Quote Ernie: What part of Wyoming?
Probably the part that has antelope. LOL MHO
Really good points by Ken and shortrange!
Ernie, it is neat that you actually did bow hunt, quote: "I enjoy up close and personal sometimes, using bow.." OK, so... did you ever get an antelope or deer or ? with a bow? If so, pics?
Sorry, just have to ask since you push the long range shooting/hunting part so obsessively.
JMHO
runngun,
Sometimes you remind me of a "doubting Thomas."
2 years ago I used a FA 454 for both mule deer and antelope. Both one-shot kills and both were under 65 yards.
That same fall I used my old Pearson Flame (had it since the early 90's) compound bow for antelope too. I had always shot fingers in the past (Yes, killed a whitetail buck shooting instinctive (three fingers under) but updated and went to a release and sights.
Friends who taught me to shoot a bow were fierce competitors in 3-D matches, and had me learn instinctive first, so I would have a back up if something went down in the field. That is exactly what happened on that whitetail hunt, and I still got my buck.
At the same time, I went to Carbon fiber arrows. I practiced through the summer before with one week shooting daily while in a camp in SW Oklahoma practicing out to 50 yards.
I like to hunt the ways I want to hunt, so I decided I would spot-n-stalk with my bow for antelope.
This is more challenging, than stand or pit hunting where you set up by a water hole, but it is what I wanted to do.
I had my sights set on one specific buck in the Oriva Hills area west of town. Four times I was able to stalk on this buck from 30-35 yards, but did not have time to get a shot off. On a another time I got up on him at 45 yards and let one fly and hit him right on the shoulder pocket. Of course, it did not penetrate enough, but I could see exactly where I hit. Later that day I called Steve (sscoyote) and told him what happened.
For some time now, I use the shoulder area for part of the kill zone with revolvers and SP's, and wrongly continued to think that way on that shot. If I had aimed correctly, He would have been down as elevation was spot on. I used my Swaro LRF to determine range.
I did not kill that buck with my bow, but on the opening day of gun season, he fell to my MOA at around 250 yards. It wasn't monster buck, but it is the one I wanted because of his unique horns.
I had fun hunting with a bow, but it is not what I enjoy most. I had other people ask me why I didn't stand hunt, which greatly improves your odds of getting a easier shot and more shot opportunities. I hunted the way I wanted to hunt.
I didn't use my bow last year at all for game or a revolver for that matter (but I did use a rifle for one antelope buck though).
Part of why I don't use a bow or revolver as much simply comes down to a matter of time and tags.
Second is, I enjoy my single-shot SP's more.
I also handle iron-sighted semi-auto's reasonably well when engaging multiple targets, under physical duress and time in a competition (Just ask my partner or the RO's at I.T.R.C.).
You might ask why don't I do more of that type of shooting?
Answer remains the same, matter of time, and I enjoy my single-shot SP's more.
