Bow vs. Rifle

The weapon you choose is a matter of preference, but why choose one or the other? Rifle hunting is a tradition for a lot of families and it has been the weapon of choice for two centuries! Which is exactly why some say that bowhunting is about hunting while rifle hunting is actually about spending time with your friends and family…

Let’s start with the facts. A lot of hunters prefer bow hunting because the season lasts longer, starting almost 6 weeks before rifle season opens. So bow hunters have more time on a property with ample deer before the rifles arrive disrupting the stillness causing the deer to go into a sharp nocturnal alert.

Take the Shot

A rifle is generally easier to use mostly because you can take out a deer from several hundred yards while a bow hunter has to be much closer to the deer with the maximum range being 40 yards. Considering how close you have to get to the animal there are other factors to take into account. Apart from a working bow, you will need camo and scentless clothing in order to approach an animal unnoticed. If a mature buck walks by a tree stand at 80 yards a rifle hunter will most likely take it, while a bow hunter would have to be at a much closer range to take the shot. The last thing you want is to wound your prey and then have to go chasing after it with a poorly placed arrow.

Silent but Deadly

Then again bow hunters will argue that because this method is more difficult it teaches you patience and killer instinct making the end result even more fulfilling. Bow hunters have to tread on the ground slowly and quietly, stalking the animal carefully in the final approach. This is known as “still hunting.” They usually walk upwind so the animal in front doesn’t pick up on their scent.

Practice makes perfect. That being said, you can practice using a bow and arrow right in your backyard without disturbing your neighbors or the police for that matter, but it takes years to become a skillful bow hunter.

When faced with the question, why bowhunting? Reasons vary, but one keeps coming up. The adrenalin rush you get from using a bow and arrow just can’t be compared to shooting a gun. It’s an intimate experience that will leave you feeling entirely in tune with your natural surroundings. And although it is far more likely that you will miss on your first shot when using a bow, if you succeed in the end, it’s worth the trouble.

Bow hunters can customize their arrows just the way they like it with fletching, wraps, broad heads, and different inserts, making the experience all the more unique. Imagine shooting a deer with your favorite tailor-made arrow after hours of patiently waiting for the perfect shot? There is no doubt that feeling must be something out of this world.

It Runs in the Family

Those who prefer hunting with a rifle are moulded into being gun-lovers from an early age. Yes they find the smell of gunpowder appealing and the raw fire power. Yes it’s cheaper and ammo is easier to find, but the real culprit responsible for their love of rifle hunting is, in most cases, their upbringing. Their first gun was a family heirloom and rifle hunting is a family legacy. Hunting in the woods takes them back to those days when they first shot a rifle as a kid and felt that amazing rush for the first time. It was love at first shot.

Whether it’s that twang of a released bowstring that gets your blood rushing or that powerful echoing boom from a gun, hunting is so much more than the weapon you use…