing due to medical reasons and finally getting 60% back in one ear, I don't shoot a gun anymore. Doc
bow and smoke pole, no modern rifle.
I took a nice 7pt opening day of gun season last year with a longbow.
My family and I eat too much of it to rely just on the bow... although I would rather bowhunt the gun puts more in the freezer.
Bow kill pics only please.
I have done both for years. I have killed more with the bow though, but last year I took 4 with firearms 1 pistol 2 muzzleloader and 1 with the shotgun and only one bow kill, it is normally the other way around. Shawn
Bow only since 96 cept twice when someone asked for a doe to eat......
Don't have a gun to hunt with Gave them to my son 10 years back never missed them.
Haven't killed a deer with gun in 5+ years, although I did blast a couple of hogs to try out a rifle my wife bought me about 3 years ago. I will admit to cheating with wheels a couple of times to make sure the bride was happy with the quantity of meat in the freezer.
Well excuse me vermonster13. Guess I didn't get the memo...Van
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Arrowworks/bigbuck4.jpg)
Shot this guy during gun season. 152 7/8 PY, dressed 207#. Was a state bow record for about 10 years. Got him with a Groves recurve on Nov. 11...he was following 3 does. Some of my best huting is during the gun season.
Bow only also.
Jesse
So far bow only, rifle season has been in here since SEPT. 15th,, Missed one with my Morrison Td Sat night,, and had three nannies within 30 yds.. tonight no shot. Still have meat from last season,, so not to rushed right now but man my trigger finger is itching...Not gonna scratch it just yet.
Bow only during all seasons.
Bow only for the past several years. May try to fill a bonus does tag with the Super Blackhawk over Thanksgiving this year....never took one with a handgun before. Mike
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g128/ad2877/Picture115-1.jpg)
I shot this doe on public land last year during firearms season. You have to completely nuts to go in there with a bow during that time!!!! Funny thing is, I heard a gun hunter say it was unfair that I could use a bow during gun season as I was dragging this doe out!!!!!
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g128/ad2877/Picture127.jpg)
I shot this doe last year during the muzzleloading season too on public land. Truth is I totaly suck with a gun and I'm better with a bow in hand. :biglaugh:
Bow only since 1994.
Van,
There wasn't a memo, it was stated in the rules when you signed up for this site. Dave didn't do anything that was personal, arbitrary, or capricious: He was just enforcing the rule you chose to ignore.
I hunted with my shotgun on a couple of COLD winter days last year. First time I had ever hunted anything but fowl with a gun. Doubt i will do it again as I just love the bowhunting experience so much more!
Bow only since 2005, I don't have my wheelie bow or my smokepole anymore.
Bow only for me since 1992. The last one I shot with a rifle was about as exciting as going to the mailbox and getting my bills. So I laid it down for good.
The guy who introduced me to bowhunting started his hunting career in '78 or '79 with a bow. He has never even been hunting with a rifle.
Arwin/All,
I hate to say this, but unless you had a special permit (applied for) doe permit, it is ILLEGAL to take a doe during gun season with your regular tags (in Michigan). Bucks only during gun season whether using gun/shotgun or bow...
I know--it SUCKS!!!--but the DNR's response to my inquiry was you can use a bow during rifle season in Michigan, ONLY if you are after the same game as the "regular" hunters, meaning bucks only without the special doe permit...
I think it is utterly stupid, but you can get ticketed if you take a doe...
Of course the caveat is if you purchased an OTC doe tag for private land, or as stated above, applied for a public land doe permit during firearm season, and then you can use "weapon of choice"....
Lovely laws for a state that was giving out doe tags to gun hunters like candy, eh??? But archery season is technically "closed" in Michigan from the 15th to the 30th...it is not open all the way from Oct 1st to Jan 1st as many believe...
By the way, that DNR response was for the 2006 season; it is not some very "old" rumor...
I do not have the email, unfortunately...as my kids wiped out my stored emails by accident...
And if you even go in the woods during gun season, you must wear orange, no matter what weapon you carry...but that's just smart anyway.
Ironically, your doe during muzzleloader season is perfectly legal, even with regular archery tags, and no orange is required for bowhunters during that time.
See ya,
Marc
I have been bow only since 1990.This is my second season without wheels.
I would if I could, but it's not legal here in Wisconsin. We get seperate tags for bow and gun season. And it's illegal to use a bow during the gun hunt. I can't for the life of me figure out why, other than the gun hunters would be jealous? Whatever, I carry a smoke pole during gun season, but mostly just sit with my wife and watch.
hunt with both bow and muzzle loader (patched round ball). Have bow hunted during general season. Here in Utah you have to wear hunter orange during general season. I let the rifle hunters drive the deer to me, have gotting three bucks over the years that way.
Bow only since 1972. It usually does`nt cool off till gun season.I hunted this evening and it was 93 degrees! Stll seen 17 though.
been 6 or 7 years since I took a gun to the woods for deer. When everyone else is slingin slugs, I'm flingin arrows!
Frank,Funny you should ask.I was up at Harden Flat this mornig.Same spot you and I hunted.Had a lite storm but not enough to move any realy nice bucks yet.The gun hunters were there but as you know they dont do mutch off the road.As you know its rifle season here in California.So did I answer your question.
Mike
As whip pointed out, it's illegal in WI. With some of the things I have seen regarding the "orange army" I think it might be a good thing.I usually just sit it out. Plus WI gun season is only nine days so it's not much of a loss. I plan to hunt the gun season this year though , because my son just took the hunters safety course, and has decided he would rather gun hunt this year. I ain't gonna complain though, I'll jump on any chance to take my boy hunting.
I've been doing that for 40 years! Bowhunting is as much a part of me as my arms and legs!
QuoteOriginally posted by insttech1:
[QB] Arwin/All,
I hate to say this, but unless you had a special permit (applied for) doe permit, it is ILLEGAL to take a doe during gun season with your regular tags (in Michigan). Bucks only during gun season whether using gun/shotgun or bow...
Lovely laws for a state that was giving out doe tags to gun hunters like candy, eh??? But archery season is technically "closed" in Michigan from the 15th to the 30th...it is not open all the way from Oct 1st to Jan 1st as many believe...
Yep... I got my public land doe permit for the doe in firearms and used the other part of my combo tag for the one in muzzleloading since archery runs right along with it. :thumbsup:
Bow only for deer for me (and for most everything else too). I think I had my shotgun out once or twice last year for squirrels, but this year - I dunno. It will likely be bow only for me - it's just too much more fun.
Not this year, at least on public land anyway,almost got shot last year so I'll be taking my smokepole and hiding real good.
I presume the question was whether you hunt with a bow during gun season? Or at least that is the way it would apply here in Nebraska.. The answer for me is no, because it is not allowed. The second part of the answere is yes I would if it was allowed. I have campaigned to the state for that privilege but it is always denied.
I do occasionally get a firearm permit and will regularly get a ML permit, depending on how my bow season is going
I went exclusively to bow only 4 years ago. I don't even muzzleloader hunt. Hunting with a bow is more challenging to ME personally. I am probably an outcast to most here as I still hunt with a compound bow. I have inherited my grandpa's old recurve bow and am now in the process at getting proficient enough to hunt with it maybe next year. I am just not ready to take that step yet but I am looking forward to the day that I am.
I'm struggling with that question now, having played "trophy" hunter during the archery elk season here and passed lots of sure shots on cows and smaller bulls, knowing I had a second season rifle cow tag to till the freezer, and intending to hunt with bow. But that season opens this weekend and there are problems: legally, you're required to wear blaze orange in all firearms seasons, no matter if you're carrying a bow. And it's getting damn cold mornings and evenings, with snow in the high areas where I hunt. And as soon as the aspen leaves drop, which they've mostly done, the elk pull out for lack of cover. Finally, another storm is predicted for Sunday. Seems if I want meat, I'll have to use the rifle. A 30-06 is "harvesting," while a longbow is hunting. No shame or lack of ethics involved, but it just doesn't satisfy. Bottom line, though, I'll go for the meat, as that seems the only choice.
Voodoo, how is the weapon your carrying going to make a difference in a situation like that?
Weak excuses guys.....
Hey all you guys who keep saying it's illegal in the state you live, get in those hunting rigs you posted pictures of on the other therad and go somewhere else!
We aren't allowed to hunt with a bow in the gun season here in Illinois. If we could, I would. In fact have lobbied for it in the past but it is not going to happen. Got tired of hearing all the lame excuses as to why it isn't allowed, and even more tired of almost all the other bowhunters I know not wanting it to happen either. If it were legal, I would be out there. We do sometimes get together for a rabbit hunt (with bows of course) during the gun deer seasons, which is legal. We are able to bowhunt during our muzzleloader only season, so naturally, literally NATURALLY, I am out there.
Of course we do have a short gun season here but still it makes no sense not to allow bowhunting especially when the DNR and the insurance companies are always crying about wanting more deer killed.
I usually go duck hunting a couple days a year and our two gun season weekends are a good time to do that so I don't need to take time away from bowhunting the sit in a duck blind and eat donuts.
wow i always thought u can get in big trouble if you hunt a bow in gun season...nice!!
I do because I like to hunt in the bow only public areas. If I could hunt an uncrowded public or private piece of land I would not mind doing a little gun hunting for variety.
No question that I prefer to hunt with the bow though. Have not gun hunted for big game for many years.
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AS Kevin mentioned it is Illegal in IL (we need to get that changed), but the Indiana state line is just 10 minutes away and it is perfectly legal there! Actually most of the time I can jump the line and avoid any gun season but for maybe a day or two where they overlap! Weekends during the In season is a great time to be in the woods with a bow, I just find the nastiest thicket I can and hole up in there! The deer usually join me!
Wow, Thanks for your responses everyone. Guess I won't get excomunicated for using a rifle now & then huh?
Mike good to see you here. You didn't have any close experiences with Bears in your blind this year did you? Frank
I hunt with bow only for the second year in a row. In Ark we have to abide by gun rules during gun season and same for muzzleloader season. But I will pull out my orange and go climb a tree with my bushwacker just the same. I love the looks i get from other hunters when we meet. :archer: :archer: :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
southernarcher, I spend 95% of my time with a bow still/spot and stalk hunting, every time I've been shot at with a gun I have had my bow in hand with hunter orange on,never happened with a gun except once, when I was with my son sitting on private land,(where we had sole permission), by a drug dealer( Who's 4 DD sons are now all in prison).. when I hunt with my smokepole, I park my buns and wait for the deer to come to me, I'm not sneaking through the woods like I do with my bow... like someone earlier said I hunt with my bow ,I harvest with my gun.. and I love to hunt.. just don't want to die doing it.
Like Kevin said, it's illegal here in IL except during the ML season, at which time I'm usually in the woods, bow in hand.
In WI it's illegal to bowhunt during their firearms seasons, with two exceptions: the special herd reduction hunts (formerly T-Zones) and any and all gun seasons in the CWD zone. During those times, when it's legal, I'm also in the woods, bow in hand.
Although, I have to admit I have a difficult time putting myself in a bowhunter's frame of mine -- trying to disappear into my surroundings -- when I'm wearing blaze orange. It sure beats sitting around doing nothing though.
Once the gun seasons rolls around I grab one of my flintlocks. Love the bow but there is just something about a hand made historically correct flintlock and the smell of sulpher that just floats my boat like nothing else.
If I had to choose one weapon to hunt with for the remainder of my days it would be a smoothbore flintlock preferably an early type "G" trade gun. Just so happens I have one being built and should be done in the spring of 2008. To each their own...enjoy.
I stay away from the woods during gun season.
Its all good - out with one of my White inlines during all gun here - big freezer to fill and does that need thinning. But shoot at least one at bow ranges.
Bow only. I'm fortunate to live on a huge dairy farm. Firearms are prohibited in the immediate vicinity of the homestead. This region has increased deer activity once gun season starts; it doesn't take the deer long to figure out where the hunting pressure is heaviest.
Tim
QuoteWeak excuses guys.....
I guess we all can't all be bowhunting Icons....a persons choice to hunt with a particular weapon is their choice..I would'nt think less of them for it.
CB
This is odd for me. Although I am and have been a Basic Gun Hunter Safety Instructor for the past 15 years and an NRA Rifle/Pistol Instructor and coach for 10 years before that. My love is still the longbow. I have taken out the Hawkin smokepoles once or twice in the past 5 years, but beyond that, the past few years for me I've been longbow only. It just provides magic for me that a gun can't. And when gun season comes around, I either head for private property or head bow only hunting areas.
Having said all that. I think in most states, everyone is required to get a basic hunter ed certificate in order to hunt in the first place, gun or bow. So this usually means... most of us all started out as "gun" hunters. Personal choice is just that. Got to look at the individual not the equipment. And as the old saying goes.. "Remember to dance with the one who took you to the party!".
I don't know what a bowhunting icon is but you're right Cajun, you'll never be one if you succumb to a gun to do what you couldn't do with a bow.
I've never had a bad word for anyone who uses a gun. Far be it from me to tell you what you like to hunt with.
I DO however, have a problem with supposed bowhuunting experts, and there seems to be plenty of em here, who talk the talk but don't walk the walk. But again, that's MY problem.
My understanding is that the original question asked if we hunt the gun season with our bows. Here in Jersey we are not allowed to, so my answer is no. I stay home during our gun season.
As far as getting a NR license and heading to a state that would let me hunt their gun season with a bow? Well I just can't afford to hunt out of state.
If we were allowed I would definitely hunt with my bow during the gun seasons. I personally don't like pointing a firearm at critters. My guns are for creatures that stand upright and try to deprive me of something.
Deadsmple...Not sure where you hunt in NJ but zone 12 where I hunt the bow season or should I say the second bow season runs right into February, right along side MZ and permit shotgun.
Biggie as mentioned earlier. It's not the equipment but the individual. Words to live by. Not everyone chooses to hunt with a gun just to extend their range. To me that is shallow minded.
I bow hunt only. It's the only way I feel good about taking a deer..
This year I will bow hunt only even during rifle season. I get a kick out of the people looking at me funny carrying a bow. I will pick up a gun tomarrow (opening of duck season) --but that I hope doesnt count!
every day in SC is gun season. I hunt there from Aug 15 through the end of season in December with my bow.
Sept 8th through Jan 31st in GA...black powdercomes in second week of October and gun after that through the end of December...then bow again in metro Atlanta counties. I hunt through with my bow.
Quoteyou'll never be one if you succumb to a gun to do what you couldn't do with a bow.
QuoteI DO however, have a problem with supposed bowhuunting experts, and there seems to be plenty of em here, who talk the talk but don't walk the walk.
Why is it that to be a "bowhunting expert" you cant also be a rifle or pistol or whatever hunter.Biggie I don't know you and it's hard to judge a persons meaning when reading typed words.But you allways DO seem to have a problem with folks who don't exclusively bowhunt.maybe there are some people who like to do different things and do them because they WANT to not because they are trying to make up for any shortcomings as a bowhunter.
CB
QuoteWeak excuses guys.....
Hey all you guys who keep saying it's illegal in the state you live, get in those hunting rigs you posted pictures of on the other therad and go somewhere else!
I don't see anyone making excuses or even a reason for anyone to make excuses.
Bowhunting is not my first priority in life, but I still consider myself a bowhunter. My family does (and should imho) come before hunting. I have a daughter planning a wedding next year, another daughter looking forward to graduation next year, and son who wants to gun hunt this year(don't own a deer rifle,borrowing one). So not everyone has the money to travel and pay the exorbitant out of state fees. Not to mention the gas and all the other expenses. I pass up hunting opportunities a lot to do other things like attend football games, choir concerts, anniversaries, and etc. Now I ain't gonna lie, sometimes it's a little grudgingly that I pass those opportunities up. I just try to keep in mind that the deer (or whatever) aren't going to get their feelings hurt if I don't show up. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure they would just as soon I didn't. lol
That being said, I believe you're just trying to say that bowhunting takes commitment and time. I agree with that, but maybe you could consider that everyone is not in the same boat. jmho
Good points guys. I guess the difference is that to some of us, bowhunting is what we do, who we are. Our lives revolve around it and all of our friends are bowhunters who feel the same way about it. Maybe it's just a selfishness about the title "bowhunter". I've been uneasy with that ever since the invent of the compound.
It's all in definitions I guess.
Sorry Frank. Didn't mean to hijack the thread. We're getting off the question :-)
5:16 AM here in central Illinois, 45 degrees now, warming to 79 with SSW wind at 20 to 30...
Time to get in a treestand...with a bow of course.
Let's go hunt something!
Later..............
7:01am here in North Mississippi, 70 degrees now and warming to 85 with NE wind. I have a 2year old boy in my lap as I type. Their mother is in Florida on the beach while I miss another weekend........... Shoot a doe for me Kevin, please!
In my part of NJ, you can bow hunt right through the firearms season. I can hunt:
Fall Bow from Sept. 8 - Oct. 26
Permit Bow from Oct. 27 - Dec. 24 and Dec. 26 - 31
Winter Bow from Jan. 1 - Feb. 16.
So, with the exception of Christmas and Sundays, I can hunt every day from Sept. 8 until Feb. 16.
Will I bow hunt during firearms season? You bet! I'll be tucked away in the thickest cover I can find, waiting for the shotgun guys to push them to me.
Wow I stand corrected. I never really paid any attention to what the other zones here were like. It seems we can hunt with our bows in Jersey during the different gun seasons, just not the zone I hunt :banghead:
I use my bow during gun season as well. Although I do hunt the opening morning with my Hawkins .54 cal. round ball and patch. About as traditional as I can get and still use gunpowder.
John III
Man, that bites Joey...
No does, passed up 3 small bucks though, but...they better not keep tempting me or one of them won't get any bigger! All the bucks I've ever shot are P&Y, I just shot them a couple years too soon...
QuoteGood points guys. I guess the difference is that to some of us, bowhunting is what we do, who we are. Our lives revolve around it and all of our friends are bowhunters who feel the same way about it.
Biggie, I respect that but for myself I'd really hate to be that restricted in my interests and selection of friends. Life revolving around bowhunting seems pretty bizzare :campfire: ...Van
I will gun hunt the first couple of weeks of gun season then I go back to the bow. I do it every year.
There is no doubt about it, some of the best hunting of the season is during the gun season. I hung up guns thirty plus years ago, and only hunt with my bows.
It extends my season, and it is great to sit in my blind without bugs, and the heat. On our lease, we have only bowhunters, even though the landowner allows us to gun hunt, we refuse.
If it means that my tag goes unfilled, so be it. In Texas, I am chasing something year around, no need to grab a smoke pole, and I refuse to stay at home and let someone else have all the fun.
We pretty much live on wild game, plus I see no reason not to maximize my time in the field and hunting opportunities.
So being I hunt with rifle, handgun (although I share Matthew Quigley's opinion of them), modern tackle, and Trad (I'm primarily a Trad guy).
The rut peaks and runs right through the middle of our Firearms Season in ND, so I always both bowhunt and firearm hunt during the Firearms Season.
Our bow tag is either sex/species anywhere in the state, where the firearms tag is issued by unit/sex. We can bowhunt our rifle tag, as long as we hunt within the assigned unit and take the sex that the tag specifies.
So being, if I'm holding a rifle buck tag as well as a bow tag when the firearms season opens in November, as a standard practice I'll use my firearms tag first. This allows me to continue to bowhunt bucks through the rest of the rut and into January.
We also can get as many Third Season doe tags as we care to buy. They are restricted to a unit, but the deer can be taken with any legal weapon during any open season, and you can begin hunting as soon as you get the tag.
These extra tags allow a guy to fill the freezer and continue to hunt. I got a lot of valuable Trad experience last year hunting into January on a Third Season Tag.
During Firearms Season here bowhunters have to wear the same amount of orange required of firearms hunters and have to follow all Firearms Season regs...
Depends on my mood. Some years I've pulled out the gun and others I've used the bow. Lately I've been using a bow more and more.
Every deer I've shot with a gun has been within 20 yards.
Longbow only, thats it!
I only bow hunt. Jawge
Yes, I bow hunt during gun season. I do wear an orange hat and hanky around my neck. it will be small game this year during guns. I already filled my tag. Jawge
Van, yeah it does make for some interesting lack of conversation at Christmas Parties. While I'm yawning thru the guys talking ballistics and bullet weights, my mind is sitting in a tree with my longbow, wondering how anyone who has ever killed a deer with a bow could ever go back and kill one with a gun. To me, bowhunting is hunting, the kill is almost anti-climatic. Gun hunting is just killing deer.
It's that narrow minded thinking that has kept me from becoming a success in business and other things I guess :-)
Bigie, I agree with you 100 percent! I have nothing against anyone who hunts with a gun to each their own but what I find amazing is people will bash someone for using a compound and then take all their vacation time to go gun deer hunting. I guess I am a little norrow minded also.
Todd
stickbow only for 20 years or so. Get a lot of ????????????? from folks that just dont understand. Like dont you know its gun seson? and folks offering to loan a gun 'cause they think ya are to poor to even afford a compound let alone a rifle....and have to shoot that old timey stuff.. we are WAY in the minority. around here anyway.
Have killed many Texas deer during the gun season hunting with my bow. Havn't hunted with a gun for at least eight years. Hunting public land now with my longbow. Passed on a little doe and a fork horn buck so far this year. Hope to do some damage the next couple of days. :pray:
only on my property!
I have a buddy coming into town for the week of Thanksgiving. We'll get out after some squirrels or something and I told him I'd be hunting with my bow. He was trying to sort out, well if I use this gun and your son uses that one, couldn't you use the other one?
Lol - I think the real issue is that some folks make the mistake in thinking that the objective of the hunt is a pile of meat at the end of it. I'm pretty sure the objective of the hunt is to enjoy the hunt itself (which I do best with my bow). Killing something, is part of it, but it's (at least a bit of) a pain in the butt.
Hunting is the thing!
I like to bowhunt during gun. Only problem i have had in the past few years is on Game land. I will not hunt on game land with gun hunters. I have been shot at. If you want tell anyone i know of some game land that is bow only and there are plenty of P&Y bucks. Its just across the road from the commandos in camo.
I bowhunted exclusively for about ten years, then my daughter wanted to rifle hunt and then a son picked up the rifle too.
I'm sure glad I didn't tell them that I wouldn't hunt with them because they wanted to use a rifle. I would have missed out on some wonderful times with the most important people in my life, besides my wife.
To the question at hand...yep, have had a lot of fun hunting with a bow during rifle season!
dave lay thats just how ignorant some people can be!!!
they just dont know how much a good stickbow costs these days!!!