RE: how many years
It took me about 90 minutes worth of bowhunting to stick my first deer. On the next three hunts, I scored on two more deer and a hog. I'd had four hunts totaling less than 10 hours in the woods and had four animals down to show for it. It was more than enough to totally hook me on bow hunting.
That said... my ability as a hunter (or lack there of) had next to nothing to do with my success. I was hunting a target rich environment on management doe and hog hunts. The property's caretaker told me exactly where to go and what to look for. All I did was follow directions, hold still and make the shot.