Is It Ever Worth it to Bowhunt During Gun Season?
For a dedicated few the answer is yes, particularly on public lands that are closed to gun hunting
Most bowhunters welcome the extended range capability of a rifle, shotgun, or muzzleloader once gun season is open. We certainly encourage all hunters to head afield and enjoy deer hunting with the legal equipment of their choice. But a dedicated few live for the close-range thrill of bowhunting, and those hunters continue to continue to carry their archery equipment right on through gun season, provided it’s allowed by law.
Though there’s certainly no advantage to bowhunting if you’re allowed to carry a gun, gun season can nonetheless can be a great time to punch tags with a bow if that’s your goal. If you’re ready to commit to bringing your bow to a gun fight, here are a handful of things to consider.
SAFETY FIRST
There isn’t a buck in the woods that’s worth risking human safety, so common sense and hunting regulations must govern certain decisions. First, most states require bowhunters who are hunting during firearms seasons to wear at least the minimum blaze-orange requirement listed in the hunting regs. That’s for safety, so other hunters can easily identify you.
Don’t cut corners, even if you’re hunting on private land where no one else should be. Also, as much as we enjoy hunting over decoys, leave them at home during gun season. Anything that looks like a deer is subject to landing in another hunter’s scope. Law-enforcement stings conducted with decoys prove that some poachers will shoot without clearly identifying their target first. Hauling a decoy to or from your stand could get another hunter’s attention, potentially putting you in harm’s way.
CHOOSE A BOW STAND, NOT A GUN STAND
Naturally, a firearm’s extended range influences hunters to sit in spots with excellent visibility over large areas. While you might see plenty of deer passing through in places like that, the odds of having one, especially a mature buck, walk within bow range are unlikely. Bowhunters are usually smart to pivot and continue hunting in tighter quarters. These areas funnel deer movement naturally, same as during the rest of the year, but gunfire and human pressure also drives deer to secluded areas with thick cover.
During gun season, bowhunters should consider hunting the fringes of thickets and bedding areas to catch deer at dawn as they flee pressure. Timbered funnels are another good bet. Sometimes deer travel across wide-open fields, but more often they move through routes with better cover, and that’s particularly true of mature animals. Place your stand where terrain naturally funnels deer through a tight area for an archery-close encounter.
HUNT ARCHERY-ONLY PROPERTIES
This is one area where bowhunters can actually have a decisive advantage during gun season. Many states have WMAs, wildlife refuges, and other types of public parcels where firearm hunting is prohibited, but bowhunting is allowed. Those places can go virtually untouched during gun season, since most other hunters will be toting firearms on open properties nearby. Not only are the deer on those public areas less pressured, but the surrounding hunting pressure can also push more animals into the archery-only “safe haven.” It’s possible to suddenly find yourself with hundreds or even thousands of public acres all to yourself, provided you don’t mind bowhunting.
Private properties that are tightly managed can offer similar opportunities. If you own or lease land and don’t care too much about gun hunting, consider keeping it an archery-only property. The “rule” can create an extra challenge but also extraordinary hunting over the long haul, as deer will feel safe there when surrounded by hunting pressure elsewhere.
SIT ALL DAY
During bow season, the woods are much quieter than in gun season. Most bowhunters hunt from stationary setups, and there are generally fewer people in the woods. But gun season often finds hunters zooming all over on ATVs and UTVs, and people are rapidly filling their tags and retrieving deer from the woods. In some regions, anxious hunters begin doing deer drives.
This stir can put a big buck on its feet at any time. Plus, many firearms seasons land during the rut, and deer don’t stop breeding just because the hunting pressure is heavy. Hang tight for as long as you can stand it. Deer are liable to move at any time, and you could go from a blank scene to a big buck on the receiving end of your Wasp broadhead in the blink of an eye.
Tip the Odds in Your Favor: Wasp’s 3 Best Broadheads for Every Bowhunter
Solitude, peace, and quiet are some of bowhunting’s finer aspects. You won’t always get that while bowhunting during a firearms season, but remember that the extra commotion can work to your advantage. Stay persistent and hunt smart. That patience could reward you with the archery buck you’ve been trying for all season long, even when guns are cracking in the distance.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: THE WASP Z-FORCE
Rear-deploying mechanical broadheads have a dedicated following among some bowhunters, and the three-blade Wasp Z-Force is one of the toughest models on the market. The Z-Force has a solid steel ferule and chisel tip to ensure deep penetration, while the unique ball-bearing system ensures perfect blade deployment every time, with a devastating 1 5/8-inch cutting diameter. The Z-Force is available in 100-grain packages of three for $46.
— Story by Wasp Archery Staff; bowhunter image by John Hafner
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