I know a few guys that will hunt with their bow during a "any legal weapon" hunt when most guys are using a rifle.
Do any of you do this and why?
Do any of you do this and why?
Bow during rifle
- Thread starter Ikeepitcold
- Start date
Do you mean they their bow with an "any legal weapon" license or that they like to hunt with their bow tag during rifle season?
Bow hunting during ND rifle season is my favorite time to bow hunt. Our rifle season follows the deer rut pretty closely which makes it the best time to bow hunt. In addition, the private land hunters tend to finally chase some of their deer onto public land and give even more opportunities that weren't there earlier in the season.
The only reason I'd use a bow with an "any legal weapon" license would be to go after a deer that I'd be proud of to get with the bow but not the rifle.
Bow hunting during ND rifle season is my favorite time to bow hunt. Our rifle season follows the deer rut pretty closely which makes it the best time to bow hunt. In addition, the private land hunters tend to finally chase some of their deer onto public land and give even more opportunities that weren't there earlier in the season.
The only reason I'd use a bow with an "any legal weapon" license would be to go after a deer that I'd be proud of to get with the bow but not the rifle.
Hilltop
Veteran member
I used to years ago during the muzzle loader season in Nebraska. TBH I was more confident in my bow than I was the old borrowed muzzle loader I had to use.
missjordan
Veteran member
Honestly I think this is done a LLLLOOOOTTTT with white tail hunters. The majority of those guys are in tree stands though which makes a major difference.
siwulat
Active Member
Agree. I do, simply because I don't want to spend the $30 bucks for another tag when my archery tag is already valid. That, and the fact that public land is a complete zoo on gun opener. I'll stick to my archery tag on archery only public ground while the others are battling the orange army.
I see some guys hunt with a crossbow during the rifle season. I have seen some diehard guys only hunt with a bow no matter what weapon season is open. I give them big credit competing with the rifle hunters.
CrimsonArrow
Very Active Member
I always bowhunt. Not saying I'm any great trophy collector, but in general, rifle hunting just got too easy.
tdcour
Veteran member
I do depending on how the seasons before have gone. For a couple places I hunt we have a several month season, so if I can't get something with my bow I'll pick up the rifle to fill the freezer. I'll hunt with a bow if the freezer is full or at least comfortable. I personally just like to bow hunt more than rifle, so that's why I choose it, but I'm only loyal to the bow as long as I'm not worried about food.
mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
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I have hunted in rifle season close to houses where the legal safety zone limit was much less with a bow.
I hunted so close to a guys house on an adjacent property once that I could see how many hot dogs and hamburgers he put on the grill...almost killed a heck of a buck that night too..
Hunting with a bow has its advantages for sure.
I hunted so close to a guys house on an adjacent property once that I could see how many hot dogs and hamburgers he put on the grill...almost killed a heck of a buck that night too..
Hunting with a bow has its advantages for sure.
Matthoek21
Veteran member
I do here in GA. Just my preference. Haven't hunted with a gun in probably 20-25 years. If it was about killing I would use a gun. I let my kids use a gun. That's how I fill the freezer. My 9 year old got his first deer last Sunday. Small one but he was stoked!
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JEandAsGuide
Active Member
Awesome! Congrats to both of you!!I do here in GA. Just my preference. Haven't hunted with a gun in probably 20-25 years. If it was about killing I would use a gun. I let my kids use a gun. That's how I fill the freezer. My 9 year old got his first deer last Sunday. Small one but he was stoked!
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I decided to apply, and drew a ND rifle tag where I muley hunt this year. It typically takes 4-8 years to draw a rifle mule deer tag and I'd prefer to hunt with the rifle a little more often than that. A guy can get a whitetail buck tag every 1-3 years. I'll be watching for whitetails with the rifle, but I'll be looking even harder for muleys to chase with the bow during rifle season. My family has shot a few decent muleys over the years and the biggest have been taken with the bow. I also like being an opportunistic hunter. I forgot to apply for turkeys this year, but we usually are looking for grouse, pheasants, mountain lions, coyotes, turkeys, and deer all at the same time. Deer are our primary target, but we don't discriminate unless we are in prime deer country.
Usually do it with deer. Especially whitetails. I've thought of trying with elk, but never have. I got scoped quite a few times by rifle hunters since the area I hunt allows rifle hunters to hunt deer when the archery elk season it in. In the open country I get nervous, but in the dark timber I don't worry as much.