Bow Hunting During Gun Season

Why would anyone want to hunt deer with a bow when they can use a gun?  With a gun you can shoot those deer that you would have to let walk by with a bow.  Before you start your email up to grumble, I’m not opposed to gun hunting.  I hunt at least a couple of times a year with the shot gun.  I want to show that gun season can be a great time to kill a deer with a bow.

There are many reasons to hunt with a bow during gun season. The gun hunters push deer into small lots of land that can only be hunted with a bow.  This can make these spots great places to hunt during the gun season.

Many states and provinces have public land that is bow hunting only.  When hunter’s put down the bows and pick up the guns, the deer in the bow hunting only areas are getting a lot less pressure.  The deer are a lot more relaxed making them a little easier to hunt.

Hunting in areas that only allow bows is a great way to get those deer you may not have shot  at another time of the year.  Deer are being pushed around and they will move to the bow hunting only area.  The lower pressure could mean a great deer hunting opportunity for you

Before you go out and hunt with a bow make sure you know the laws.  For example, in most of the state of Connecticut you cannot hunt with a bow during gun season.  There are exemptions, and knowing them will give you the edge over the deer and other deer hunters.

There are many challenges to hunting with a bow during gun season.  First it is very cold.    The weather can make it very hard to stay on your stand for any length of time.  You will have to dress for the weather but you can’t walk wearing too many clothes.  It causes you to sweat and sweat freezes.  I usually carry in most of my outer clothing and put it on before I get into the tree.

The next problem is there is very little cover because there are no levees on the trees.  I have had deer pick me out of a tree at 100 yards away.  To overcome this I will climb a tree that is close to an evergreen tree.  This can not only hide you as the deer move in but hide your movement as you draw your bow.

It is time to think about hunting deer with a bow during gun season. It is a great time to put good meat in the freezer. You may have a better chance to kill a deer with a bow than with a gun. Read the laws in the area that you are hunting in.  It may be time to pull out the bow and leave the gun at home.  This could be the best time to hunt with a bow.

Good luck,

Sean