A lot of people just don't know anything about archery, yet they have deeply ingrained feelings about it.. It is the old "Don't confuse me with facts, my mind is already made up" situation. You will not change any minds. I am the only archer at my deer camp and have suffered considerable "stuff" from some of the others. One of them took up the recurve bow for a short time. He got one shot opportunity, but the bottom limb bumped the edge of the stand. Of course, the deer ran away. He put the bow away and has never shot it again. That was back in the 70's. Ever since, he has had no appreciation for archery.

Oddly, from the conversations I have heard, it seems that more compound shooters talk of sticking but not finding deer than trad shooters. Surprisingly, a lot of rifle hunters seem to have this issue. Maybe trad guys are more tight lipped, but I don't think so. So, don't get discouraged. Find a place that accepts you and have fun. There are resources available. After all, in course of human history, many more game animals have been taken with a trad bow than anything else.

I wouldn't say your experience with "no bowhunting" is unique but I haven't heard this since the 80's. Bowhunting is so popular now and accepted as a humane way to take game. I am surprised you were turned down. There is the public land option. Give it a shot. Frank

Thanks for the suggestions and I may check out both places at some time, The intent of my post was to see if anyone else has experienced this around the Country and the "why" behind it.

I owned an exotic ranch and guided in the USA and RSA for a living for roughly 24 years. I've never turned away bow hunters. My clients could use anything legal and appropriate with few exceptions. I set up plenty of tree-stands and ground blinds n likely spots over the years. In RSA we typically build a permanent Hide near water for bow hunters. I've welcomed climbing stands where there were trees to support it. On a fenced in place the odds of recovering shot game are very high because there is a controlled environment. Its not 100% but its more than free-range where there is no limit to where a shot animal can go.

For personal hunting I always had my own property, lease or public land to utilize, some of which was in bow hunting only areas.

Some of the guides and outfitters I spoke to stated there is no bow hunting set-up. I get that, but I offered to bring a pop-up or climbing stand for the hunt and take my chances. Others said they are worried about wounding an animal - in my case specifically, a whitetail deer. Yet they have a full payment policy for wounded animals. I'm not clear why that's acceptable to them with a rifle or firearm but not a bow.

I still hunt worldwide for recreation and with my family. I do not hunt professionally anymore. On a rare occasion I will guide past clients still. I've never taken an animal with a traditional bow. I tried once for two-years with a recurve and when I finally got a shot things went bad. Back then without prolific information on internet and media I was completely winging it and looking back did not know what I was doing. This year I went bear hunting, bighorn sheep hunting and deer hunting (several times) and so far I am empty handed.

I own a little spot in the City where I can easily get a deer any day. The trouble is it is a little spot in the City. If the deer goes 500-yards it will be in Wal Mart parking lot. 200-yards and its on the front lawn of the Middle School. Just 50-yards and it could be in a City Park. About 850-yards to the golf course. Fortunately I have taken some great deer there but all with crossbow. The deer go down very quickly because the shot placement is precise, range is known and equipment is almost over-doing it. I have reservations about using my longbow because I can't afford to have a deer with an arrow sticking out of it wandering through the City. Since thousands of arrows of practice and increased confidence I may just go use the longbow and hope for the best. The shot is 20-yards, my bow is 48.5#, arrow is 560 grains with 225 gr of that up front including the insert and 2 blade Zwickey. It should pass through and get it done.

I'd really like to find the right bow hunt and wonder what everyone else is doing. Hunting on your own land? Texas is a big place and only two ranches were recommended. Maybe I have to go to AR or FL within the next few weeks.

I second London Oaks Ranch. There's also Lincoln Ranch. If you want a DIY Granger public land has a lot to offer. I've hunted all 3 places. Frank

I don’t know where you are located, but you should call Tim King at London Oaks Ranch. The ranch is 1200ac of beautiful Texas hill country between London, TX and Menard, TX. He is a trad bow hunter, and we have about 18 stands that are all set up with the traditional shooter in mind. it is a high fence ranch with a lot of other exotics too.

Bisch