It never occured to me!!!!

[longbowman]

I was talking with some local bow hunters about my season and I mentioned that I had a solid 150 class buck come in to my stand one evening but only came within 28-30 yds. so I never had a shot.  One of the guys asked why?  I told him I limit my hunting shots to what I feel is a certain kill zone and that was about 10 yds too far.  He said if that was the case why didn't I use a crossbow so I cold take those shots.
     I can honestly say it never crossed my mind!  I was thrilled I saw a buck of that caliber and doing "ANYTHING" to make a kill wasn't the reason I was out there.  Don't get me wrong...I wish I could have killed that buck but not enough to get out of the way I choose to hunt.  I had 33 buck that DID come within my mental kill zone this season but not the buck I really wanted and I feel pretty good about my season!

[The Ole' Bowhunter]

Longbowman, I know what you are talking about and I would think that many of us diehard traditional bowhunters have experienced the same feelings and made those same decisions about taking game with our simple traditional gear. Good for you...you seem to know what you want out of traditionla bowhunting so don't let anyone change your attitude. Congratulations to you for sticking to your  personal limitations...I admire you decision and your ethical beliefs.

[Ron Vought]

I had a very nice buck this year come in behind my treestand at 25 yards and stand broadside. It would have been a very easy shot with a compound or a crossgun. I thought to myself where is the challenge with knowing the buck could have been shot by the use of a weapon that is driven by technology assistance. When we carry the traditional bow into the woods we accept the challenge that it offers us. We should never second guess our decision to use a traditional bow or regret it.

Ron

[STICKBENDER98]

Sounds like you had a very successful season to me.  Anytime you're in the woods and have critters around your stand it's been a great hunt!  I have guys I work with that are the same way, it's always what if....but I'm always happy to be out in the woods and enjoy what mother nature has to offer, sots or not.

When I went to Africa, my buddy said "You really need to take a compound for a back up bow!" .

I said "Why, I am taking a longbow, a recurve, and a selfbow. I already have a back-up bow!".

Some people just don't get it!

Bisch

[D. Key]

It's not about blood on the ground, it's about they "Hunt".  If I was only interested in blood on the ground, I would use my rifle.  I love the challenge with trad equipment.  Best of luck to you.

[ChuckC]

I have several friends who are like that.  I don't mean to sound condescending, not trying to be at all, but you are right, they don't get it.  A very large part of my hunting is doing it my way.  Yes, i want to kill a deer, or an elk, but I am truly OK with not killing one if I get close encounters.

I am not gonna change my ways just to get a kill at all costs.  If that is the case, i have a .338 Win mag that can reach out as far as I can see them ( with glass). I want it trad, or I will try again next year.  

I guess I am sick.  Anybody got any anti- trad pills ?
CHuckC

[CoachBGriff]

Originally posted by ChuckC:


I guess I am sick.  Anybody got any anti- trad pills ?
CHuckC

   

I'm not opposed to hunting with a rifle... I shoot lots of coyotes with a rifle.  But when I take my recurve to the woods, I take it because that's what I WANT to hunt with it.

I also had the biggest buck of my life at thirty yards earlier this year.  I was stoked that I got to be within 30 yards of the biggest buck of my life!

[T Sunstone]

I was talking to a guy once that told me he tried to run over a buck with his companies work truck. ???  I asked him what would that deer mean to you is you took it in that way.  His reply was you didn't see this buck.  I just don't get it.  It's just the possession of the antlers not the hunt and how you got it.  

It's like a man who climbs a mountain and gets to the top and another man takes a helicopter.  They both got to the top but what does it mean to the man who took the helicopter?  A ride in the helicopter that's all.  If you don't get it, you never will.

[JamesD]

Great decision. I passed on five shots between 25 and thirty yard myself this season. I limit myself to roughly twenty yards, usually with a piece of surveyors tape tied at that distance on multiple sides of my blinds and stands. If I'm shooting extremely well the week of a hunt I'll stretch that distance by a yard or two. Otherwise it's a no go.  I've had a few hunting buddies tell me they wish I was shooting a compound still. The feelings are two sweet and the moments too memorable to ever go back.

[JamesD]

Great decision. I passed on five shots between 25 and thirty yard myself this season. I limit myself to roughly twenty yards, usually with a piece of surveyors tape tied at that distance on multiple sides of my blinds and stands. If I'm shooting extremely well the week of a hunt I'll stretch that distance by a yard or two. Otherwise it's a no go.  I've had a few hunting buddies tell me they wish I was shooting a compound still. The feelings are two sweet and the moments too memorable to ever go back.

[SELFBOW19953]

No matter what your weapon, you're going to have animals just outside your comfort zone.  Do you "push" your limits, and hope for the best, or just accept that today wasn't your day??

[Bobaru]

Bisch, I went out and bought a Samick Journey as a backup for Africa.  When my Brackenbury didn't show up, I was glad for it.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I had several 150"+ bucks less than 20 yards. They would have been shot at with any other weapon but the ability to hold back for prolonged periods of time just wasn't an option.

I would have it no other way. Besides, my season would have ended long ago if that were the case.

I love it.

[BRIARS]

Taking a deer can me compared to "dating" a girl. "ask not get not" or "shoot not get not".

I do not believe in setting a yardage limitation. I go with my instincts. I have let deer walk within steps of the base of my tree this year and have taken one at apx 33 yards.

If you feel confident in the shot, take it. If you do not feel good about it, then pass. Its really simple.

[Friend]

You are doing well in recognizing,acknowledging and adhering to your effective range.

Arrow drop for a typical conventional bow is ~21"s at 30 yards.

Arrow drop for a typical traditional bow is ~59"s at 30 yards.


Even if one's traditional shooting skills match and/or exceed the hi tech advantage, you still may be required to judge distance approximately three times more accurately.

The magnificant quarry we pursue deserves nothing les than our best.

Your adherance to residing within your effective hunting range is  also a mark of excellence in reperesenting our traditional family.

[CEO]

I had a friend (RIP) who used to say:

Traditional bows are for people who like to hunt.
Compound bows are for people who like to eat meat.

I'd go to dinner at his house a lot.

[Mudd]

I was in a very similar situation not very many weeks back with a mature buck standing broadside at about 30 yards with nothing between us but air.

He actually stood in that same spot twice in less than 15 minutes. He had walked east then got a whiff of something he didn't like, went on alert and turned around an walked back the same path he had walked in on, stopping once again in almost the exact spot he had previously stopped.

The difference was this time I was up off my Waldrop seat, standing and with tension on my string. He took time to look all around, even looking straight at or through me.

I came away happy as I could be thinking two things, one, I was proud of my ethics and two, knowing if I was ever given the chance with one standing inside my comfort zone I'd be able to make the shot since I had just proven to myself I had the self-control to pull it off.

God bless,Mudd

[Stickbow]

I cant think of any other pursuit in life that calls for such mental discipline. Be it hunting with a Trad bow, compound, shotgun, 300 win mag, etc. We all strive to kill game quickly and cleanly regardless of the category the animal falls into, toe head, to toad. Weapon choice has limitations and staying within those bounds under stress is key. When a person lets a critter pass knowing it is beyond the limit of their weapon it is a display of maturity, respect, and mental toughness.

When I make the decision to not shoot because of the animals body language, distance, shot angle, etc. I have won. Not that I beat the animal at any competition but I have victory over my human instincts and stress.

To some the need to kill game dictates their weapon choice to others weapon choice dictates the challenge they are willing to accept.

   

[dbd870]

You are not alone; I could have taken 2 does and an 8pt. the season if I was still using a compound - I have no desire to switch back - either you feel it or you don't.