I was a diehard bowhunter until a few years ago. Now I'm a diehard bowhunter on temporary leave. I'll get back into it for sure, but I want to switch from right-handed to left, and don't want to shoot anymore until I get new equipment.
My prefered method of hunting is with my birds (falconry), followed by muzzleloading (.54 flintlock fullstock), followed by archery (longbows and recurves). I hunt with a .270 too, but that's just "grocery shopping" in my eyes.
I've built a few bows, both self-bows and laminated bows. I prefer the self-bows, but have better luck with the laminated bows. I lose patience tillering the self-bows and usually wreck them. I've been making my own arrows and other equipment for as long as I remember. I even knap stone arrowheads (still can't compete with a caveman though...). I've built several muzzleloaders from basic parts and plans.
if you ain't got the "need" why do it.
Does that apply to everything? Do you need to post here? Need to play AH? Watch TV? Heat or cool your house? Make as much money as you do?
Is it ok to do anything without there being a need?
Fact is, you're responsible for countless animal deaths just by being alive. Even if you don't eat meat. Animals don't die of old age in the wild. Death is a fact. Not good, not bad, just a fact. Death under normal circumstances is FAR from what we humans view as kind or humane in our idealistic bubble worlds. For that matter, death is not even a requirement for an animal to be eaten. It's often just a side-effect. Not that it will change your opinion of course. Some people want to hunt, and are fortunate enough to have that freedom. Some want to, but can't. Some prefer to pay others to do their killing.
MtnMan