I started hunting when I was 12 and no one in my family hunted. My mom wouldn't let me have a gun so bow was my only option. I had to learn everything by trial and error. I bow hunted for 5 years before I gun hunted. It took me a long time to get to the point I am at now. I kind of envy everyone that is starting now because of all resources you have that make the learning curve shorter. On the flip side though I wouldn't trade in all those tough years of screwing stuff up for anything. When I was a kid I couldn't wait until I could get a gun and join the orange army for gun season. Now I have lots of guns that sit in the case and collect dust, my bow is my best friend again.