Stupid Archery Question

[N80]

I think he might like it. And of course, as Gatorboy mentioned would we need to step up to a compound bow for that. The bow I got him is not a hunting bow in any way.

Everyone I know who bow hunts really likes it. And if he wants to do it, I'll encourage him. However, I've never been interested and I'll tell you why. (Don't get me wrong though, I'm all for it, I just don't think it's for me.)

1. Gives you a new perspective of shooting at a target at only 30 yards away.

I'd say the vast majority of deer that I've killed with a rifle or gun were in that range. One as close as 15 feet. So getting them in close has not been a 'sporting' issue for me. Its the norm. The difference is that with a precise rifle shot he goes down right on the spot.

2. If you live in a cold climate and have keys to a warehouse, you already have your indoor range.

That would be important in cold climates. Here, we can shoot outdoors year round. Gun or bow.

3. Neighbors won't complain of noise when your shooting.

Quite true. With the bow, my son will actually be able to practice/shoot in our back yard. However, when it comes to hunting, we have no nearby neighbors.

5. Don't have to clean your bow everytime you get done shooting it.

A definite plus.

6. 3D targets last a lot longer with a bow than cans and bottles with with a gun.

We have metal targets for our small caliber guns. But cans are fun too.

7. Shooting at 3D target at 80 yards (40 yards is my max with game) is like shooting at a target 600 yards with a gun.

Very true. It can be hard to practice long range shooting with a gun. However, we often put clay pigeons on the ground at 100 yards and shoot them with a 22 which is a 'simulation' of long range shooting.

8. You learn that you actually have to get close to the game.

Very true of course, but again, that is the norm for us on our property. There just aren't many long range opportunities.

9. You realize how easy guys with guns have it.

I guess its just that I have a different perspective on the sport and I may be odd in this regard. I look at it this way, if I see a big buck and for whatever reason I don't get to pull the trigger I can smile and wish him well. But once I pull the trigger I want him dead on the ground. So I'm very selective about my shot (something that has taken years to sink in). So sure it is harder with the bow, but I'm pretty selective now. The problem I see with the bow, even for well selected and well made shots, is the number of deer that are hit and get away, usually to suffer and die later. Now I will be the first to admit that just as many (per capita) deer are wounded and lost by guns. But that is usually due to poor shot selection. But when you only consider well selected and well made shots, I'd guess more deer run off hit with arrows than bullets and I just don't like that idea.

My friend (a wildlife biologist) might be the best hunter I know and he bow hunts almost exclusively and he finds most of the deer he shoots at using a dog with a very good nose. But he still loses a deer or two each season.

It all depends on your comfort level. Losing a hit deer makes me miserable.

Again, I'm not against bow hunting, its just not for me. If my son gets interested I'll take him as far as he wants to go!

 

[Sigarms]

I guess its just that I have a different perspective on the sport and I may be odd in this regard. I look at it this way, if I see a big buck and for whatever reason I don't get to pull the trigger I can smile and wish him well. But once I pull the trigger I want him dead on the ground. So I'm very selective about my shot (something that has taken years to sink in).

You're a credit to the sport, and from what I've seen lately, it's gettig rare to find people like you.

Your son may not know it now, but he has a great father.

Funny, I was up in W.V last year watching a sports hunting show. The guy was taking a shot at a buck at around 300 yards. He took four shots at the deer, and you could see from the video taken that all the shots were "going around" the deer with the deer just standing there. On the fifth shot he finally got the deer. The guy was so proud on T.V that he finally hit the deer. The only thing I could think of was that the guy was an idiot, and I couldn't beleive that they would show such poor marksmenship and judgement on a televised hunting show.

For myself, only thing I use now is a .45-70 with open sights. Heck, I couldn't go past 100 yards even if I wanted to

 

[1bush2hog]

Get him a good arm guard too - he is going to need it

 

[N80]

You're a credit to the sport, and from what I've seen lately, it's gettig rare to find people like you.

Thank you, but I can't take too much credit. I didn't always have this attitude. I've been doing it all my life and like some other folks here I think I've just mellowed with age in regard to hunting deer. I still like it but I can take it or leave it now and the odd thing about that is that I seem to be enjoying it more than when I used to be obsessed with it. I also am probably getting a little softer as I get older. I've probably averaged 1 buck a year for the last 4-5 years and I'm happy as a clam with that. Some folks around here would say that was a terrible season.

But don't give up on me. The bow hunting biologist friend is working on me hard to try bow hunting. I could give it a try yet.

 

[N80]

Get him a good arm guard too - he is going to need it

Oops. Forgot about that. Thanks.

George

 

[RobertN]

I think he might like it. And of course, as Gatorboy mentioned would we need to step up to a compound bow for that. The bow I got him is not a hunting bow in any way.

I like to think of it this way. A nice 25-30lb recurve is like having a 22lr "plinker". My 70lb compound is like having a 45-70. Even a youth compound is like having a .308.

My son loves archery. When he asked for a bow, he wanted a long/recurve bow. One, he like the simplicity and class it has. Two, that Legolas used them in the "Lord of the Rings" movies.

He's learned on a recurve with no sights. If you can shoot that accurately, you can shoot any bow.

He's also assembled a few of his own arrows, partly for the fun and skill of it, and partly a requirement for Archery Merit badge(Scouts).

 

[Gatorboy]

Get him a good arm guard too - he is going to need it

Not necessarily. Not all people's arm's extend the same way that causes the string to strike the forearm.

 

[N80]

When he asked for a bow, he wanted a long/recurve bow. One, he like the simplicity and class it has. Two, that Legolas used them in the "Lord of the Rings" movies.

Bingo. My son loves the Tolkien stuff (So did I when I was that age) and that's why he first got interested. When I showed him some compound bows that could be used for hunting and target shooting he was not all that interested. Fred Bear makes a cool looking recurve but it is closer to $200. The one I got for him is a take down type model with a laminate handle and some kind of laminate limbs. It came with some target arrows and a stringer for less than $120. Since this may be a passing interest I went with the cheaper one. I think it will be sufficient to see if there is any real interest. But the initial interest came more from slaying orcs and dragons than deer.

Here is the one I got him:

Buy Mohegan Recurve BowBy Greatree Archery - 3Rivers Archery Equipment, Traditional Youth Archery Bows and Arrows, and Long Bow Hunting

 

[N80]

Not necessarily. Not all people's arm's extend the same way that causes the string to strike the forearm.

I'll get him one just in case. I saw a competative shooter who came in my office because she had gotten a new bow of some sort and in her excitement to try it out she didn't put on an armguard and apparently used improper technique and that thing tore her arm up bad. Mostly bruises but it looked like she'd had her arm run over.

 

[Jimmyp5]

Not necessarily. Not all people's arm's extend the same way that causes the string to strike the forearm.

agree..and if it is striking then you need to start adjusting your hold... I can shoot without any armguard, with my long bow! recurve or compound...but it took a lot of time and effort to adjust to it.

One other comment, someone said...when the string slips off the fingers!! No, no, no...the fingers release the string completely, if they slip then the string turns and off goes the arrow in the wrong direction!! When target shooting, I use a mechanical release almost always, when hunting and stalking never, well almost never in a tree stand sometimes hook it up use it. But, have found on the ground staking they tend to just get in my way.

What I love about bow hunting is like others, you can see the deer up close and decide to shoot or not. I have not a lot of times, save the big guys for another day.

I am shock like other that someone would even admit to a 300 yard shot that took 5 hits to get a deer!! That is sad, I use to teach sniper and counter-sniper shooting, frankly not many people should be trying to reach out that far and shoot. I never shoot over 75% of the range that I practice with when hunting season comes around.