My first year bowhunting when I was 12 years old. I'd been practicing with my dad all summer with my Darton MX-30 set at 45 pounds.Dad took me to his favorite treestand near "his Meadow" on State Land (Rifle River State Forest). He set me up and walked away, telling mehe'd come and get me after dark. Not 10 minutes after he walked away, I heard some crunching behind me.My heart wasjumping out of my chest. Finally I turned my head and looked. There was a doe about 20 yards behind me.She walkedright in front of me and I was shaking so bad my arrow fell off the rest. I put it back on and rushed a shot. I forgot everything I had practiced and grazed the top of her back.Not 20 minutes into my very first day bowhunting and I already MISSSED my first deer! I'll never forget that excitement that day. Missing that deer haunted me for the next 17 years. I had to waitmore 17 years to kill my first deer with a bow after that!