Why do you use a bow ?

[mulehunter]

I love bow challenges  love to sneak with in between 40-10 yds, everytime I released arrow goes all way in Thud... Thud.   

Mulehunter.   

[robb92]

I voted for other, when I lived on the east coast, you couldnt use a rifle, you could only use shotgun, muzzleloader, or archery gear. Where I hunted the land owner only allowed archery gear. To me that was a fair trade.

[Rhinoron247]

I have found I am better with a bow at 30 yards than I am with a rifle at 300 yards.  Also the close proximity aspect of bow hunting Elk helps to keep me focused. 

[Malardman]

Hunting within city limits?

[PolarBear]

Because hunting with a rifle is not nearly as fun or challenging.

[The100Road]

Because hunting with a rifle is not nearly as fun or challenging.

Looks like Challange is the front runner? so calling in a bull or cow is more challenging then going rifle for the one spike that 2000 other hunters are going after as well? seems like the spike would be more challanging to me. Archery is the way to go for a better season.

[PolarBear]

Some of us hunt late season and do absolutely no calling.  Still hunting and spot and stalk. It is more fun to me to get within 30 yards of a buck or bull that has been chased for months by 3 different types of weapons hunters.

[Buckmark]

Because when hunting at night they are very quiet and they make some really cool flashlight mounts for them..

[JimmyHoffa]

Here's a quick question....  There are a few posts that say 'with a rilfe the hunt is over when you find an animal, with a bow it begins' and 'liking the challenge of getting close, and PB's last post.

Some of us hunt late season and do absolutely no calling.  Still hunting and spot and stalk. It is more fun to me to get within 30 yards of a buck or bull that has been chased for months by 3 different types of weapons hunters.

So for some of you is it that equipment forces you to make yourself get closer?  Would you not try to get closer with a different weapon?  Part of the reason I ask this is because I've read a few threads with bowhunters talking about all the animals they shoot at ranges of 60-80 yards, that's about the same range I've shot the majority of my animals with a rifle.  So, would using a 12 gauge with 00 buck (range of 35 yds) be considered more 'challenging' than the bows?  Are you trying to quantify challenge based on range at which an animal is shot?

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Here's a quick question....  There are a few posts that say 'with a rilfe the hunt is over when you find an animal, with a bow it begins' and 'liking the challenge of getting close, and PB's last post.

Some of us hunt late season and do absolutely no calling.  Still hunting and spot and stalk. It is more fun to me to get within 30 yards of a buck or bull that has been chased for months by 3 different types of weapons hunters.

So for some of you is it that equipment forces you to make yourself get closer?  Would you not try to get closer with a different weapon?  Part of the reason I ask this is because I've read a few threads with bowhunters talking about all the animals they shoot at ranges of 60-80 yards, that's about the same range I've shot the majority of my animals with a rifle.  So, would using a 12 gauge with 00 buck (range of 35 yds) be considered more 'challenging' than the bows?  Are you trying to quantify challenge based on range at which an animal is shot?

I hear you, I hunted with a 30/30 when I rifle hunted, when I first started bowhunting, I practiced at the range out to 80 yards, yet only shot game under 40.
I now use a recurve, but 40 yards is 40 yards, no matter what weapon, especially here on the west side where it is hard to see that far sometimes... 
The challenge to me is not to get close, it is to stop my knees from shaking !

[PolarBear]

Jimmy, when I do hunt modern firearm (which has been twice in the past 15 years) I hunt with a 12 guage shotgun.  I killed a nice 4x4 in Alabama in 2010 with one from 20 feet and a whitie in Republic a few years back, the year I had my back surgery and could not shoot my bow.  This year I might be hunting modern with my daughter and if so I will be doing my hunting with an old Stevens Model B Fox 12 guage side by side.  I have some nice rifles but only use them for coyotes anymore.  The thrill of rifle hunting big game with them is gone.  By the way, the last buck that I killed with a rifle (30-30)  was at 15 feet, off the hip.  I tracked him to his bed, hade him stand up and dropped him were he layed.   250 pound, 22" 2x3 blacktail.

[deerslyr]

Well I guess I will go against the norm of most people, im an opportunist. I havnt taken enough mature bucks or even a single elk to say that I will purely hunt with a bow. Im sure someday when my skills increase i will become a purist but for now I cant fathom hunting the mule deer rut here in montana with a bow while its open for rifle. How ever the satisfaction from taking an animal with a bow is greater than with a rifle, but it still doesnt take away from the rush I feel when harvesting an animal with a rifle. I hope none of you take that the wrong way but my skills just arent on par with most of you.

[pianoman9701]

Because hunting with a rifle is not nearly as fun or challenging.

Looks like Challange is the front runner? so calling in a bull or cow is more challenging then going rifle for the one spike that 2000 other hunters are going after as well? seems like the spike would be more challanging to me. Archery is the way to go for a better season.

  Sounds to me like the comments of someone who doesn't bow hunt for elk every year. Don't get your panties in a bunch. I'm sure you work very hard at whatever kind of hunting you do, Polar.

I've done plenty of rifle hunting and gave it up when I decided that killing wasn't the only reason I hunt. Having done both successfully, I can say that there's nothing about bow hunting that's easier than hunting with a rifle, with the possible exception of which elk you get to take. If you looked only at the numbers, it may seem that it's more of a sure thing. But I suggest that's because a great many bow hunters are in top physical condition, shoot their weapons more and know their weapons better, and spend a heck of a lot more time scouting to connect with a critter once those 10 or 12 days of September come along. Just my 

[MtnMuley]

Strictly for better chances at trophies.  I am by no means partial to any weapon. 

[Swannytheswan]

Here's a quick question....  There are a few posts that say 'with a rilfe the hunt is over when you find an animal, with a bow it begins' and 'liking the challenge of getting close, and PB's last post.

Some of us hunt late season and do absolutely no calling.  Still hunting and spot and stalk. It is more fun to me to get within 30 yards of a buck or bull that has been chased for months by 3 different types of weapons hunters.

So for some of you is it that equipment forces you to make yourself get closer?  Would you not try to get closer with a different weapon?  Part of the reason I ask this is because I've read a few threads with bowhunters talking about all the animals they shoot at ranges of 60-80 yards, that's about the same range I've shot the majority of my animals with a rifle.  So, would using a 12 gauge with 00 buck (range of 35 yds) be considered more 'challenging' than the bows?  Are you trying to quantify challenge based on range at which an animal is shot?

I hear you, I hunted with a 30/30 when I rifle hunted, when I first started bowhunting, I practiced at the range out to 80 yards, yet only shot game under 40.
I now use a recurve, but 40 yards is 40 yards, no matter what weapon, especially here on the west side where it is hard to see that far sometimes... 
The challenge to me is not to get close, it is to stop my knees from shaking !

yeah 40 yards is 40 yards but for me with a rifle I would have a hard time limiting my self to 40 yards when I know that I can hit easily and safely out to 150-200 (I use a 30/30 also) and when that buck of a life time is standing there at 100yds and you can't get him to come in closer or you can't get closer to him do you pull the trigger with him standing broadside at a 100...me heck yeah I do I don't want to let him get away but with a bow I would pass every time because I know it is too far and I don't want to wound him...I'll keep hunting him till the end of the season and if I don't get him I"ll hunt him next year if I do he becomes a great story of how I relentlessly pursued a trophy and finally got him and the victory is that much sweeter.