Do you ever feel like rifle hunts aren't a challenge anymore? Bow?

[bigboarstopper]

All depends on your access to productive land.

[Divernhunter]

I have hunted with bow, X-Bow(handicap), ML, pistol and rifle. I like them all.
They can be as challenging as you make them.

[CVShooter]

I do both. Finding legal deer is always my challenge. I did 2-3 years of an AO tag, thinking some of my success would continue. After not seeing anything legal in the D-zone for a while, I took up the rifle again. I've never even seen a buck during the archery season these past several years. I saw bears this year but got my tag too late. Oh well.

Shooting a 10" vital area with a rifle within 200 yards is easy-peasy. Getting that vital area to appear somewhere is, to me, the mystery I haven't yet solved.

I have a lot more success with turkeys, though. So I haven't used a shotgun for them in a long time. Archery & air rifles are my choice for them. But I mostly hunt small acreage areas where the neighbors wouldn't appreciate the sound of a shotgun anyway. It's fun to be 15 yards or less from a tom that you can hear drumming, gobbling loudly, strutting and spitting right next to you.

I always figure that a rifle/shotgun is the tool to use when you want to give the individual animal the most ethical death. The bow is a tool to use when you want to give the herd/flock the most ethical chance to avoid getting hit in the first place.

[elk hunter]

If you want some fun and a little bit of a challenge then hunt deer or elk or antelope with a iron sighted lever gun with black powder loaded cartridges. Hunting deer with shotgun slugs is also a short range affair to and can be a ton of fun.

[FishnHunt]

I’m back and forth. If I get a an opportunity, Im taking it.
Have been lucky and I’ve killed few bulls opening morning. 2 years Ago, was barely out of camp and could see my tent when I got on a heard and killed a spike minutes later. Then this year, I put in 5 hard/solid days.
Got on heard last light of last day. Ran out of day light.
Maybe 10 more min and I’d have a bull.
It’s nice to be brought back to reality sometimes.
Oregon is getting over ran by bow hunters and some guys want it to be draw vs OTC as it’s a **** show.
I like the later seasons but someday will give archery a chance as my boy (8) is all about bugging and shooting his bow

[AGGRO]

I agree. Try 20 yards though. I shoot primative bows because I feel technology ruins the sport. Have to get even closer to put a 600 grain wood arrow in the sweet spot. Today's wheel bows...might as well be a crossbow with the way the technology has developed and honestly I wish they'd ban range finders in the spirit of rhe chase. But I get it, would rather have ethical kills than a bunch of wounded animals running around with arrows stuck everywhere they shouldn't be.

ETA: lets also face it, it's not just about meat in the freezer for most hunters. Most guys I know put enough money in to a single hunt that properly invested, could easily put a 100 pounds of beef, pork, and chicken in the freezer, if not more.

I still have my old Bear recurve and will be taking it on my out of State hunts this year. Hopefully with some gopro and Javelina

[jhillas]

Close range is fun, but I sure would not recommend shooting a big nasty boar with an arrow unless you have someone next to you ready with a rifle.

[CalArkansas]

ummm, I guess I am just too new and excited to give up any... I keep adding to the arsenal.

I started with a rifle, now I have have two compound bows, muzzleloader, crossbow, and more than enough rifles.

Next year, I am going for a trifecta. Bow, muzzleloader, and rifle. I got two deer this year with the rifle, I passed on a shot with the muzzleloader. I passed on one with the bow. Reason being, I was not confident in the shot.

The thing with a rifle is although it is the "easiest" of the bunch, it has the best percentage of putting meat on the table. I am practicing more and more with my bows so I can take game with it... If I am still not ready, I will opt for the crossbow. No doubt about it, I think the challenge and most fun would be with a bow. I like a good grind. Seeing game is one thing, getting in range and having the skill for a kill shot is all different. One has to put in time and lots of effort.

Not to be a snob, but the crossbow is the one I despise... I just have one incase I am not good with the bow or another person wants to go out with me. This of course is out of state.

[Shoot-it]

All depends on your access to productive land.

right there is the answer if you have a great land to hunt on where game is abundant 100 yard rifle kills are easy ..

[CVShooter]

ummm, I guess I am just too new and excited to give up any... I keep adding to the arsenal.

I started with a rifle, now I have have two compound bows, muzzleloader, crossbow, and more than enough rifles.

Next year, I am going for a trifecta. Bow, muzzleloader, and rifle. I got two deer this year with the rifle, I passed on a shot with the muzzleloader. I passed on one with the bow. Reason being, I was not confident in the shot.

The thing with a rifle is although it is the "easiest" of the bunch, it has the best percentage of putting meat on the table. I am practicing more and more with my bows so I can take game with it... If I am still not ready, I will opt for the crossbow. No doubt about it, I think the challenge and most fun would be with a bow. I like a good grind. Seeing game is one thing, getting in range and having the skill for a kill shot is all different. One has to put in time and lots of effort.

Not to be a snob, but the crossbow is the one I despise... I just have one incase I am not good with the bow or another person wants to go out with me. This of course is out of state.

After missing a handful of turkeys last year with a recurve (on the same day), I pondered the crossbow option. Precision shots at shotgun ranges without the noise -- there's an appeal. I figure they're like compound bows. One is legally archery and the other isn't. But legalities aside, they're both pretty far from a stickbow or recurve in their capabilities & effective ranges. Challenge-wise, they're no different in my mind.

[GermanGuy]

I'm still working on my first buck. 6 years into it now. So, no. I don't feel like it's not a challenge.

[Garand Hunter]

My challenge has been getting deer to show up where I am hunting. I have no qualms about using a rifle every time I see one in shooting range. 7mm rem Mag lays 'em down every time. Doe antelope taken this year in north central Wyo with it, one round and down. This coming year its drawing for horns antelope finally after doe hunts for several years. If you like to bow hunt, help yourself Bros. Whatever works.

Psalm 1

[Nottacticool]

If people want more of a challenge by bow hunting, that's great. What I dislike is when some people think of themselves as better because they practice a "purist" form of hunting or fishing. Different strokes for different folks. Enjoy the outdoors in whatever legal manner you like and let other do the same.

[silvertriple]

If people want more of a challenge by bow hunting, that's great. What I dislike is when some people think of themselves as better because they practice a "purist" form of hunting or fishing. Different strokes for different folks. Enjoy the outdoors in whatever legal manner you like and let other do the same.

Totally in agreement with this comment. Although I prefer my bow, I have no problems reaching for my rifle come first day of rifle season.

[da crab]

Depends what u are looking for in a hunt and where u are hunting. I dont think a rifle deer hunt in most western states is very challenging, unless u are holding out for a big one. I was lucky to get a OTC 6x6 bull in Colorado this year, knowing how tough the odds are to get one in a general unit made it satisfying. I hunted New Mexico elk for 8 days with a bow the month before my Colorado trip and did not get one, so was happy to use a rifle!