Why hunt with rifle rather than muzzy or archery?

[Bearhide]

Just to throw it out there why is there more rifle hunters rather than muzzy or archery?   What are the advantages and disadvantages?  Rifle hunter myself, but been thinking going to a stick flicker maybe.

[vandeman17]

I like archery for the longer seasons and better seasons. It is a harder hunt but I like being able to go after deer and elk in September and chase them again in November and December. 

[Southpole]

A person can shoot a rifle accurately (for the most part) at longer distances.

[WSU]

Rifle is much easier.

[snowpack]

Season is better for some.  Archery and muzzy early seasons are still short sleeves, sweaty and tougher to get meat out in a timely manner.

[bobcat]

Archery takes more dedication, as you need to practice shooting on a regular basis. With a rifle you can never practice and still be good out to at least 200 yards.

Muzzleloaders also require more dedication and more shooting time to work up an accurate load and to get sighted in properly. The biggest drawback in my mind is the open sights. Second drawback is you never know if it's actually going to fire.

[bullcanyon]

Probably because it requires the least amount of effort of the 3 to do.  Not that a rifle hunter don't put in their time, but generally archery and ml take a lot more practice and time to be successful with.

[snowpack]

Muzzy also offers the fewest GMUs, and from my experience they have been the most crowded.

[Ridgerunner]

I think it's all been covered, rifle hunting is more grab and go then the other two and requires the least amount of practice generally making it easier which is why I think the majority rifle hunt.

[bobcat]

Muzzy also offers the fewest GMUs, and from my experience they have been the most crowded.

Good point- very few GMU's are open. And virtually nothing for late season if you have an east side tag.

[combs338]

Probably because it requires the least amount of effort of the 3 to do.  Not that a rifle hunter don't put in their time, but generally archery and ml take a lot more practice and time to be successful with.

Watch it, I resemble that comment.....

[lostbackpacker]

At least for me, it is a totally different reason than any listed above.  I used to archery hunt and was successful.  My son was 7 at the time and I could not effectively hunt(hard) with a 7 year old toting along.  Also, my father in law was getting up in years.

I wanted my son to be able to enjoy hunting with his grandpa(rifle hunter).  I believe it is important for my son to experience time with family out in the woods. 

When my father in law is no longer able to hunt, we will go back to archery.

[pianoman9701]

Archery takes more dedication, as you need to practice shooting on a regular basis. With a rifle you can never practice and still be good out to at least 200 yards.

Muzzleloaders also require more dedication and more shooting time to work up an accurate load and to get sighted in properly. The biggest drawback in my mind is the open sights. Second drawback is you never know if it's actually going to fire.

  I would say that 80-90% of the people who hunt don't have the kind of dedication that a lot of the people on this site have with regards to hunting. The average hunter is a rifle guy who shoots less than a box of ammo in preparation for his hunt. You don't need a whole bunch of camo, scents, etc. Archery is expensive as heck. Even a mid-range bow like I have is $500 before you put anything on it or buy arrows. Dozen arrows - $100, sight - 100, Arrow rest - 100, quiver - 100, stabilizer - 50, target - 150. Rifle - 500, bullets - 20, scope - 200 - done. No camo, no special anything

[vandeman17]

At least for me, it is a totally different reason than any listed above.  I used to archery hunt and was successful.  My son was 7 at the time and I could not effectively hunt(hard) with a 7 year old toting along.  Also, my father in law was getting up in years.

I wanted my son to be able to enjoy hunting with his grandpa(rifle hunter).  I believe it is important for my son to experience time with family out in the woods. 

When my father in law is no longer able to hunt, we will go back to archery.

I agree with that and actually hunted rifle for deer the past few years so that I could hunt with my dad. I finally got him to pick up archery and he is hooked. He sends me a text or a picture after he shoots to keep me updated. He is starting to shoot better then me! 

[JohnVH]

Range