Bow or muzzle loader?

[Fishaholic]

I was thinking of switching from modern firearm to either hunting with a bow or muzzle loader. I have never hunted with either so I would like some advice.


Thank you
dj

[PolarBear]

I switched to bow 20 something years ago and haven't looked back!  The year I had my back surgery I HAD to hunt with a rifle but I hated every minute of it.  I wound up putting my rifle away and breaking out the old side by side 12 gauge for whitetails.  Bow seasons are the most liberal of all of them.  You have all of September, half of November and all of December depending on which unit you hunt.

[snowpack]

I'd rather use the muzzy because of range and performance.
But it you look at the units available I'd say bow would probably be a better chance at success for animals, plus once you get all that practice for deer you'll maybe want to chase elk with the bow--and there are more GMUs available for elk.

[Fishaholic]

What are the pros and cons of bow hunting?  Like i said I have never hunted with a bow.    Also what would be a good entry level bow?

[sled]

  I Have Hunted All Three Weapons.  Each One Has An Advantage, And Disadvantage.

[snowpack]

What are the pros and cons of bow hunting? 

Pros--long seasons, lots of GMUs, can hunt firearms restriction areas (wdfw and most county/city), can hunt with any tag (bow/muzzy/modern/multiseason) so flexible on schedule, if you get a felony or DV charge you're already set up
Cons--have to practice more for what would be easy rifle shots (arrows have a very rainbow trajectory), can get expensive with arrows/tuning/sights/gadgets, range limited, wind can be a big factor, animals usually run and have to be tracked instead of falling down dead

[MasterTracker]

I was thinking the same thing I'm leaning on muzzle loader I might even try it this year! Modern is getting boring plus with muzzle I can hunt the Rut...

[PolarBear]

Pros:
Bow.. Better seasons, makes you a more skilled/aware hunter, fewer people, snd did I mention, better seasons?
Muzzleloader...  Greater range, less expensive to shoot, easier to "master".

Cons:
Bow... More expensive, harder to "master", takes hours of practice to be efficient, you need to get much closer to animals, your arrow is effected to a greater degree by many different factors, bigger risk of wounding animals.
Muzzleloader...  Negative effects on powder and cap caused by moisture making it less reliable,  shorter seasons, more people, epecially elk season, chicks don't dig black powder guys as much. 

[coyotestalker22250]

I agree,  bowhunting needs more dedication to be done effectively. Its also more disappointing.  By that I mean you have to be prepared for more failure with a bow than a muzzle loader or rifle. I love my bow. The failure also goes with more opportunity and excitement. I left a rifle five years ago and also haven't looked back. You just have to ask yourself about your commitment level. I shoot a Mathews and love it.  I don't think there really are many bows out there you can go wrong with these days, technology being what it is.

[PolarBear]

Entry level bow?
Figure out what your price range is and try out every bow within that range.  Let the bow pick you and don't fall for all the hype that so called "expert" hunter will throw at you.  I hunted with a $200 Hoyt/Easton sand cast 90 pound, no let off bow for years and still out hunted and was more successful that all of my cousins and friends.  Buy wheat is comfortable to you in fit and price!

[bear hunter]

I have hunted with both for years I ended up just doing Muzzle for deer and Rifle for elk, but I see less people during the deer season and it is a little cooler then early archery season plus I can shoot long distance verses bow hunting.

[adictd2hunting]

They both take more practice then rifle.   But either way its awesome to take an animal with either weapon.  Ive shot an elk with my bow and after 3-4 years muzzleloader deer hunting i shot my first muley with it this year.   Either weapon is more fulfilling then rifle hunting just having to actually hunt is awesome.  Anyone can use a rifle and say ya i didnt have any luck this year but i shot at a nice buck 300yrds away and missed.   Id rather tell ya i didnt have any luck but i closed to gap from 300 yards to 60 and he winded me.  Way better experience in my opinion. And which ever you chose just make sure it fells comfortable.  Good luck.

[Maligator]

Voted Bow. I think the seasons are better and I really enjoy the hunt. It seems to be more exhilarating to have to get that close to the animal. I got my first bow when I was 11 and even though I hunted with a gun too, bow season seemed more special to me for the reasons I gave above.

[Rooster1981]

I started my switch from modern to muzzy in 2005, after 12 years of hunting modern. I went back and forth alot from 05 to this year.But now I can say I am 100% muzzy for deer and elk and will never go back to modern again. It was tuff for me to switch over to muzzy for elk because my old elk hunting area doesn't have a muzzy season. I tagged 10 elk in 15 seasons hunting modern but the zoo and incredibly stupid antler restrictions forced my hand to switch. It took me three seasons but I now have tagged my first muzzy elk.  As far as deer goes I get the entire late season, any deer right next to my house no brainer for me. And I take it a step further and hunt with an old hawkens 54. cal.  I really like the knight in lines but I just cant put down my hawkens.