RE: how many years
It only took one year. I started when I was 14 years old. I was shooting a Martin Jaguar. That year I took a mule deer doe. and a cow elk.
Having never hunted whitetail before. When I got stationed in Michigan I was excited! My first season I did not shoot a deer. I could have but chose to pass on immature deer. Last season I took my first Whitetail. a 100" 4x4!