Getting to my bowhunting area

[Jeeper9]

Here are a few pics of getting to my bowhunting area today. I know it 'aint' rock crawlin, but the mud sure is fun! (Very warm weather for Christmas Eve in Ottawa)

Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holidays everyone.



I must be already in the bush in this pic!

[johncub]

I prefer mud to rock crawling any day of the week.

Great pictures of the mud, makes me wish I lived in Ontario!

[Jeeper9]

I agree johncub. I prefer mud to rock crawling probably because (a) I've never lifted one of my previous jeeps more than 3" and (b) it's easier to wash off the damage than pound it out! More importantly, my "offroading" is really linked to fall and spring hunting and I really don't know of any rock crawling trails in this area. Because I've never done any serious rock crawling, I can only imagine the amount of sheet metal damage that I would do as a novice crawler!!

I love taking the jeep offroad. But, I love jeeps so much, I will probably just be content to drive it around the nursing home parking lot when I'm 95.

[wilcav]

Not to hijack but I have always been interested in bow hunting. Is there a big difference between then say the $199 compound bow vs. the $499 compound bow?

[Jeeper9]

Wilcav - Yes, there is a big difference. As in most things, you get what you pay for. I've been bowhunting for 25 years, so I usually buy high quality gear now. Having said that, however, if one is just starting out, and you don't know if you're going to like it, it doesn't make sense to spend a lot of money on equipment initially. A couple of the things that are really important in buying a new bow are (a) speed and (b) quietness. Typically, the more expensive bows will be very, very quiet when an arrow is released.

Here is a site in the U.S. that I buy a lot of my hunting gear from (there are several places in Canada, but I've had such great service from Cabela's that I keep going back to them). Let me know if you get into bowhunting. It's a lot of fun if (a) you love being outdoors and (b) you can live with a lot lower success rate than with a rifle.

www.cabelas.com

[wilcav]

Thanks for the info. We have a buge Bass Pro Shop in southern Indiana and I have been contemplating getting a bow for months now. I have a buddy who has bunch of land in Mississippi that gets over run with deer. I have thought about getting a .270 and a scope but the challlenge of bow hunting seems a little more appealing. I will probably have a few more questions for you in the coming months about it. What do you think about crossbows? I never really hear about anyone using it but they look cool.

[johncub]

Indiana
Crossbows legal only in late archery season and only for antler less deer.
www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/huntguide1/hunt.htm

Mississippi
Crossbows legal for handicapped hunters with permit and hunters 65 and older.
www.mdwfp.com/

All state laws:
www.crossbowhunting.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=1

[wv4x4]

I finished up my season a few weeks ago in PA. My freezer is full and im tired of butchering.

[Jeeper9]

Wilcav

In the past, I was not overly favourable toward the crossbow. But, one guy I know uses one because he has a bad shoulder and is unable to draw a compound bow set at a reasonable weight for big game. Because crossbows allow people to keep hunting as they get older, or if they have some sort of handicap, I have changed my tune and am now completely in favour of them. And, I have to admit, they do look kinda neat, although it's hard to beat the beauty of a recurve bow or even a good compound bow.

johncub

I'm not sure about other Provinces, but here in Ontario the crossbow is allowed during any archery-only season (which in my area goes from October 15 until December 31)

WV4x4

Nice harvest! Very nice!!

[wilcav]

Yeah, the more I am looking into it, the crossbow does seem like it is meant for handicapped bow hunters. I think I will start looking into it hard come this springs and practice through the summer until fall. Tyring to convince the wife that with the state of world today it is necessary that I learn how to live off the land so we are prepared when the economic machine comes crumbling down.

Nice kill by the way. Few things look tougher than the back of an LJ splattered with blood.