[AG]

This forum is dedicated to shotgunners, this I understand. However, not all hunters use the shotgun exclusively. So what do I need explained to me you ask? I'll tell you. On more than 4 occasions, shotgun enthusiasts who don't understand the skill and commitment involved in archery have insulted bowhunters.

I have heard all the arguments before, but usually Non-Hunters and Environmentalist Wackos put forth these arguments. Such as: bowhunters are more likely to just wound the animal, compound bows aren't really bows, bowhunters are less likely to take game than rifle hunters, etc. It seems unusual to me that any hunter would make judgments regarding another's hunting preferences.

I have seen more IDIOTS with shotguns than bows, and I am sure I will get a lot of support regarding the validity of that statement. Opening day of dove season hundreds of idiots fill the cooler with beer, dig up that shotgun that has been rusting in the back of the closet for the last 360 days. Then load up the lawn chairs in their little Japanese cars and rain shot down on others until the beer runs out and they need to hit the local bar.

Please explain the animosity towards bowhunters that seems prevalent on this forum.

BTW, the guilty know who they are, there are many here that are polite and accepting of hunting styles in which they may not engage.

Hunting is hunting and animals die whether they are taken with a shotgun, rifle, muzzleloader, bow, or handgun. Some get lost, some are just wounded and crawl away to die in the brush. The fact is that not every kill will be clean no matter what weapon you use.

So if you are the guilty please feel free to challenge me on anything I have written here. I love a challenge, which is why I hunt with a bow!

 

[Birdbrained]

Ag,
As one of the guilty (I said that compounds aren't really bows in my opinion), you're right, it isn't fair to judge others on their choice of weapon, which I didn't do. If someone wants to shoot a compound, great. But I am entitled to my opinion, and I'll stick to it.

 

[AG]

BirdBrained,

I beleive you said you hunt with the longbow, My argument isn't compound vs. longbow. I learned archery on a longbow, but since I am only 5'8" and don't have enough ground clearance for the longbow.

 

[kildux]

Well I respect bowhunters as much or more than shotgunners( no offense anyone) I enjoy shotgunning and bowhunting.I personally use a crossbow and when in places besides here I catch alot of flaq because of it. But the way I see it you have to do the same amount of scouting with a crossbow as you do with a long or compound bow. The deer either isn't or is going to walk by your stand or blind no matter what kind of bow you take. There are alot of idiot shotgunners out there ( I have recently posted about a few of them) and there are alot of respectable ones too. This goes with bowhunters as well, I've seen more than you person stand and shoot their bow strait up and see where the arrow falls. The people that have been spoke of about going out with beer and shotgun in hand are not true shotgunners in my opinon. Neither are the people who try to see how high thier arrows go at hi noon either. But overal I have met less idiot bowhunters than shotgunners.

My 2 cents.

 

[Desertrat]

AG,

I don't really know where this animosity comes from...but I have noticed it many times. I am 51, started shooting bows at age 10 in my backyard with my Dad, (who I sadly lost Oct. 13th)...and he was a real crackshot! I enjoyed the challenge of bowhunting as soon as I was old enough to get my first hunting license in Calif. Got my first deer with bow at age 18, when I then joined the USCG. I was lucky enough to be stationed most of my time in Seattle. Got spoiled by all the bow, rifle and shotgun hunting I was able to do up in the wonderful Cascades!
I got my black bear and another deer in Washington. I saw many hunters with other arms...right out there with me...and we all shared the comraderie of HUNTING....not worrying about who shot what type of armament. Hunting is a sport as diverse as any other, and we should all be glad that there are so many ways to enjoy our passtime!

 

[MSCOTT]

Can't we all just get along? I've hunted with most implements available and there's always someone that will pick on a certain group. The bottom line is that as hunters and shooters we all need to stick together. Not everyone on this forum is a hunter. There's nothing wrong with a guy who just kills targets with the biggest baddest gun available. I've always picked on crossbow hunters since "if it has a stock it is a gun", but it's just been a joke. I know of a lot more deer lost with stick bows than with compounds, but I'll never lead the charge to get rid of them. It's just a part of the game that gets noticed by sceptics. The media throws all guns in the same pile as if all guns are meant to kill people. Also some of us may get a bit too defensive to a comment that was meant to be a joke like the thread on 80 yard pass shooting with big shot. There are plenty of idiots out there with guns, but chances are that very few are here trying to learn something to better themselves. Sorry this ended up being so long, but just relax and enjoy the rest of the day.

 

[AG]

There are plenty of idiots out there with guns, but chances are that very few are here trying to learn something to better themselves.

I would have to agree with you there. I hope I didn't leave the impression that I thought it was the majority of people on this forum making these statements.

I am convinced that this is the "Friendliest Shooting Forum on the Net!"

 

[BBStacker]

:shock: This may cheer you up AG. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, loves Bow Hunters so much that they give them a 135 day season (minus the firearms season) whereas the poor gun hunter only gets 16 days. That leaves the bow hunter 119 days to hunt. If the gun hunter wounds, say, state wide, 100 deer in 16 days, that equals 6.25 deer a day. If the bow hunters wound in similar fashion, 6.25 deer a day, then for the entire season they wound 743.75 deer. (6.25 X 119 days) We both know that there are not that many that get wounded but the bow hunter has more opportunity than the gun hunter so it would be logical to assume that the bow hunter is going to wound more than the gun hunter. I have no quarrel with bow hunters. I don't like bow hunting for myself and therefore I don't do it. If I had a quarrel with the bow hunters it would be the fact that they get more time than the gun hunters. And that is not their doing. Its the Game Commission who sets the seasons, not the hunters.

 

[AG]

It is pretty obvious that you have never hunted any big game with a bow.

It is very hard to explain the differences in the hunting styles to somebody who has only shot at stationary targets with a bow that wasn't right for them. And it is even harder when that person makes gross generalizations about supposed similarities between rifle and bowhunting. Your mind is made up and nothing anyone says is going to change it. So I will just be grateful that there will be one less person out in the sticks chasing deer or elk with a bow.

 

[Jack Boyd]

I have seen more IDIOTS with shotguns than bows, and I am sure I will get a lot of support regarding the validity of that statement. Opening day of dove season hundreds of idiots fill the cooler with beer, dig up that shotgun that has been rusting in the back of the closet for the last 360 days. Then load up the lawn chairs in their little Japanese cars and rain shot down on others until the beer runs out and they need to hit the local bar.

Please explain the animosity towards bowhunters that seems prevalent on this forum.

you insult shotgunners then wonder why shotgunners dis' bowhunters? are you serious?

I've never given bowhunters a second thought. but now that I see a representative of the type, all I can say is I hope your rant made you feel better and now you can go back to playing "Robin Hood".

you have too thin a skin. you should see what trapshooters say about skeeters.

 

[winders]

AG,

Why do you come here and make self-righteous posts about bow hunters and bow hunting? What did you really expect to accomplish?

The right place to complain and commiserate is a bow hunting forum, not here.

You are just looking for a fight.

Most hunters appreciate all forms of hunting even if they do not participate in them. Yes, there are some folks out there that don't know all the nuances of big game bow hunting. So what?

You think you have it bad? There are a lot more people in the general public that hate hunters with guns than hunters that don't like bow hunters.

Let it go....

Scott

 

[AG]

you insult shotgunners then wonder why shotgunners dis' bowhunters? are you serious?

I didn't insult shotgunners, I insulted the morons that dig thier shotguns out of the closet for the annual dove hunting-beer drinking party.

I've never given bowhunters a second thought. but now that I see a representative of the type, all I can say is I hope your rant made you feel better and now you can go back to playing "Robin Hood".

I was responding to many anti-bowhunting statements made on this forum. I love the outdoors and do everyting from fishing to big game with a rifle and bow to wingshooting.

Maybe you should read the posts in question before you make a judgement about my "Thin Skin."

Second thoughts are a good thing, Glad I could give you some practice!

 

[AG]

AG,

Why do you come here and make self-righteous posts about bow hunters and bow hunting? What did you really expect to accomplish?

I came here because I hunt birds with a shotgun. I also happen to bowhunt. Over the last few months I have come across many anti-bowhunting comments. I just responded to them after I had "had enough."

I can defend any post I have made. Can you do the same?

 

[Killian's Red]

In Illinois I never gave it any thought what a hunter hunted or what he hunted with. I know a lot of hunters that bow hunt and they also take advantage of the shotgun season. I just assumed they were just trying to extend the season by being able to get in the woods earlier with our states bow season. I never asked them which they prefer bow or shotgun. Many will even get a permit for the black powder season. I just figured they loved to hunt. Try not to get too upset when you mention a disapline other than what is normally found on a bulliten board as this, you may get flamming responses just as a skeet shooter or sporting clays advocate would find on a trap shooters site and visa versa. Good hunting to you.
Kent

 

[winders]

I came here because I hunt birds with a shotgun. I also happen to bowhunt. Over the last few months I have come across many anti-bowhunting comments. I just responded to them after I had "had enough."

Well guess what? Hunters that use shotguns don't have to like bow hunting or bow hunters. This is a place for folks that use shotguns. If you want to participate here without conflict, you may just have to ignore the posts that are less than positive about bow hunting.

Like I said, let it go....

Scott

 

[Jack Boyd]

you insult shotgunners then wonder why shotgunners dis' bowhunters? are you serious?

I didn't insult shotgunners, I insulted the morons that dig thier shotguns out of the closet for the annual dove hunting-beer drinking party.

I've never given bowhunters a second thought. but now that I see a representative of the type, all I can say is I hope your rant made you feel better and now you can go back to playing "Robin Hood".

I was responding to many anti-bowhunting statements made on this forum. I love the outdoors and do everyting from fishing to big game with a rifle and bow to wingshooting.

Maybe you should read the posts in question before you make a judgement about my "Thin Skin."

Second thoughts are a good thing, Glad I could give you some practice!

ah, ok, I was insulting only the halfwit Merry Men who insult dove hunters. so if think you're not one of them, there's no need to take it personally. did you say you dress up as Will Scarlett or Geronimo when you're out 'a-huntin'?

and you DO have a thin skin, starting a thread whining about how bowpeeps are mistreated on a shotgun forum is about the same as wearing a "kick me" sign.

 

[AG]

This is a place for folks that use shotguns. If you want to participate here without conflict, you may just have to ignore the posts that are less than positive about bow hunting.

Like I said, let it go....

Scott

I never said I didn't want a little conflict ... The post was asking for an explanation not agreement with my point of view. If the views posted were based on fact and not assumptions I probably would have just let it go. However, they were not based in reality, and I am not afraid of a little debate from time to time if I feel that incorrect assumptions are being made.

So if you are not happy with this topic, take your own advice and "let it go...."

 

[AG]

ah, ok, I was insulting only the halfwit Merry Men who insult dove hunters. so if think you're not one of them, there's no need to take it personally. did you say you dress up as Will Scarlett or Geronimo when you're out 'a-huntin'?

and you DO have a thin skin, starting a thread whining about how bowpeeps are mistreated on a shotgun forum is about the same as wearing a "kick me" sign.

Ummmm yeah?

 

[javven]

Hmm... well, to each their own. Bowhunters have their views, some believing themselves to be more animalistic, and closer to nature. They put into their minds that they're the 'game snipers' with the discipline and talent associated with commandos or even the big predatory cats. I hesitate to blanket-disagree. I have seen home video of hunters that could have killed their prey by falling on it with a drawn knife, going postal cave-man style on their prey.

I'm attracted to shotguns because I can change a choke tube, and my shells and go from deer to turkey to quail to bear to hapless intruders and back again. Could you do all this with a bow? Sure, maybe except the quail (you're a daisy if ya do).

125gr of death on an arrow shaft @ 200-300FPS vs a 1 oz lead hunk at 1500FPS has never gotten my heckles up, though. It might be because both work for what they were designed for (as mostly they were both designed by professionals for the sportsmen that use them as intended), or it might be because I -respect- bow hunters. It might also be because I respect shotgun shooters and don't want to give us a bad name. Or maybe it's because I respect diverse opinions and believe GUIDANCE is the hand that will lead people to our sport.

Would I shoot with this person? Certainly. Safety first. Respect your firearm, respect your fellow shooter, and respect the rules.

How hard's that?

 

[CD]

Strange stuff here. I don't know anybody who hunts with only one type of weapon. I don't know anybody who has ever put down bow hunting, shotgun hunting, rifle hunting, pistol hunting, or black powder hunting.

I live in Mississippi and hunt with rifle, shotgun, black powder rilfe, and bow. I hunt deer, ducks, quail, pheasant, geese, squirrels, turkey, coyote, and dove. I can't for the life of me imagine why someone would try to put someone down for hunting with anything. Doesn't make much sense to me.