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The Compound Bow

The compound bow has been a real boost to authentic hunting. The growing popularity of bow-hunting deer may have come partially from the perceived advantages of this bow.

It is refreshing to see bow-hunting increase in popularity...many people seem to be looking for what is easy, automatic, comfortable, convenient... Bow-hunting requires a commitment to a higher level of skill and dedication in hunting; the compound scores well.

All bows are somewhat primitive.

Still, hunting with a bow can offer some advantages over gun hunting.
The bow-season is much longer in many places. While the gun season is counted in days, the bow season is often several months long.

The very limited range and need to draw a bow before shooting it, makes a bow safer. Some landowners may grant permission to hunt with a bow only. The bow makes very little noise which is sometimes an advantage. Some bow-hunters say taking any deer with a bow is reward enough.

While a compound is little awkward, heavy, and noisy in comparison; it offers some advantages over a traditional bow.

The advertising claims have probably helped to fuel the interest in these bows, and in bow-hunting. The fact that many hunters consider them to be a modern device has helped their popularity.

These bows have been evolving for some time, but will continue to get better. Many people, including bow-hunters, like to think they are on the cutting edge :-)

The top compound bows can achieve arrow velocities which are sometimes twice that of ordinary traditional bows . Impressive, remembering that traditional bows (stick bow, long bow, recurved bow) have been used to take most every animal that walks, and many that swim, or fly.

With their improved arrow speed, and the right arrow, these bows can kill anything on the planet. The increased speed also means the arrow will drop a little less.

But! Even from the fastest bow
an arrow drops quickly.

The fastest bows arrow's speed is only about the speed of a BB from and ordinary BB gun. A .22 rim-fire, even some pellet guns shoot three to four times faster. The arrow kills by cutting, not velocity, or impact.

The compound bow's "let-off" is an advantage in that it allows the shooter to hold considerably less draw weight than a similar traditional bow.

This is one reason for the popularity of sights on compound bows. But, even with the "let-off", no bow can be held on target for very long; the bow soon feels heavy, and the arm starts to shake.

Sights are slower, require a little more time to line up, but may be more reliably accurate for most shooters. Hunters, especially rifle hunters, are comfortable with sights.

Sights; "adjusted for a specific target distance", may allow even an inexperienced shooter to shoot accurately at that distance. Learning to use sights may be easier than traditional instinctive shooting.

The popularity of hunting from an elevated position, or deer stand has probably added to the popularity of bow-hunting. Compound bows seem especially well suited to hunting from an elevated deer stand.

Having a position above the normal sight
of a deer allows for more movement,
such as drawing a bow.

The "rainbow like flight" of any arrow necessitates the archer knowing ranges, especially if he is using sights. Hunting from a fixed position allows the smart hunter to learn (even measure) the ranges to various spots around his stand and plan for a shot. He can even plan which sight pin he'll use for various spots around the stand.

The fixed position of a stand sometimes gives the compound shooter the time he needs. The faster arrow speed, sights, and known ranges may allow a good archer with a compound bow to shoot at greater distances. Still, most archery deer are taken within 20 yards; 40 yards or more is often considered extreme bow range.

Most archery hunters are skilled hunters.
The short range bow forces them to get close
and to learn all they can about deer.

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