Who hunts their "pretty" bows?

bowfiend · January 02, 2010, 07:49:00 PM

I've always tried to steer clear of really pretty bows - ever since I had a beautiful Hornes with curly maple limbs that I was scared to ding. Now I find myself in the (un)fortunate position of owning a bit of a stunner with snake skins, kudu tips, etc. Not only does it look good, but after shooting it for a while this afternoon, I find myself pretty impressed with the performance (including how I shoot it). So my question is, should I even bother to worry about it?

How many of us appreciate a fine looking bow and risk dinging-up such a bow in the woods? (and I'm talking about the kind of woods where you really need to beat the brush and inevitably end up in a "bush whack" situation)

Thanks folks!

woodchucker · January 02, 2010, 07:58:00 PM

I do, I think of my bow as a hunting tool. I have never really even considered NOT using a bow or gun because it was too "pretty" to hunt with.

BTW, I have seen some really BEAUTIFUL bows crashing through the briars at Shawn's JLMBH every year!!!!!

SveinD · January 02, 2010, 07:59:00 PM

Well, the way I see it your'e not enjoying your bow to the fullest if now gazing upon it in it's natural surroundings, the wilderness

leatherneck · January 02, 2010, 08:01:00 PM

If I won't hunt with it, I won't buy it. I have a decked out Morrison that goes to the field quite often.

wingnut · January 02, 2010, 08:03:00 PM

I was at a shoot one time in Oklahoma. A good friend and famous bowyer JD Jones asked us to go shoot. During the round one of the guys lost an arrow and JD was using his bow to plow the earth to find it. I said what the hell are you doing don't you know that's a JD Jones original. He said looking for an arrow and it's just a bow.

Well no matter how pretty it is "its jsut a bow". Take it out an do what it was built too do.

Mike

Buckeye Trad Hunter · January 02, 2010, 08:04:00 PM

I'm not trying to be or sound rude but if I wasn't going to use it I wouldn't buy it. If it's a good bow it should take a pretty good likin' per say and hold up. Keep in mind that a bow is nothing more than a tool that we use for hunting. A similar topic was posted a few days ago. Here's the link if you'd like to check it out.
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=082360

bshunter · January 02, 2010, 08:06:00 PM

I love pretty bows...the dings I put on them just add that personal touch that makes them better.

katie · January 02, 2010, 08:07:00 PM

I am a girl! Every bow I have is pretty!

Hot Hap · January 02, 2010, 08:09:00 PM

That's why I bought them.
Hap

ChuckC · January 02, 2010, 08:13:00 PM

Katie. . great answer. Like some above, I won't own a bow just to look at. Although I don't intentionally abuse my bows, they go where I need them. Several Colorado mountain hunts found one of them airborne as I was trying to climb up the last 25 yardsto the top by using oakbrush as ropes and tossing my bow up ahead of me.
ChuckC

lpcjon2 · January 02, 2010, 08:13:00 PM

They make pretty bows that you can hunt with ware do you get them...LOL

Big Bird · January 02, 2010, 08:16:00 PM

I bought them to hunt with.

bowfiend · January 02, 2010, 08:21:00 PM

I guess I have a bit of "collector" in me and whenever I touch a pretty bow something in me wants to squirrel it away. But that's why I asked you fine folks - so you could talk some sense into me!

Jack Whitmire Jr · January 02, 2010, 08:21:00 PM

"Hunting with a ugly bow is like taking your sister to the prom " famous quote in our hunting circles

They are made to hunt with , would be shameful not to use the tool for what it was intended to be used for . Take it hunting and enjoy it .

vtmtnman · January 02, 2010, 08:33:00 PM

Anything around here earns it's keep or it don't live here.

I have no problems dragging my 'tip through the bunny briars.

loco_cacahuate · January 02, 2010, 08:38:00 PM

the only reason I could see not hunting with any bow is if it had sentimental value. But if that were the case I think you would honor the person that owned it or gave it to you if you used it.

WESTBROOK · January 02, 2010, 08:40:00 PM

Any bow I buy is gonna have to do its time in the woods.

Take care of 'em, but dont baby'em!

Eric

January 02, 2010, 08:41:00 PM

I bought my first "prety" bow in Jan '09. I hunt with the bow I am practicing with so this bow soon was in the field. It only took me a couple times out int he woods to figure out that "fancied up" bows are very beautiful, but, are too much of a pain in the rear to hunt with and use every day (at least for me). I am too hard on them and plan on sticking with more "plain jane" bows for now on.

Bisch

bawana bowman · January 02, 2010, 08:43:00 PM

I hunt with all of them. Don't care how pretty, exotic, or collectible. If You won't use it for its intended purpose then you may as well sell it.
I've never sold one yet.

Broken Arrow 1 · January 02, 2010, 08:43:00 PM

I hunt with all my bows. the only problem is wich one do I take out?????