Anyone here ever do any bow hunting?

[ponycarman]

Ive kinda been curious about bow's for a while. Its another way I could be in the woods. Even with a new compound bow its a primitive style of hunting. Also would be fun to practice in the back yard. Just curious if anyone here hunts or has hunted with a bow and what they think about it. What bow would be a good starter bow? One of the reasons I ask is because my father goes to church with someone who is willing to let me hunt with him on his property. Catch is he only bow hunts. I guess he believes his property is small and isnt comfortable with useing a rifle. The other reason is I've already been looking at them and been interested. Thanks guys!

[desdem12]

I did a little guiding for bow season but not actual hunting. It is a great advantage in seeing more deer here in the west. The down side is it is probly hot and you have to be out there alot. It could be ok for the white tail but i would practice practice practice practice practice. I like the compound myself but have back injuries and a shoulder injury that prevent me bow hunting, so that is why i do the black powder. You have to be able to track fairly good also, at least here. I enjoyed the guiding alot and we had some good success but that was in utah and there are (big) deer every where there. There is a lot of stuff you have to get to get into bow hunting, I am not even sure of all of the stuff needed.

[ponycarman]

Thanks for the info des. I think the fellow that said I could hunt with him has a stand he sits in. I'm not sure. I guess I would prefer to start out with a firearm but if this is the only way for me to get some time in the woods then I'm all for it. The main hunting skills should be the same regardless of what you use to kill the deer. So I figure it would get me some experience.

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[desdem12]

I think if it was me i would do it also. I like th ebows, just can't use them. Buying equipment has never been a hindurance before. I definatley like being out in the woods myself. AS you may be able to tell i have hunted alot but it has always been mule deer and elk. I am not the best hunter, but i have fun. The more you are out there the more you learn. It is basicly the same and bow hunting teaches good patience too. If you look around you can get some good deals on bows. I am not sure how it works if you have to get one that fits your drw length or if they are adjustable. I kinda know you have to match your arrow length to the draw. I am sure the friend can help there. Who knows you might like the bow hunting better.

[ponycarman]

Maybe, I don't know yet. I haven't hunted with a rifle yet either . I know you have to get a compound bow that matches your draw length. But i've also noticed that alot if the new more affordable bows from around $300-400 have an adjustable draw length to set to the shooter and grow with them if needed. Pretty neat. I like the idea of being able to practice in the yard too. No loud bangs to get the neighbors attention . And the arrows are reusable haha. And thats a plus for me because I'm not setup for reloading ammo yet for my firearms. Might be pretty fun. I've been learning alot of patience lately with shooting and fishing and such. Its kinda funny really. You never now really how patient you are until you sit fishing all day and never catch anything. Or focusing on making the most accurate shots possible at the range.

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[desdem12]

I agree with the fishing thing. I lost mine years ago though. I took all 5 of my kids fishing the same day and i could not keep up with them. That was the last time i went fishing. I gave all my stuff to my youngest son. He goes every now and then but doesn't want to catch any. He loves to hunt though and is a good hunter. I just did some reloading the other day. I did some test loads for the mosin. 10 with .308 bullets and 11 with .312 bullets. It cost $50 just for the 312 bullets and a pound of powder. I already have a small stock pile of .308 bullets i have been gathering from noslers little factory store when i visit my sister. They are cheap seconds and there is no tax and no shipping. Does the guy have a bow you can try with or borrow? That may be the way to go if youy want to get going. Is it bow season there right now? It is here and has been for since the 1st.

[ponycarman]

I'm not sure if he has one to try. All this so far had been relayed through my dad to me. I was just trying to get some extra details on the style if anyone had experience. Here it depends on which game zone you are hunting in. One zone doesn't start till october sometime, while some others it is already open for bow and rifle hunting. I wish it could be the same rules state wide. Would make it much easier to remember

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[desdem12]

I'm not sure it makes a difference to be in the early or late season. I have had experience in elk hunting and both seasons have their good. The first season you can surprise them cause they are not ready and the second season you can surprise them casue they are spooked and moving. There are rules to some of this i will never understand here but i have been able to talk to the wardens around me and they are pretty helpful. One guy was a warden for ever and he would point out where they were hiding. The new guy came over and asked me stuff so we get along already. WE went to the same college...many years apart though. I don't think it snows there but that is always a late season advantage. I think you will enjoy the bow, It is a challenge and i always like the challenge.

[ponycarman]

It snows sometimes. But at random times of the year lol. Last year it was still shorts weather on christmas . I enoy a challenge as well. If it was too easy then it wouldn't be any fun

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[Junk Yard Dog]

The other day I was going up the hill and saw my neighbor slinking into the woods with his bow heading onto our property so I call were you going with that thing boy. He was headed to a wild pumpkin patch just over the property line that I hadn't known was there to practice shooting pumpkins.

[ponycarman]

Haha thats an interesting way to practice

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[Junk Yard Dog]

He said he was afraid that id he shot boxes to practice in the back yard people on the nearby bike path might get the wrong idea. We both understood that what he meant was that the desire to shoot people on the bike path might overwhelm his self control

[ponycarman]

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[Beardedbullitz]

I've been bow hunting for a couple of years now and I absolutely love it. I still love using my firearms but bow hunting is way more of a challenge. Not sure where ur at but in Ohio bow season is a full 5 months long, which gives a lot of time to hunt. You should be able to find a good compound bow in the price range you were talkin about. I have a Fred bear element, and it was I believe under 300 when I got it. The shop I bought it at also adjusted it to my draw length and made sure I knew what I was doin with it before I left. They had a miniature target range in the back for that purpose. Theres a lot of accessories out there you can get for bow hunting but most of it isn't necessary.

[ponycarman]

Thanks man! I think I will probably go ahead and get a bow. I also think I have it narrowed down to which one. I've been very interested in the pse stinger and brute. Both are affordable. But the bow will have to wait till I get the saiga out of layaway.

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[Beardedbullitz]

Nice! pse is a great brand also. Most compounds nowadays are pretty good. Just make sure when you get it to practice practice practice, and then practice some more. You want to get as accurate as you can so the less likely you'll have to track it very far, if even at all.

[ponycarman]

Ill do my best haha. I've got to decide between the two. The stinger is $299 bare and the brute is $399. There are ready to shoot packages available but I think I'm just going with the basic bow then add what I want later. Both the places i've looked at them had bunches of both.

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[Beardedbullitz]

You should also look up when the rut (mating season) is for deer in your area. You should be able to find that out online somewhere. The bucks get all stupid and only care about one thing then. Makes em way easier to hunt and less likely that they'll spot you.

[ponycarman]

I'll have to do that. I've got alot to learn. I'm very new to this all haha.

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[Jolly Green Chopper]

Many people take up the sport of bow hunting and then for one reason or another they stop. Some sell their equipment at sports re-sale stores and others sell them on line or in the classified adds. The idea is to get a bow cheap with all the goodies at a package price from someone who no longer wants them and needs the money for something else. I got mine for hunting alligator gar fish and carp from my canoe. Got a good deal with all the gear for less than half price. The guy I got it from just got bored with it, He said it took to much time to practice. If you don't, you can't hit anything.Be sure you get a good forearm protector and finger gloves. I take my Boy Scouts camping with some cheap knock off bows and arrows. Lot's of fun.It's a good way to teach my inner city kids about the great outdoors and off those computer games! Good luck. JGC