Up at 5:00am and out the door to be on stand before daylight. All for the chance to take a doe. "Only" a doe some would say. All management arguments aside, I used to wonder why someone who bowhunts (me) would forego a chance at a buck during this doe-only gun hunt when they could take a bow and go after that nice buck they have on camera.

Then I started hunting with a handgun and the rest, as they say, is history.

Ain't it funny how that happens? Good luck!

I'm with you Handgun400 - my Mathews and Samick recurve just hung on the wall and wondered what they had done wrong. Actually, although I did use my rifles this year a bit, they didn't see much action either.

I love traditional bowhunting but handgun hunting is the main thing for me. Theres just nothing like it. I also get dang near as much buck fever with "just" a doe as anything.

This is going to be my first year using a pistol. Other weapon of choice is my longbow.
Hoping to apply my bow hunting skills to pistol hunting.

Handgun400 Im right there with you. Have to work today but hope to leave out tomorrow for our lease near Rison.
Gonna try to get it down with the Ruger before they get really spooky.
Be my first year to try a handgun for deer.

If you use your bow hunting skills you will be fine. Relax, pick a hair to hit, aim,squeeze, follow thru ,take and post pictures, eat deer. Nothing to it!

Almost forgot WELCOME TO THE ADDICTION>

Scott--youve probably figured this out, but you can shoot And you bowhunt with a pistol you will be very successful. "Rifle" hunting with a pistol is much more difficult so to speak.

x2,go get"em boys!

We're not far apart. I hunt southern Grant County along the Saline River. Next time the deer aren't moving give me a shout and we'll grab a cup of coffee.

Never dropped the hammer although I did see deer. A mature doe with twins came out and fed a while. They were small and looked like she dropped them pretty late in the year. She was pretty poor looking too and I chose to let them walk.

I did everything except pull the trigger. Still a thrill for me when it all comes together that happens.

Sounds like you made the right decision.

I guess it would be normal that so many handgun hunters also have Traditional Bows. My Trails End, and two White Rivers also have dust on them. I have not put together a wooden arrow in a while either.

I am sure you had a very good time. I set up on almost every deer that comes by my stand, just for practice getting set up for the shot.

Bob

Yes it is. I hunted with a custom longbow shooting seven days a week all year until my right shoulder gave me so much trouble that I went to a compound and then a crossbow.

Since then handgun hunting has replaced bow hunting for the challenge I enjoy so much.

I was influenced to start handgun hunting by two men and a career choice; my uncle and Larry Weishuhn, then I spent 19 years as a LEO. Both men were the first I ever saw shoot or hunt with a Contender. My uncle did more to teach me how to hunt than anyone, Larry filled in that role through media. Carrying a Glock became second nature to me so much that hunting with a handgun was a no brainer.

I guess I'm a future recovering handgun addict. Because I'm not ready to admit there's a problem.

I agree with everything you said, Handgun400. There's just something about hunting with handguns that changes the way you look at all aspects of hunting. I look forward to the doe only hunts as much as any other. In fact, I just returned last week from making a trip from MO to WY with 3 whitetail only doe tags. Not even mulies. Filled all 3 tags with 3 different caliber handguns and I couldn't have been happier.

That's what I'm talking about.

Nice! You take any pictures?

I got a pic of the first one, didn't think of it in time for the 2nd, and by the time I got the third taken care of the sun had set. I don't use photo hosting sites anymore, but could email a couple pics if someone wants to post them.

#1 was with a 243 Striker, 2 was with a 414 Supermag Encore and the 3rd with a 6.5 Rem Mag Encore.

Sorry Handgun400, I didn't intend to hijack your post.

This site has it's own hosting. You can upload to the bragging board and then copy to the main forums.

DON'T apologize. Good information is good information. I've enjoyed and learned from everything said.

Turns out that most bow hunters and handgun hunters are very ethical in their approach to wildlife. That's just the reason I associate with both groups. Sure, long guns are fine too, but you get what I'm saying. Letting an animal walk is just as much of a successful hunt than tagging the giant; sometimes more so. Congrats

Nice on you too, BT.

In that case.

Here's a link to my only deer pic.

http://www.handgunhunt.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=8534&ppuser=1663

That's fantastic. I remember (personally) when the thought of shooting a doe wasn't very exciting, it was more of a "yeah, I'm into herd management too". Bows and handguns completely changed that outlook. I still love long guns but rarely pick one up aside from the AR when we are dealing with a hog problem.

Does are easier to kill because there are lots more of them than bucks and most are not picky about which one they shoot. But single out a mature doe and hunt her exclusively like you do bucks and see the difference.If you ever let her catch your scent, miss her, or let her see you in a tree she will hunt you.

Truth spoken here. I've had does around my stand that I had to kill before I could even think to look for good antlers because their objective was to bust me every time I looked that way. And you're right, they are as smart as a mature buck. If not more so.

True, my son and I have been busted by the same old doe twice this year while we were trying to pass her waiting on a good buck. I guess we are going to have to take her out first to get a chance at the bucks.

Six sleeps until it's go time. I'll have a full 6 weeks to make it happen. Worse than a 7 year old waiting on Christmas.

Our modern season opens Sat.at o dark thirty.Checked mommas 6.5 Sweede out today,she's got no reason to miss now.My.45 Colt and .35 Rem are good to go so I got no reason to miss either.Luck to all and be safe.

Made the hammer spring upgrade today on my SRH and it made a ton of difference. One stop at the range and it's Katie bar the door for the first shooter I see. Well, except for deciding which stand to sit....

But that's a good problem to have.

That's good news. Now fill a tag!!

Didnt make it to the doe hunt in AR but am leaving this afternoon for the lease. I will be trying my new G40 MOS on the first mature deer I see in range.

Wish everyone a great weekend and hunt

*Pistol envy

My camp house was totaled last summer so I'm driving back and forth a grueling 15 minutes this season. One more sleep and it's time to punch a tag. Hopefully I haven't missed out on our bonus doe tags.

Well I only saw 5 deer in 2.5 days. I killed a small doe with my new Glock. She was 40 steps from my stand quartering away. She mule kicked and took off I shot again. Heard her crash.
1st shot entered near back of rib cage and stopped in left front shoulder. The 2nd shot took out about two inches of her back. She made it about 10 yards.
I gotta be more careful and try to stay outta those shoulders with load Im shooting. HPR 180gr XTP

Congrats, and good shooting!