Why hunt with rifle rather than muzzy or archery?

[Nice Racks]

I only bow hunt.  The feeling I get when a deer or elk come walking up so slowly and cautiously to my stand, and then getting so close to me that I just know he is either going to hear me breathing or my heart pounding in my chest is almost unbelievable.  I can't see rifle hunting being the same when you can shoot one that's on the other hillside. 

[runamuk]

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.

I cant pull a bow of washington legal draw weight for big game is why I switched to rifle...it isnt easier to kill with either...this will be season 4 or 5 maybe this will be my year..to date I've killed more rodents with hammers than anything else with a gun

[MadHatter]

I am in the process of getting a bow, but I prefer rifle to anything else because I am lazy... I am usually a good enough shot that I can put something down quick and not have to track it all over the hills... That and I am by NO MEANS a patient person that will sit in a stand for 12hrs waiting for something to walk by.  I like to be out pounding ground, burning boot leather... I am usually pretty successful... But as I get older, I am thinking about taking up bow hunting to spend more time in the woods, hunt better seasons and there is nothing wrong with another skill and learning the finer nuances of hunting.

[400out]

I'm a people person! tucannon during modern is a dream for me 

[big wood]

I LIKE ALL THREE BUT RIFLE HUNT WA ELK BECAUSE I CAN ARCHERY HUNT ELK IN IDAHO SEPT 1ST TO 30TH AND MONTANA OPENS MID LATE OCTOBER UNTIL LATE NOVEMBER. IT JUST LETS ME SPREAD MY HUNTS A LITTLE

[Ghost Hunter]

No on archery - I always played the cowboy.  I have a tremor.  Im left handed and right eye dominate   I prefer to hunt in cold weather.  Safe is too small to fit a bow in with all the guns.    I respect those that put the necessary time and effort in practice and preparation.

Leaning towards more hunting with traditional smokepole - Challenge, multiple seasons, like the smell of powder   Supplies are easier to find

Modern - It's what I grew up with.  I like the later seasons.  I have too many reloading supplies not too   It can be as challenging as you care to make it.

[ICEMAN]

Heritage.

[pope]

I don't have enough experience to generalize. I'm hunting rifle because when my neighbor got me started a few years ago, that's what he did. The deer I'm after don't spend much daylight time in the open so it doesn't really matter what weapon I choose. I have to get close and have to know enough about the animals to have a chance.

I do like the cool temperatures and hunting deer close to the rut. The shorter season is OK because I can't take much time off anyway, and hunting nine days (not full) last year caused plenty of friction in the home. I would like to shoot in the back yard and have considered archery for that reason.

I'll tell you what I hate about rifle: getting scoped! It happened to me two years in a row (out of three seasons), so for this year I'm hunting in a spot where nobody goes.

[mpetersen]

I like rifle hunting for elk because when I hit them with a .338 win mag they go down right now !! No tracking or getting into arguments over who the elk belongs to.  I'm glad so many archery hunters on here are serious when it comes to practice and shot dicipline. Unfortunatly alot of guys aren't as I have seen and heard about a good number of elk running around with arrows in them. My partner shot a bull in the Winston Unit last season with a broadhead wound in its shoulder, it looked nasty but the bull was still out feeding and doing its thing.

[black hog]

]I have to disagree with most I have hunted elk a lot with rifle and bow and it is much easier to kill elk with a bow than a rifle you have 10 days with a rifle the get to go last bulls only but for most people see it kill it to 300 yards Bow you get the rut get to go first bulls or cows and a second chance and it is not that hard to get with in 40 yards of elk now with that to kill elk often you have to be committed no matter what you hunt with

[huntnnw]

Never understood it.. U get these rifle guys crying year after year on here how crappy the draws are.. Well what do u expect when your trying to pull a blues rifle tag!! Doesn't take a rocket scientist to see how lucky you are to draw a tag. Points or no point system it doesn't matter it's luck! If people were serious about wanting a big bull tag they would pick up a muzzy. I get not picking up a bow a whole mother animal, but a muzzy is not. Not to include the draw tags for quality bull tags for muzzy are in a great season. People just don't have the real desire like some to pick up another weapon to better your chances. I own all 3 weapons and have hunted with all 3 in this state and outta state.

[PolarBear]

Rifle is much easier.

Far too many people do not want to put out the effort to become skilled with a bow.

[Bhunter253]

I've hunted modern my whole life, family hunts modern.I went out archery one year killed 2 bear and a Muley, nothing like that feeling being that close and hearing that arrow smack. I went back to modern to spend the time with my family in the woods.

[TheFewTheProud]

My father put down his muzzle loader and picked up his rifle when I actually started hunting but after I got a couple deer under my belt he bought me a muzzle loader. I've hunted with that ever since. Less crowds and more challenging. There are times I admit I wish I had my rifle haha but its all part of the experience. I'm trying archery out this year.

[Rooster1981]

Never understood it.. U get these rifle guys crying year after year on here how crappy the draws are.. Well what do u expect when your trying to pull a blues rifle tag!! Doesn't take a rocket scientist to see how lucky you are to draw a tag. Points or no point system it doesn't matter it's luck! If people were serious about wanting a big bull tag they would pick up a muzzy. I get not picking up a bow a whole mother animal, but a muzzy is not. Not to include the draw tags for quality bull tags for muzzy are in a great season. People just don't have the real desire like some to pick up another weapon to better your chances. I own all 3 weapons and have hunted with all 3 in this state and outta state.