I have done everything Rob/Pa Bowyer said and agree with it and then some. I got into 3-D probably like everyone else, to improve my shooting and hunting ability. Pretty soon you get caught up in the competition and you are hooked. If you try a few, it will be very enlightening. I would recommend that you use a range finder for the first few to save on arrows. After you get a feel for the distances on different size animals and conditions, try it without the rangefinder. That is more like real hunting. Used properly 3-D is one of the best things you can do in preparation for hunting season. I give 3-D credit for my one Pope and Young deer taken in 1993. I still shoot one or two during the year and try to get in a couple just before the season opens. We are very lucky out here in Arizona. There is a shoot somewhere almost every weekend.