I finally get it...

[mcgyver]

It was a successful bow season for me in the place I get to hunt. Watch the sun rise on a Crisp fall morning. I'm blessed with an early morning, double lung hit. Followed by a 30 yard walk to field dress my deer. Quietly drag the deer out of the woods. Hoist it up and skin it all before 9 am. A very peaceful good way to hunt.

This past weekend I spent two days in my little place with shotgun in hand. I felt like I was having flashbacks of the War!
 I had six guys driving deer across the place I hunt to another three in stands at a bottleneck. Now I know driving deer has been done since the caveman days. But, that is not how I hunt and it does nothing for my way of hunting.
I think I'm using all my vacation next year for just Bow season. I miss that peaceful sunrise!

[Mike Bolin]

   

[Mudd]

I applaud you!!Congratulations! Thanks for sharing.
God bless,Mudd

[bornagainbowhunter]

I have not gun hunted in years for that very reason.  Where i live there are several bow only refuges, they are a pretty hot spot during modern gun season.  

[mcgroundstalker]

..... And I thought it was just me.  

... mike ...

[straitera]

Nail on the head tradster.

[FBB]

We have a group "hunters" up here in northern Michigan that drive deer during bow season. It could be on the first day of the season or during the rut. I know everyone thinks it's not a good idea to have any game laws changed that would stop certain types of hunting but I can't help but think that this type doesn't make us look that good to the general public. Where I hunt is public land and it's everybody's land to use but to be so inconsiderate of others chapps my A**. I feel better now thank you for letting me vent.

[bretto]

The last " Deer Drive "  I went on was 15 yrs. or so. Last day of firearms season here in Kansas. Two Guys who hadn't filled their tags blocking a draw that was 100 yards wide by 300 yards long. 500 yards of open ground to the nearest cover.

Instead of waiting for the two bucks we pushed out to clear the end of the draw they both wanted to kill the bigger buck before the other guy.

If You've ever had 150 grain 30-06 bullets ricocheting off of the frozen ground within 5 feet of You then You know why I don't participate in Deer Drives.

I'll stick to the quite thud of a well tuned stickbow and the graceful arc of a arrow.

[Doc Nock]

I'm not against hunting with a gun, just being out with most gun hunters as described above.

With the bow, they can be "RIGHT THERE" and it's still not a "gimmie."  Using a firearm is more of a surgical extraction and addition to the freezer.

Course, here in PA, our "flintlock" late season is quite "iffy" proposition!     I know my stick bow will go off!

There is nothing like the satisfaction of having deer close, unaware and letting them walk and the next level is that well placed shot with stick and string.

[mcgyver]

Oh, please don't get me wrong. I do not begrudge these guys of filling their freezer. I know them personally and they have fallen on hard times and need the meat.
I just know that that tactic does not translate well to Trad Archery. To me the hunt is almost a religious thing.
I Don't like to answer people every other day asking "Did ya get your buck yet?".
It almost seems that people have this competitive need that they wish to impose on hunting, That seems to escalate during gun season!
To me, the peaceful day in the woods is worth the time and the tag. When the prey presents itself in a manner that allows for a good clean shot. That's Church there! That venison, that is the perfect Thanksgiving.

I would like to thank Tradgang for all the instruction that can be found here. This year was the first time I processed my deer solo. Not only does that add to the communion between hunter and prey, but it some how makes the meat taste better.

[Tom Leemans]

My wife knows that one week and 2 weekends in November belongs to me.
 

[Covey]

Mcgyver, I wish I could express myself in such a manner! Very well said! somthing about being in the woods with traditional gear, it's changed my life and my whole way of thinking.  Jason

[snag]

I've got the t-shirt...."The Journey is the Destination".......so enjoy the journey.

[eman614]

like mike said,"and i thought i was the only one"

[pronghorn23]

I used to shotgun hunt too just to have a better chance of filling the freezer. Every time I was like 'ok that was anti-climatic'.

This year was bow only. I like taking my time off for bowhunting rather than burning extra days off for shotgun too.

I'll still apply for limited draw hunts but if I don't draw I don't reapply for a county where I know I'll get a permit.

[PAINTER]

I too have nothing against guns, got a case full.  I just don't like using them any more.  Even rabbit hunting, Id rather miss a dozen with my bow than get one with a shotgun. It just doesn't seem right making such loud noises in the woods, kind of sacrilegious.

I am lucky to live in a state where I can hunt with my bow from the beginning of Sept. until the middle of Feb.