i do not enjoy gun hunting anymore. to me there is no thrill when i have a gun in my hand. but i do shoot several does with a gun every year. i have killed one with a muzzleloader and 2 with a rifle already. the farm that i hunt we try to kill 20-30 does a year for our management program. so a few times a year i go out with my rifle and shoot a few does.

everytime i take a gun i think... man i wish i had my bow with me!!!

Well, I like my flintlocks.  There is just something wonderful about tripping a little mouse-trap that bangs a piece of rock and "Poom!"  But they are a pain to clean, afterwards.  I generally use one during the regular deer season.

Bows are quiet, pure distilled hunting.  I keep a 3-D deer beside the barn and treat myself to a few shots in the morning year-round before work (when I go out to feed the chickens and turkeys).  Just such a carefree way to project force and have fun and exercise while doing it.

But I don't see myself ever totally giving up my muzzleloaders.  Or my pump .22 LR for pests like marauding raccoons at midnight.

QuoteOriginally posted by JO_EZ:
Proverbs 27:7
One who is full loathes honey from the comb, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

I guess, if you are "full" of deer (physically or emotionally), then to take another by any means is gluttony, but if you still "hunger" for deer, then to be able to take one by any means is a gift from the Lord.

Amen to that!

I enjoy both archery and rifle season. I wouldn't miss either one for anything in the world if I could help it.
I reload my own ammo, cast my own bullets, and enjoy that with the same passion as I do my bowhunting and building my own arrows.

If you have reached that place in your life where you no longer enjoy taking a deer with a gun then by all means you shouldn't do it. Listen to what your soul is telling you and mine tells me that I want to enjoy every season available, by all different methods.    
As a matter of fact, if it weren't for rifle season this year I wouldn't have anything in my freezer at all. It was an unusually bad year for deer sightings in general and very few buck sightings.
In years like this and when it comes down to crunch time.......a man's gotta do what he has to in order to put food on the table.
Now in the late season I can go back to bow hunting again and there's not much pressure to put meat on the ground.
I enjoy the hunt as much as everybody and bow season is by far my favorite, but I also must be realistic and don't have the luxury of holding out for an entire season without putting food in the freezer.
I wish I did, and believe it or not......there are some people that rely on that extra protein in the freezer and can't always just run to the grocery store for a chuck roast when they want to.

I have not picked up a rifle to hunt since I left AK in 01. That is because KS and AZ both at the time only allowed you to chose on weapon.
I may knock the dust off the ol 06 and use her again, but only after I get my first trad kill.  

QuoteOriginally posted by KellyG:
I have not picked up a rifle to hunt since I left AK in 01. That is because KS and AZ both at the time only allowed you to chose on weapon.
I may knock the dust off the ol 06 and use her again, but only after I get my first trad kill.    

I've never heard of such a law? That's a new one on me, course I've never hunted in either of those state, but I've seen guys on TV hunting there.

Sorry to run off topic, but I just had to ask.

I've killed a few deer with the bows and a few more with guns and I can honestly say I feel no difference between the two.  All of my kills, gun or bow feel great to me.

1999 was the last year I took a rifle deer hunting. Dad gave me a recurve that year before.  Now this was before internet and the only book I had was Gfred Asbells....My effective range was 10yds and that's how I hunted those two years w/ the bow...After doing that the rifle just seemed blah.  Thank GOD for sites like this one:)

To me guns are for war, self protection and law enforcement. Bows are for hunting, fun and relaxation. I just can't stand the EXPLOSION in my nice quite woods, just seems so out of place!

I also shot a doe with a rifle this year,am losing my job of 24 years on the 23 of Dec.Shot 1 to get meat laid back now I am back to my longbow for the rest of season.