Which is harder Bowhunting Whitetail or Muskie fishing

[GatorBaiter]

[GatorBaiter]

Didn't expect it to be this close, myself, I think Bow hunting Whitetail is easier. GatorBaiter:)

[Cast-n-blast]

Muskie hunting is the toughest sort of hunting out there today. I've hunted many animals, but to hunt the muskie reequires time that most people cannot afford to give up enough to even make a serious effort at it. I've been out hunting birds a lot this fall and have had to sacrifice a lot of muskie time to do it. Bird hunting especially and even deer hunting is easier if you ask me. Unless, you are a true trophy seeker and not interested in any of the other aspects of the pursuit that seem to make the trip all the more worthwhile.

[Steve Van Lieshout]

Getting a true trophy whitetail is much more difficult than getting a trophy muskie. With catch and release in muskie fishing there are more
and more trophies available. In whitetail hunting there are fewer everyday. Todate, catch and release for whitetail hunting has not shown to be very successful.

[tomyv]

Coyote hunting is by far the toughest. Bow hunting is a joke compared to the other two.

[Skyman]

I can manage a musky in the boat for about every four or five hours on the water. I'm lucky to get within bow range (30 yrds) of a deer every other week! Bowhunting is much harder for myself.

[john skarie]

I don't bow hunt, but the number of bowhunters I know that have shot a trophy (10 point or better) is far less than the number of muskie fishermen I know that have caught fish 50" or better.

JS

[fishgraf]

hmm tough one. im great at catch and release bowhunting. so far this year i shot 3 and only found 1. then again some guys muskie fishing kill 1 of every 3 fish they catch because they dont know how to release them. i think ill cast my vote for catching a muskie because i can get more then 1 in a day, which is very hard to do hunting.

[Smetana]

With stats like that I can see why bowhunting would be harder for you. Sounds to me like you need to get out of the tree and spend a little more time at the range.

Smetana

[jlong]

I guess it all depends on what you consider a "trophy". A 10 point buck is commonplace in Wisconsin yet is still considered a trophy in my book... whether it scores Pope&Young or Boone&Crocket doesn't matter.

Plus, catch and release (Quality Deer Management) with Whitetail hunting has really improved your chances at shooting a "trophy". Throw in the idea that in Wisconsin you can create your own pattern by BAITING... and your odds once again increase.

If we arbitrarily pick 50 inches as a "trophy" muskie..... I'd say without hesitation that it is MORE difficult to connect with a trophy muskie than a trophy whitetail.

jlong

[Da Bears]

Musky fishing is way harder. I have deer underneath me everytime I am out, but sure have a ##### of a time landing 'skies! I have deer heads on the wall, but no worthy musky is on my wall yet!

[Chadster]

You guys have got me revved up about this one...

Bottom line, it all depends on the quality of the resource that you have available to you!

I have been bow hunting for 22 years. Most of which was done on state land here in Michigan. The last seven years I have hunted private land. Each season I have spent approximately 40-50 hours in the stand, sometimes more, sometimes less. While hunting state land, I was only presented with a handful of quality shot opportunities. While hunting private land I had at least one shot opportunity per season where by I harvested 3 animals. In all of those years, the largest "trophy" I have had in bow range was and 8 point. A couple years ago, I did see 2 really nice bucks (150 + class deer). My point is, I have "put in my time" in the stand hunting many different properties without any trophy shot opportunities. I know quality land is available if you want to pay for it, which I refuse!

Now, as for muskie fishing...what a hoot! I just started this summer as some of you may know based on my previous posts. I have probably put in about 12 8-10 hour days on the water both trolling and casting on Lake St. Clair. Now I haven't caught my 50 incher YET, but I have caught a few "quality" fish. I have managed to boat 4 fish over 40" with my biggest being 43. I also was hooked up with a monster (upper 40's) for a couple minutes until she shook the hook boat side. I also boated a handful of fish between 19 and 36".

So, for me, bow hunting has proven to be much harder. I haven't killed a "trophy" bow hunting nor have I caught a "trophy" muskie fishing. But, I have caught more respectable fish in 1/2 of one season than I have killed respectable deer in 22 seasons. I think Lake St. Clair is a quality Muskie resource. Except for one piece of property I had the privilege to hunt, the land I have hunted has not been a quality resource.

Having access to a quality resource is part of what draws me to the outdoors. In addition, I guess for where I am at in life, catching a "trophy" muskie and having the choice to let it go is where I'm at. I love letting that trophy go! Don't get me wrong, I love to bow hunt deer and I also love my time in the woods, but I have elected not to bow hunt this year because I haven't been able to find a quality bow hunting resource in SE Michigan.

Chad Sandy
Farmington Hills, MI

[Jomusky]

Bow hunting is way harder for me. I can't stand being in the woods when I can be on the water. Last time I tried it three years ago I only made it a day and a half before I was on the lake. Thus I gave up bow hunting. Funny because I have been into Archery longer then Musky fishing and still shot league in the winter.

That's just how bad I have it!