Why Bowhunt?

 

 In the past I have been the only one in hunting camp bow hunting while others choose to hunt with rifles, muzzleloaders, etc.

 I guess there is more than one answer to that question of  "Why do you Bow hunt?"  First and foremost I think it is a state of mind more than anything. A close second would be, that it makes me a much better hunter. The last answer would be that archery hunting gives me an extended season and allows me to be in the woods more than if I just opted to gun hunt.

 The state of mind for me is knowing that I have to bring my "A" game every time I step into the woods to hunt. Knowing that my odds aren't as good is a challenge for me, and if you have ever stalked a mature mule deer in the wide open you know about challenges. Another form of state of mind for me is just being out there with archery equipment, be it traditional gear or with my blazing fast compound. It's nostalgic being an archery hunter. Although the ranks of archery hunters are growing, we are viewed by non-archery hunters as a bit off in the head and more often than not, if your in a deep conversation with a Non-Hunter it is generally easier to get their approval for the sport of hunting.

  Better Hunter? As mentioned earlier if your in the middle of a stalk on a monster muley out in the desert or on the eastern plains of Colorado or on the beloved Strip, you have to be hitting on all 8 cylinders. If you get distracted or misplace your foot on a rock or limb your done. Even stalking in the mountains can take it's toll on you. After successfully making a stalk and making a good shot, you are so mentally and physically drained that your body just wants to shut down. The only thing that keeps you going is knowing that your on your way to recovering your trophy. You also have to be considerably closer when bow hunting. With that comes knowing your wind, scent control, and last but not least, superior camouflage. If you accomplish all of these things you still have to draw your bow undetected and make a successful shot.

 Are you getting the picture yet? This is why bow hunting is not for everyone. It takes a serious commitment to be a bow hunter. It takes hours of practicing, tuning broad heads, scouting, and did I mention hours of practice. This is one of my personal pet peeves! I don't understand how someone who has never archery hunted can go buy a bow, shoot it once or twice and decide to go hunt. That's what gives hunting a bad name and I feel that the animals that we pursue deserve a fair shake when it comes to bow hunting. I have had my share of misses, but in thirty years of hunting I can honestly say that I have only had one animal that I could not recover.

 As for the last answer, that one is a no brainer! Bow season gives me the opportunity to hunt more often. The deer season in our state opens in August. This gives you nearly a month before elk season to get in shape for those of you who are lucky enough to draw that coveted tag. Another advantage to bow hunting, especially in states with prime private hunting property is that landowners will let bow hunters hunt a lot faster than gun hunters. This past September in Montana, after coming out of the Bob Marshall wilderness area where we were chasing elk, my hunting partner and I noticed how many deer there were on the plains just east of the Rockies. After observing several good bucks we noticed that they were all on private land. Not being able to stand it any longer, we drove up to the farm house where the 3 monster bucks were standing and knocked on the door. A sweet older lady came to the door and I asked as genuinley as I know how if she would let us bow hunt? After a short pause she began to laugh, saying that it would almost be impossible to shoot one of those critters with a bow and told us to have at it. She also warned us about the local grizzly bears and told us to stay out of the hay field. Excited, we thanked her and decided that we should scout the rest of the afternoon and make a play at them the next morning. We spent the rest of the afternoon watching two 160 to 170 bucks. We made our game plan and waited for the following morning to hunt. The next morning dawned a cool crisp sunrise and there were more does than I could count coming by my ambush site, set up on the edge of a river crossing, that was between their feeding and bedding areas. About thirty minutes into the hunt a nice buck strolled into the crossing and as I was pulling back he nailed me, and before I could get off a shot he had vanished. With only that day left to hunt I made the decision to shoot the next deer that offered a shot. No sooner than I let my bow down a nice mature doe walked into the river , where she took a drink. While her head was down I slowly pulled back my bow undetected, put my thirty yard pin on her vitals and it was done. Later that evening my hunting partner, with time running out decided to take a smaller buck. As we were leaving the farm that day, we stopped by the house to offer some of the meat to the lady and her family. She couldn't believe that we had been successful and told us to come back anytime we like.

 That's just one of the reasons I Bow Hunt!!!