Things that make bow hunting better...

[Mike Mecredy]

When you shoot, you don't have to wear hearing protection

you can reuse your projectile

your ears aren't ringing after the shot

You don't have to get accostomed to the recoil

the aminals bleed out better, making the meat better

there's less hunters out

the deer are more relaxed

you can make your own gear

everything is a "trophy"

When nothing's moving, there's always stumps

builds character

You can hunt pretty much anything with one bow
(But I recommend having more than one bow)

Makes one a better woodsman, relying on skills and not stuff.  

I'm sure there's more...

[The Vanilla Gorilla]

Can hunt in residential areas

Equipment easier to pack into areas

You ain't gotta unload it when you crawl over a fence.

You ain't gotta resight a longbow when it falls off the hood of a moving vehicle.

People don't start snooping around at the sound of a bow firing.

Broadheads double as knives.  Can't skin a hog with a bullet.


And my favorite...

Airport customs officials forget all about your broadheads when there's a 10 inch roachbelly knife packed in your dufflebag!

[Plumber]

there is very little equ. malfunction
no site pins to adjust

[huskyarcher]

I 2nd "everything is a trophy"

So much more of a challenge

Makes me feel all tingly inside,      

I love it!!

[Bowwild]

The sense of accomplishment is greater.

The moon casts longer shadows when bowhunting.

You can admire your recurve when not seeing deer.

The tiny tug on the haul line when pulling into the tree.

Very long seasons.

More choices in weather and conditions.

Less crowded hunting grounds.

Hunter's clothing not as obnoxiously colored.

The woods don't go silent at the shot.

Trying to count the arrows left in your buddy's bowquiver as he approaches from a hunt-- especially if he's grinning like a Cheshire!

[Archie]

You can practice in your basement.  Just about any  basement.

Pulling a bow is better physical exercise than pulling a trigger.

When you shoot a bow, you don't have to wonder if someone heard the shot, and may come ask you what your business is.

You don't have to worry about a stray projectile with killing power a quarter-mile away.

[coaster500]

Being eye to eye with what you hunt...

becoming part of the stillness...

details come alive...

simplicity...

[StickBowManMI]

Its quieter and more peaceful and relaxing bowhunting during the archery season. Usually do not have the noise from guns firing. Its more relaxing and you become a better hunter when you need to get closer and know more about your quarry. At least that is my opinion. Its amazing how close you can actually get to the deer.

[BOHO]

also you get to watch game instead of shooting it as soon as you see it. almost all bucks get a pass anyway

[wood carver 2]

You're not lugging 10 pounds of gun, scope and ammo around all day.
You're also hunting the way it's been done for thousands of years.
And it's just so much fun!!!
Dave.

[stujay]

Peaceful and quiet

arrow can be shot over and over again with little to no fuss

good excercise...honing hand eye coordinaton

heightned sense of satisfaction and accomplishment

[Rustic]

Less is more!! The less equipment I have, the more I can enjoy the great outdoors and bowhunting.

[Red Beastmaster]

You can actually see the arrow arching to the mark!

I shot guns my whole life but when I first launched an arrow at age 26 I fell in love with watching that thing fly!

[cuboodle]

Fred walks beside us

[Steve Clandinin]

Primial dreams of Mankind doing the same thing for 15,000 years.
Permission to hunt on land I would never be able to hunt.
The simplicity of it all,myself being the deciding factor of the whole process.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

More reasonable explanations why you missed your prey, or passed on the shot completely.

a bigger appreciation of how many branches are on a tree and the space between them.

You are appreciated for your skill of moving carefully and slowly for a change, instead of this "Hurry up Grandpa" noise.  

[flippnsticks]

the sound of nature

everything is a trophy

the final blood spot on a turned leaf, and the thanks to the animal.

[Lonala]

You dont have to register it

[Mudd]

Everything mentioned in the replies has pretty much covered it for me except the contemplating.

I seem to cover a wide gamete of things I contemplate, like the shapes of leaves or clouds.

I love to think about whether that squirrel which has been up and down that tree at least a hundred times will figure out a new or partially different path on this trip up or down.

Just how awesomely everything works together.

The value of ticks and mosquitoes?

It's a time I can actually pay attention to the "spirit" within.... and give thanks!

God bless,Mudd

[twitchstick]

No bird shot to pluck out of birds(my wife's favorite)
On a rifle hunt when you hear a gun shot you always think you in a wrong spot.
With a traditional bow your buddy could shoot 10 ft away and you'll still think your in the right spot!
A couple of sticks and a string is all you need.