If there's one question I get asked more than any other, it's "Which weapon is the best to use for deer hunting?" I wish I could give everyone a definitive answer, but there is no perfect weapon, because what you use is dependent largely on:

• Your hunting style

• Your tastes

• Your physical abilities

• What your friends use

However, I can tell you that you have three primary options: the rifle, and old standby for deer whitetail hunting; the hunting shotgun; and of course, the bow.

Remember when choosing the perfect weapon for you, that you should find something that you feel comfortable with, not necessarily the one that everyone else is using. Each weapon has its own attributes, and knowing their strengths and weaknesses will help yiou fill in the gaps to find what's best for you.

The Rifle

Favored by the majority of deer hunters, the rifle is a powerful choice because it's easy to use, has a deep range, and is powerful enough to bring down the strongest of bucks with a well-placed shot.

Most deer hunters begin with a rifle, even at young ages. Most young hunters at age 12 and above have all of the physical attributes necessary to handle an entry-level rifel with few difficulties.

But rifles are not without their disadvantages. With many models, for example, a bolt action model, you realistically only get one shot at your target. Miss once and with the noise of the rifle and the amount of time it takes you to chamber another round, and your prey has already scampered off.

The Hunting Shotgun

A shotgun is a relatively versatile weapon, although it has a short range of use. By switching up the shot, or pellet size and load used in your shells, you can adjust from using your hunting shotgun for short range, small game hunting, to short-to-moderate range big game hunting.

The shot gun carries a lot of firepower over short distances, but to take advantage of this, you generally need to use a larger gauge, like the 12 gauge. Because of this, shotguns are generally more difficult to handle for young or small-framed hunters.

The Bow

The compound bow is for the truly skilled hunter and requires patience, persistence, accuracy, and strength. When you draw that string back, you'll see very quickly that it's not quite as easy as experienced hunters make it look!

If you've already cut your teeth on hunting with rifles and shotguns, or want to get some extra hunting time in during archery season, try your hand at a compound bow.

When all is said and done, it's up to the hunter, not the weapon, to be successful. Put the best weapon in unsteady hands and you get no results. However, put any weapon in the hands of a skilled hunter and they will come up with the trophy.