Bow hunting vs Rifle hunting

[Hogie135]

Just curious who prefers what? Do you bow hunt, or do you rifle hunt. Maybe both. What do you like about each method? I am in the process going from a rifle hunting mentality to maybe bow hunting (next year). This is my first year hunting and love my rifle and bringing it out with me but I love the idea of stalking something and getting up close and personal with it too. You can obviously do that with a rifle as well but the bow has recently caught my attention. I'm just afraid of having an empty freezer at the end of a season.

[gonefishin]

Prefer the length of season the bow gives as well as the challenge... and the rush you get when shooting at an animal with the bow is way more intense than shooting with a rifle, IMO.

The rifle is more of a "sure thing" (for lack of better terms), but I find bow hunting much more exciting and enjoyable.

[Kurt505]

Bow hunting brings it to whole new level of addiction. If you like hunting, the bow will add a couple months to your season, depending on where your hunting. Less hunting pressure, and the animals are a bit less spooky before they get hard horned. Personally I get much more enjoyment out of my bow season than rifle.

[fishunter]

Originally Posted by Kurt505

Bow hunting brings it to whole new level of addiction. If you like hunting, the bow will add a couple months to your season, depending on where your hunting. Less hunting pressure, and the animals are a bit less spooky before they get hard horned. Personally I get much more enjoyment out of my bow season than rifle.

X2 and it is harder to get your animal since it is in the pre rut. But what a rush watching the arrow fly and

[FishHunterPro]

I couldnt put my rifle away till I have a wall hanger. I could see it now me sitting in a tree and a buck of a life time won't come closer than 60yrds lol. I would consider trying it with a supplemental tag only after I harvested a mature buck . You say this is your first year hunting. Have you had much success so far ?

[Lefty-Canuck]

I probably spend more time bow hunting....but I have more success rifle hunting.

No matter what the method is I am not disappointed to use either.

LC

[Dan Boone]

Rifle for food, bow for fun!

[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by Dan Boone

Rifle for food, bow for fun!

So true. I've been <10yds from a big bull elk but couldn't draw on him this year, and pretty much every year I have similar situations. If I had a rifle in my hands I could have taken over a dozen bulls so far this year, instead just one hey bail so far, but I've had some of my most exciting days in the field.

[blackmamba]

there is nothing like picking up a bow and getting personal with a critter , sneaking into a bedding area or rattling in a giant to with in feet of you ... not to mention a screaming bull elk right in your face .. or stalking a giant mulie in those standing crops .. The list goes on , and I think its more of a challenge and makes you a better hunter .. I ve killed 35 critters with my bow and I cant wait for 36 ..

mamba,

[waterhaulerhunter]

Why would you have an empty freezer if you decide to try bow hunting? There's no rule saying you can't do both.. In the zones I hunt I get 2 months of chasing mostly mulies with my bow and then I have a rifle season to seal the deal on whatever general tags I have. Even if you are unsuccessful at bow hunting it will make you a WAY better rifle hunter!

[Sakoman]

I bow hunt and gun hunt and like them both for different reasons. Nothing more exciting than getting in close to an animal sealing the deal. The flip side to that is practicing with the rifle to know if I have to take a long shot I can.

[winged1]

After 20 years of filling the freezer, the last 3 seasons have gone without. Coincedentally, that's when I started bow hunting. I enjoy hunting now more than ever.

[Cal]

Originally Posted by FishHunterPro

I couldnt put my rifle away till I have a wall hanger. I could see it now me sitting in a tree and a buck of a life time won't come closer than 60yrds lol. I would consider trying it with a supplemental tag only after I harvested a mature buck . You say this is your first year hunting. Have you had much success so far ?

Yep, but you would watch that buck for what seems like hours, vibrating with exitement just hoping he might come into range. With a rifle you would have seen him and shot him. Bow hunting is like the tantrick sex of hunting, it prolongs the best parts of the hunts, whether you make the kill or not. After taking a few animals with a bow, although I still get the rush making a kill with a rifle, it almost seems like its over too fast to enjoy it properly.

I enjoy both, I barely even have any excuse to bow hunt since lots of the zones around here open september first but I still make sure to get down south and hunt a couple properties with the bow every year. For me the big draw is what I described above, often the greatest parts of the hunt last only split seconds, with the bow you are often forced to take your time and realy dwell in the moment and enjoy those same experiences.