I started bow hunting for deer in 1978. We had recurves and thought they were great and deadly accurate (Compared to Some Stick Bows). I remember my first tree stand was in the crotch of a tree with two 2x4s and a small piece of paneling for a platform, it was about 12" long, the tree was wobbly and I missed deer. We built a couple of other stands where we would see deer enter a huge field, they were not much better. There were no other bow hunters around in that area. There were many deer in that area of NY (Dutchess County) much more than where I live now in NC. I wish I could go back and hunt that 100 acre sanctuary again but it's all big houses now. That was a special place, I ran my first trap line there a few years before. I could walk there from the house.