I am planning a May 2009 Bear hunt in Alberta. My buddies are using their bows. I dont own one and havent shot one more then 10 times in my life. I typically hunt with a Rifle but I since they are hunting with bows I already know I will hear a ration ofcrap from them about hunting with a rifle especially if I get skunked or kill a lesser bear. Do you think its possible to get proficient enough in 11 months to hunt bear from a tree stand?

I am not opposed to spending the dough on a good bow and am willing to put in the time practicing (I go to the gun range 3-4 times per month, and could shoot a bow in my back yard) but I dont want to wound a bear or waste my money.