ChrisH,

I jsut bought a Diamond Ice 3 weeks ago. Have yet to take it out for a spin or even sight it in. I need to start shooting every evening but that is less for target practice and more for getting the shooting muscles and formin shape. Shooting a bow is really not that difficult. I think it only constitutes mabye 10% of bow hunting. Location, knowing the wind, scent control and silence are all more important to getting close to a big buck. Without those in your favor you culd be shooting a $4,000 rig and never get a shot off.

So practice every evening. From an elevated location if you will be in a treestand. I also like to take a Sharpie and put a little tick mark on a fletching whenever I get a bulls eye. Then when I go in the field I'm sure to take the arrows I have shot the best.

I don't think you need months of practice but it wouldn't hurt. You also need to be careful not to overdo it. SHooting an arrow into a center target at 35 yards and in should be a no-brainer. Shooting beyond that could be a risky shot (at least in my case). I know my limits and would NEVER risk wounding a huge buck just to get a shot.

FYI, my first year bow hunting I took a 141 inch 4 by 10. If you can keep quiet, hunt a good area, stay scent free (not scent covered), be comfortable with a 35 yeard shot then all that is left is to conquer Buck Fever, which is the one great unkown everytime you hunt. And the main reason we head to the woods every October.

Good Luck.