bows

[martinemyers]

does anybody here use bows? i have both a longbow and a crossbow. i much prefer using the longbow, it's much more challenging and feels more natural to use, more elegant. there are more places to shoot a bow when you live in the city, you can setup something in your backyard, you can't do that with a rifle (or if you did i suspect the police would be knocking at your door within 15 minutes). does anybody else prefer the bow over the rifle??

[Theyeti]

I've been shooting bows since I was a kid. Mostly if not all were long or recurve variety. Presently I own a Saxon longbow, a Palmer Takedown recurve, and a Stotler Gamegetter II hybrid longbow. All are 55# draw @ 29". My dad and I make are own arrows from Port Orford Cedar and I'm fond of Zwikey broadheads though I still have a few old Bear razorheads.

You are right about being able to practice in an urban or suburban enviroment. They don't make noise and you really don't need to be making shots over 30 yards, for practice. Unless you are into those vile and wicked 'compound' arrow throwing machines. Shooting is all about your sight picture and consistency of the draw. Ranged shots can be accomplished later and with more success with good disciplined technique.

Bow hunting is different from rifle hunting. Stand hunting, well you are likely to starve to death before a deer or elk gets close enough for a shot out here. Pre-season scouting and hunt area familiarity are the best keys to success for bow hunting where I live. I like both rifle and bow but I feel more visceral and closer to nature when hunting with a bow...