Your first bowhunt and you saw a monster 12 point. You already won, man!!! You just don't know how lucky you are. I'd be smiling and thanking God for that great hunt you just had.

Which way was the wind blowing? Maybe he just winded you. That's part of the game.

Stick with it. If you pay your dues the rewards are SO much greater than gun hunting. I've done both and it's no contest. I'm the only one in my group that carries my bow out with hunters orange on opening day of rifle season. Sure I've missed opportunities at bucks that were a little too far for a bow. But the way I see it everybody else is missing the opportunity to do something really special - take a deer with a bow and arrow.