Hunter orange and a bow in hand

[monkeyball]

A few years back I use to get together with a bunch of guys in the late season (muzzleloader and archery). Organized drives were the way the day went.

 I got totally busted on when I showed up that morning with my Mon-River longbow. Anyhow mine is the second from the front. What a day!!!!

 

[BRIARS]

We can be afield with both. I actually took both opening day of this muzzle season.

That said I would much rather be able to shoot the buck of a lifetime at 50 yards with a gun or M.L. than to have to sit and watch it walk by with a bow.

I do not ever plan on giving up any form of hunting. Muzzle, gun, bow (all types including crossbow), if we had a slingshot season I would be out there with that. LOL

Your decision just make the call and go. You can always hunt the next day using the alternative method.

[Gdpolk]

I gun hunt for meat. I bow hunt to be in Gods creation and enjoy myself. Sure gun hunting is nice too but it's more of a "if its brown it's down," kind of hunt with the gun - all about meat.

[Thumper Dunker]

Take both. A few years back I would have shotgun rifle and bow on my stand while calling. Go get your deer.

[Joshua Grimshaw]

Here in New York, I really like bowhunting in November because of the rut. The deer are so nuts that even my grunt calls seem to work.

[Pointer]

I do it all the time...rarely take a rifle out anymore and if I do its a sidelock muzzleloader with iron sights. That's how I like to do it. I frequently go out with my brother and nephew during the firearms season and carry a bow while they have rifles or shotguns. DO what makes you happy. This coming January I'm hunting wild things so I need to stay sharp with the bow. I'll use it exclusively until then

[ron w]

I'm 62, started when I was 16, always have hunted with gun and bow. All kinds of guns, rifle, shotgun, Black powder and Pistol. This is the first year since I started that I may not take a gun into the field. Low deer numbers are part of it, but the best place I have to hunt is in the Bow only area near the city of Albany. Not exactly a wilderness outing but I see a few deer and missed one already this year. So for now I am going bow only. If you want to carry your bow during gun season......enjoy yourself and best of luck!

[monkeyball]

If you can find some good pinch points and bottlenecks and the area you hunt is heavily populated with hunters you could probably stand a very good chance of seeing some deer and up close at that.

 Here in Pa. the first day of gun season(buck only in my area) is a pretty well attended event. After that it is back to normal until the first Saturday,then the woods are orange again.

 I personally think you should carry "either- or" . Carrying both is just taking your bow along for a walk which is just going to get in the way anyhow.

 Taking your bow only, you will setup in an area where only a bow will work and that will increase your chance of a kill.

  You need to decide what you want to gain out of the hunt....meat, or possibly some great memories. Good luck.

                                             Good Hunting,
                                                            Craig

[Michael Arnette]

 

Here is one I got opening day, and the doe that I got the last weekend of our 16 day firearm season. Gun season can be a great time to be out! If you have any doubts take both your gun and longbow.

[Mr. fingers]

Well firearm season opened today here in MN.I'm headed into the woods tomorrow with the Orange army. I was going to take the weekend off of hunting after hunting the past 7 days straight. I came close on killing a,record book deer on wed. And had a few other close encounters. Well today a 10 and an 8 were taken in the area by firearm by some family friends  Neither were the deer I saw on wed. It's bucks only in my part of the state and the rut is on so this will be my best chance at a buck.
I just started seeing bucks  this past week after not seeing any all season.
And yes I will be toting my big jim buffalo longbow. And just pray I find success

[monkeyball]

Good luck to you Tim. Hope you get an "up close and personal" of that bruiser.

                                  Good Hunting,
                                                   Craig

[stagetek]

I've never had a problem setting the bow down and picking up the gun. In fact, I look forward to it. A completely different "feel in the air". Gun season in WI. is a big deal, and I enjoy being a part of it. And besides, WI has a late bow season. So, if it's not too cold, and I'm not too busy as the holidays near, I pick that bow right back up.

[aim small...release]

Michigan has that same feeling of opening day...the tradition that runs so deep

[reddogge]

I do a week of rifle hunting for Sika the first week of MD's firsarm season but take a bow and catch the evening before rifle season starts and usually get one more bowhunt during that week. Always fun.

[kill shot]

I have great hope of bowhunting only up at my hunting lodge in Presque Isle county. My brother-in-law (who I lease hunting land from) is kinda putting pressure on me to take some deer off his land this year. There is a sickining amount of deer and they do need to be thinned out. I went up hunting for 4 days a couple of weeks ago and saw about 40-50 deer but did not have a shot with my bow. I would have a much more enjoyable hunt with my bow and be more satisfied with a bow kill. With that said, go bowhunting and have fun.

[Knawbone]

Check your state laws regarding weapons. Some states don't allow the use of more than one legal weapon per hunt!  

[zwickey2bl]

Can't legally carry both here, even during rifle season. I've bowhunted (traditional, of course) during rifle season many times. At the same time, I wll kill deer with a rifle, handgun, or muzzleloader when opportunity is right. Killed a big doe Saturday evening with my old T/C Hawken built from a kit over 30 years ago. The bonus was I took my "little girl" with me (27 year old daughter). We sat in a open shooting stand on a greenfield, had a great afternoon of quiet conversation, and then were able to take a nice meat doe right before dark. Oh, and it was traditional, too - real ffg black, patched round ball lubed with deer tallow,, open sights.. It's all good.