It didn't take me quite that long, but i feel your pain. I started when I was 12 and didn't see my first deer in the woods until I was 14! But i learned alot and when i was 15 I shot my first deer with a BP. It was a unicorn! He only had 1 horn. Then a week later to the day I shot a 7 point. It was my best buck for 11 years until I killed an 8 and then a 14 last season. I hunted public land in Bath Co. until 2 years ago. I still go up there but I am just thankfull to see a deer there. On the farm i hunt now i usually see at least 1 deer everyday im down there. Its almost like target shooting!