depends on the shooter. i taught myself, with help from the internet and these boards within about a month-month and a half. but i have a buddy that started in late june and personally, i dont think he should be hunting. very inconsistant. i make his 20yd groups look bad from 50.

gotta put time and effort into it. not impossible to learn quickly...if you want to learn quickly your best bet is to get with a good coach and get instructions. alot goes into being a decintly good bow shooter. i cant tell you how many arrows i shoot a year. i cant count that high. any time i have a free minute im shooting.

i personally loved seeing how noone around here had archery targets out till just a few weeks ago. or the guys that say they are ready when they are barely hitting a target let alone shooting well.

not sure when your season starts, but most are starting soon and if i were in your shoes, id will till the 07 model bows go on sale, get a killer deal on one and practice for next year...but thats just me. i seem to be different from alot of people (around here not on these forums) and i like to be the best that i can. i shoot from snow out through the season till the season ends...when its cold and snowing i still shoot, just not as much..but from march on, im shooting alot. i owe it to the animals to beable to put my arrow where it'll kill them quick