% of big game animals killed

[val]

Its hard to say but I would guess 20-30%. Many times had to cant the bow for a shot that just couldnt be done with wheels.  I truly believe that I am more deadly at this point with a recurve rather than a compound.  Im sure alot of that has to do with patience on shot selection and distance.

[Gun]

One that comes to mind was where I was helping a friend decoy Antelope. A nice buck came in real fast and he hit it high in the shoulder. We figured dead Buck as he was stumbling as he went over the ridge. When we went over he was no where in sight. 4 hours later we had covered the whole pasture except one corner where cattle were congregated by the stock tank. We located the Buck eventually, bedded near the cattle, from the air with the Rancher's plane. After landing we walked out and I spotted the Buck laying up against some sage brush. Thru my binocs I could see he was still breathing. Gary couldn't see him from his angle and was moving over to me.  He stepped on something that made some noise and the Buck jumped up and started running. I put an arrow thru his heart while Gary was saying he couldn't find him in his peep sight.

I too have instances where a compound would have made the diffference in collecting a big Buck. But it wouldn't have meant anything. I set the ways and  means.

[Desperado]

I killed 2 P & Y antelope with my Black Widow in Montana and could have killed both with a conpound...easily. I just don't use a wheelie!
To me, they are in the same category as a Rif..Rifl...Rifl...oh I just can't say it!!!
Have a great day!!!

[daveycrockett]

Originally posted by Ben Kleinig:
Yep, I have shot two or three that I couldn't have shot with a compound.

However, if I was a compound bowhunter, I would've killed ten times as much game as I have with my beloved traditional bows.

We choose to limit ourselves with classy, elegant tools.

The compound is a tool that will get you more kills, at least in Australia; there is no question about it.

Yep, what he said. But not nearly as much fun!

[Earthdog]

Longspur77,
It can take a while to build the confidence with a string bow,I went through it myself,3 years to shoot a deer an I was out there every 3rd weekend.
I lot of wild goats got themselves shot before I finaly got that first deer,,,but from there on it was plain sailing most of the way.
The lack of confidence that you may be feeling with the string bow is exactly how I feel about the compound,,,just can't get it togeather,but the stringbow is just so easy to shoot over or under something.
When I started I was taught I had to shoot for a full year before I'd be ready to hunt,,,,I didn't like that then an I don't like it now,,but they were right,,shooting has to be secound nature before you face your demons,,once it is,you can take em' on standing on your head,,,well almost