cpsniper i went 3 years till i killed my first buck with a bow, i say go ahead and break the ice, it will get easier to kill deer, and it is easier to pass on smaller deer, once your used to shooting a few. here i use bow season primarely for thinning out the does, i mean big bucks don't just walk right by my stand all the time, i have killed 3 "mounters" in 20 years of bow hunting, while i agree you wont kill big deer if you kill all the small ones, for whatever the reason, once you "break the ice" it becomes more natural to you, and just seeing those 2 young bucks will be satisfying enough, now i try to kill 3-7 does a season and if a buck comes by thats great, i will hunt a buck hard if i'm in a prime spot, with some activity, i get just as big a kick out of watchin the deer. if your hunting an area where big deer are the norm you may want to hold out, but i am just as proud of the first buck i killed (very small basket racked 6pt'er) with my bow as i was the day i killed him, you will forget a lot of things in your lifetime, but your first deer with a bow won't be one of them...

if you plan on hunting your whole lifetime, there will be plenty that you can let walk


HEY DEERARESAFE!!!!! Welcome to the forums, good luck to you this season also