Strange ? for those that hunt with handguns & bows

A poll of sorts for those that hunt with both bows & handguns.

Let me preface this with "I have nothing against compounds or trad gear regarding bowhunting, & nothing against SPs or revolvers regarding handgun hunting".
BUT.... I was wondering if trad bow guys were more likely to shoot revolvers for handgun hunting & compound shooters were more likely to use SPs for handgun hunting.
I'm a trad bow guy, & while I own & have used SPs for hunting, my preference is revolvers.
How 'bout you?

My money says your theory will quickly be proven correct with this poll. I like this...very scientific.

I am a SP guy as well as a compound bow enthusiast.

I have never used SPs, not because I don't want to, but because I never owned one (currently looking at the T/C Encore but gotta get my reloading equipment first). I use a 44 revolver and a compound bow. Crossbow is legal here in Georgia for the last 3 years and would like to get one of those too. It's all just a matter of time. At this rate... I hope to live to 100.

I shot a recurve for years. I then discovered handgun hunting. I shot mostly Contenders and Encores and switched back to a compound bow. Now I shoot a longbow and have pretty much switched to it and iron sighted revolvers for all my hunting. Had this same thought just the other day.

Toby

Vance

I shoot compound's and heavy magnum revolvers matter of fact I carry a revolver while bow hunting .
I love both but do more Handgun hunting anymore.

RR

I hunted strictly with a recurve for a long time but I started with a compound and the last 4 years I bowhunted I used a compound because of a shoulder injury. I prefer revolvers but I own a contender.

I hunt with both longbows and recurves. I have a couple of Contenders and an Encore, but my revolvers see the most field use.

Thanks guys.

Sounds like the theory is holding kinda true so far (Rod, I know (at least I think I do)that your preference is recurves which goes with your preference with revolvers).

Rick, it's good to see you (so to apeak). What are you getting for .429 320s now days?
Don't you have a hunt lined up on Kodiak this fall?
One of these days when I'm down that way I need to buy you a cup of coffee. Or maybe a day you are headed to ANC I could buy you a cup in Soldotna.

By the way, if any of you guys need some heavy cast bullets with a reputation behind them, Rick is well known for his quality bullets around Alaska.

Vance,

Sorry to skew the data, but I'm a Revolver-Compound guy...

Caveat - all my revolvers carry scopes. Hmmm...

Vance, you are correct. I sit and drool over my Brackenbury but with my draw length I'm pulling 81# and I can't hardly draw my 60# Martin with my shoulder so I have resigned myself to handguns only, at least for a while. I definitely prefer my revolvers but since I can't get around too good anymore I've got the Contender just in case I have a longer shot on a critter but I'll always have a revolver on my belt and if the critter is in range it will get called on first.

This is a very good thread. I hunt mostly with my Stickbows that I make. Primitive selfbows, mostly all wood, a couple made with bamboo laminated over wood. Primitive river cane (bamboo) arrows with flint points in Oklahoma and now Kansas. If hunting in other states I use Magnus two blades. I do use glass longbows and recurves on occasion. It's just what mood hits me when I going out the door or sometimes it the location I'm hunting. Nothing wrong with compounds, some of my hunting partners use them and we have fun poking at each other about our equipment.
During gun season, I carry my bows when I'm hunting certain stands or property where the shots will be close. At that time I carry my Contender, 10" in 41 Mag or 30 Herrett.
Now, here is the crazy thing. I have two Ruger SBH Hunters, 41 Mag and 45 LC. I have taken them a couple of times during gun season and actually took a deer with one when the doe came in, stayed behind me while I was in a tree stand. After about 30 min. the doe was moving away so I hung my bow and pulled the revolver, stood, and used the tree for a rest to shoot behind me and take the doe. It was snowing and blowing hard. This filled my last doe for firearms season and left my archery tag for two weeks later when I took a nice buck.
I guess I use both styles of pistols.
I've always been told I was different.

Right on. I do as well!

I have hunted with a trodishinal long bow for 15 years and have hunted with a TC for 10. I have just picked up a revolver in the last 6 months.

I hunt with my Bob Lee recurve now.

I use a compound and I've only hunted with revolvers so far. But I now own an Encore and Contender.

I've use compound bow's all my bowhunting career(23 yrs)...during firearm season I've hunted exclusively with handguns since 1990, both T/C's and Revolvers...90% of the big game I've taken has been with a T/C and about 80% of small game I've taken has been with a revolver...The last 3 yrs I've been hunting big game more with a revolver and small game more with a T/C, go figure...I just love huntin', especially with bow's and handguns...KRal

Sorry Vance.
Revolver/compound here.
Have Encore with a couple bbls, but they hardly see use anymore.
Have thought about recurves, though.
Does that count?

I was shooting a Mathews Drenalin up to when I hurt my left shoulder, and I shoot a revolver for handgun hunting. I have never shot a T/C or one of the bolt handguns.

Old Bear Grizzly recurve and Colt Python here. However, I also take my Ruger MKII for small game.

cyberhick

Revolver and Recurve. But I don't bow hunt anymore, I'm all about revolvers now.

Old compound bow, some with revolvers, primarily with specialty handguns.

Compound bow and revolvers have harvested all the deer in my hunting career.

I have only had SP's for about 4 years and not really put the time in to hunt big game with them. I carried the XP 100 in 35 Rem 2 seasons ago, but got skunked. The SP's will see more time in the woods in the future, but the revolvers will not be left out.

I use a recurve bow and an iron sighted Super Blackhawk. I like the fact with both weapons I need to be just a little bit closer!

BOW SEASON - MATHEWS XT 30" DRAW 75#
GUN SEASON - S&W 500MAG. / RED HAWK 41. MAG.
I use my bow more only because the season down here is from oct. 1 st. - feb. 15.
25 mins. to drive for bow only
1 hr. to drive to hunt with pistol

NOTE
( THREAD HIGH JACK IN PROGRESS )

Vance
Coffee sounds good .
I am doing a fly in float hunt for moose next friday and when I get back from the moose hunt I am heading over to Kodiak to hunt for goat and deer..
My plate is full at the moment .

Thanks for the vote of confidence .. I will pm you about the cast bullets.

Side note =====
3 guys at work that shoot bows and revolvers.
Guy 1, Compound bows and revolvers
Guy 2, Tradionial bow and revolvers
Guy 3, compound bows and revolvers

RR

I'm with SCHunter..I'm a scoped revolver/compound bow guy! Bow season I hunt with a Mathews Switchback XT and was hunting with an open sighted Ruger SRH 44 but am going to be hunting with a scoped Smith & Wesson 460 XVR 460 Magnum this gun season.

Recurve- Revolver for me. I glad you said what do you hunt with and not what do you kill with.

I am proof of Vance's theory. I bow hunted for years with compounds. I own a 44 mag SRH but I cant wait till I try hunting with the contender I'm setting up.

I may bowhunt with a compound but I have a 50lb recurve setup for bowfishing...I have always been a revolver man when it comes to handguns though! DA and SA alike.

I bowhunt with a pse x-force compound, and I have a 480 SRH revolver that I'm taking hunting in a week and a half.

Those of us that hunt with bows and handguns are a pretty unique bunch!! I don't think it's possible to stereotype us. Alot of us use traditional weapons and gear and alot of us are very modern in our tastes while some of us like and use both!! I think we all complement each other well. Btw..I'm really looking forward to the Auburn/West Virginia game this year aaronc53! WAR EAGLE!!!

I shoot a longbow when bowhunting. I have autos, wheelguns, and just bought a contender. I have always enjoyed the simplicity of a revolver. So I probably fit the mold!

I hope it's a good one. I may take a day off from hunting to head up to Morgantown for that one.

I am glad to see that we have alot in common. I shot a black widow for a long time, But now a crossbow that or no bow hunting. I shoot a 32" side lock black powder with around ball and a 44 super red hawk or tc. handgun.I hope we can all pass down to the younger ones what we enjoy so much!!!!

WOW ! IM amazed at the amount of people on this site that use traditonal archery gear. I knew all along I wasnt that crazy for shooting a stick!!!!! But Im probably the only hunter in my county that hunts with a revolver too!