How many of you guys bowhunt?

I bowhunted a couple times in high school, but I never really got to do my own scouting and setting up my stand, etc, and I never shot a deer or even saw one while in my stand. I also didn't spend as much time practicing as I should have.

In the last few years, I learned a lot, and I practiced a ton more, did a lot of scouting early, and I put a lot more thought about wind, bedding, and feeding areas when I set up my stand on the public land.

Anyway, last night, about 30 minutes before dark, I shot my first deer with a bow, (not my first deer, just the first one with a bow). Even though it was a doe, the excitement and adrenaline rush was just as good as when I shot my first deer, a 4x4 mulie in Washington. In a way, I am more proud of this one because I did all of the work leading up to it, the tracking, field dressing and 1/3 mile of dragging by myself (it's a walk-in area). I have to admit that I wanted some help with the dragging part, but it's a good thing I did some running to get in shape for deer season.

I was up til about 1:30 this morning skinning and cleaning it up. I let it hang overnight, and I took it to the meat market to have it hung in the fridge for a few more days. It's just been getting too warm during the day.

My stepbrother's best friend, who I hunted with while stationed at Fairchild in Washington and who taught me an awful lot (he's old enough to be my dad), said that if he stops getting that rush then it's time to stop hunting. It's just one of those things that is hard to explain to someone who doesn't hunt.

Just couldn't help but share this story with you guys. I know it's not about guns, but it is definitely about Midwest Hunting.

amndouglas

Hey, congrats, glad to hear it! :D

Yea i have only been bow hunting for a little over a month i belive, i should have had a deer or two already but one saw me right when i was about to let fly and the other smelled me 3 feet before a good opening, i have been really excited, my freinds all say bow hunting suck, but compared to the rifle you might not get as many but it is more of a challenge and exciting, so i like it more, i only have a cheap bow but it will get the job done for as little practice as i have had i can group at 20 ya. in a 2" circle even better some times. but the biggest part of bowhunting as my grandfather said is getting the shot off everything after that is easy, and even the scouting, setting up, and that is fairly easy.

Congrats to find yourself in one of the most exciting hunting Games!

The best part about bowhunting for me is that there aren't a lot of other people out in the woods. The state land I bowhunt with my brother has deer blinds all over the place, and during firearm season, there are chunks that look like a pumpkin patch. It definitely takes more patience and discipline to shoot a deer with a bow. You have to let them get in close and limit your shot selections a lot more than with a gun.

Anyway, thanks, and good luck in getting your own deer with a bow.

amndouglas

Greatwork amndouglas!!! I usually am a pretty big bowhunter but just didn't get to it with the other events in my life this year.

Robert Bose of Bose's Guns (forum member) sent me this picture of his NE whitetail he killed with a bow this year....

Greatwork amndouglas!!! I usually am a pretty big bowhunter but just didn't get to it with the other events in my life this year.

Robert Bose of Bose's Guns (forum member) sent me this picture of his NE whitetail he killed with a bow this year....

That's a nice deer, and I'm sure it was a challenge with the open terrain of Nebraska. I have a friend in Western Kansas who does most of his deer hunting with a bow, and it amazes me that he can get close enough to those deer (especially Mulies) to get a shot. He and his brother consider rifle season more of a harvest, and bowhunting is a real hunt for them.

amndouglas

The best part about bowhunting for me is that there aren't a lot of other people out in the woods. The state land I bowhunt with my brother has deer blinds all over the place, and during firearm season, there are chunks that look like a pumpkin patch.
amndouglas


Isn't that the truth. I've been wanting to get back into bowhunting more for that reason. Seems like no matter where I look on state land in the LP, I find a tree stand or ground blind. What areas do you hunt? I think I'm seriously going to look at going back to the UP next year. Congrats on the deer by the way.

Isn't that the truth. I've been wanting to get back into bowhunting more for that reason. Seems like no matter where I look on state land in the LP, I find a tree stand or ground blind. What areas do you hunt? I think I'm seriously going to look at going back to the UP next year. Congrats on the deer by the way.

Now, I do most of my hunting on the Sanford Game Reserve in Midland County. When I was a teenager, our deer camp was up near Meredith in Roscommon County, but I don't hunt there much anymore.

Now, I do most of my hunting on the Sanford Game Reserve in Midland County. When I was a teenager, our deer camp was up near Meredith in Roscommon County, but I don't hunt there much anymore.


Small world, I grew up in Clare Co and my dad used to own some acreage in the northern part (right at the Roscommon county line) that he's since sold for various reasons. We hunt the state land around there because he's so familiar with it and has hunted there for 50 years. I think I finally have him convinced to let it go and look in the UP this spring for a spot, it's way too crowded around there.