Did you handgun or bowhunt first?

Just curious on this... I am relatively new to bowhunting. That "close and personal" relationship to the prey in bowhunting compelled me to buy a pistol this spring for hunting during rifle season this year.
I LOVE shooting my bow, but I haven't shot more than twice since my revolver arrived. I have become totally addicted to shooting and reloading this thing!!!

Jim

I started off with bowhunting cuz, handgun hunting wasn't allowed where I was stationed(New Jersey). Now that I am in New York, the handgun mecca by the way, I hunt with both. I find myself practicing more frequesntly with my handgun an with my bow, just cause I like shooting my handguns. I always get plenty of bow practice before season, but I don't shot year round like I do with my handguns.

I also started bowhunting first, just because of my age. Then not now . I love shooting my Matthews but the handguns, actually all guns win out as far as "practice". But there is nothing like sending an arrow thru the rib cage of a nice whitetail buck. But then again it is nice to let the air out of a buck with a peestol shooting my handloads.... Boy I can't wait for October. I am going to watch a Realtree video to get my whitetail fix

I bought my first handgun when I turned 21. (close to 20 years ago) I got 2 deer that first year and was HOOKED!! I put away the long guns and never looked back. I had never touched a bow until 2 years ago. The first year I practiced alot but never got a shot at a dear during season. Last year I practiced all summer and when season came I got a nice 4 point, the left antler was broke off. I really enjoy bow hunting almost as much as handgun hunting, but if I had to choose the handgun would win hands down.

Handgun. Its where I started and its still my favorite.

reckon i bowhunted first. i got my first bow as a young teenager, but started actually hunting deer in my early 20's. sigh..........20+ years ago

gave up my bow a while back. just as soon fill my tags with the things i dearly love. i WILL use handguns untill i draw my last breath.

Started bowhunting back in 97...Just started handgun hunting in 2004...Still love the bow the best...Handgun is a close second though.

I've bowhunted since I was thirteen years old. Shot a deer that year and went to CO and shot an elk then next. Then I started shooting 3D, got picked up by HoytUSA as a Co-Op shooter, won two PSAA indoor titles, two IBO state titles, and placed as high as 7th in the World IBO shoot. For almost ten years I did not even have to hunt with a rifle because I filled all my tags with a bow. Then I started getting burned out...turned a hobby into a job and lost interest...that was about the same time as I started reloading and shooting Contenders. Been doing that for almost ten years now and loving it! (Much better than shotguns if you read my other post!! ) Still shooting the bow and archery hunting from time to time though.

Been shooting the bow a couple times a week lately. Getting back to close was I could do before I quit competing...I've been averaging about 4" at 40 yards...used to be able to do 3" at 50 yards. Still shooting a Hoyt!!

what?.........not a matthews i never was quite tournament material.......if ya know what i mean. only killed 3 or 4 does by bow, and missed about that many also.

i think huntin with, loadin for, and shootin these hunting handguns is the most enjoyable thing for me. everyone has to find the "perfect fit" for them.

It was always the bow for me. I first hunted deer as a kid back in the 60s and returned to hunting in the 80s with a compound. I am back to the traditional now and I started handgun hunting to extend my range a little and for the fun of it. It has proved more difficult for me that the bow.

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I started handgun hunting to extend my range a little and for the fun of it. It has proved more difficult for me that the bow.

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Chief, join the club! I shoot a C.P. Oneida compound and so far I shoot tighter groups with Slick Trick broadheads @ 50yds. than I do with my .45 Colt WITH A 2X SCOPE!!!!! Sure is FUN, though!

Jim