Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer Bow Talk Exclusive Bowhunters

Has anyone here committed to exclusively bowhunting?

I want to commit to it, but can't imagine what it would feel like to have ole big boy sauntering around out there at 75 yards when I could legally be carrying a rifle.

What's yall's take on it?

I did it for about 4 years.

I’ve had enough disappointments during bow season…im taking a rifle when I can

I sometimes still take both

I did..not on purpose..just didnt have anywhere to carry a rifle…it made me a lot better woodsman..now i carry a gun whenever its practical..but id still rather kibosh stuff with a bow. If you learn enough about the woods..big boy might walk by one day at 75yds..but the next time i climb hell be in range..deer are creatures of habit..that alone will end them.

Not me. For the last 12 years I'm bow only for bull elk. I'll fill damage tags with gun and deer hunt with a gun. Early archery deer here is during elk season and I'm not killing a deer here on an elk hunt.
If I get my Idaho tags for next year, I'll hope to be carrying a deer and elk archery tag.

What's your take on it?

It’s challenging. You don’t realize, or I didn’t, how hard it is to hide in a stand in January. I only did it those years, cause I had access to good land. My odds of seeing shooter bucks was higher. Now, not so much. There’s more skill/luck in killing a rutting buck in Alabama(maybe the South in general) than a rifle by a long shot(no pun intended). 😂

Scouting for late season bow hunting made me a better hunter, I feel like. It ain’t for everybody.

After rolling the idea around in my head for a couple of years I made the switch to exclusively bowhunting around 20 years ago.

The exact day was when I grunted in a wide 9 point and shot him with a 7MM standing 5 yards from the base of the tree I was in. I was backed up to a big creek and he came across it and was under me before I knew it. I didn't get the shakes or fast heartbeat like I do when when I get one with a bow. That's when I knew it was time.

I haven't regretted the decision.

I’ve carried a gun about 3 times in 20 yrs and those were when one or the other of my sons were with me and they actually had the gun. So yeah I exclusively bow hunt.

I have been for 6 seasons now. Recurve or longbow only

I hunt exclusively with a longbow.

Since the early 90s.
I even buy gun tags for Illinois so that I can bow hunt with friends that gun hunt.

Not exclusive because I occasionally go to some private land with friends, but other than that I only hunt Wheeler and that's bow only. As mentioned, bow hunting in late season gets tricky.

I did it for about 8 years.

Not exclusive but close. Probably 80/20 bow to gun

Yep, don’t bother me a bit if a buck is hung up at 75 yards and no shot. I just try to get closer the next time.

I have missed out on a lot of great bucks cause of my recurve. Doesn’t bother me

Not exclusively, but if I'm hunting an area that's practical for a bow (max shots <50 yards) than I'll bring my bow, which is the majority of the time since I hunt pretty thick stuff. It's cost me a couple good deer, but I'm going to get it done this year for sure.

I’m not fully committed but I’m about 80/20. I enjoy bow hunting much more than rifle. With the baiting law now, it makes it a lot easier sitting 30 yards from the pile with a bow vs 100 with a rifle. Most of the people I hunt with think I’m crazy hunting with a bow during rifle season. As far as him being hung up out there out of range, that is just going to be part of bow hunting, but that’s what makes it so special to me.