Well said rybohunter. I think shooting a bow is great fun, but it doesn't consume me year round. Actual hunting is what consumes me. My bow is a tool for my passion, not the passion itself. I usually only miss a hand full of days afield between October 1 and Jan 1. It's the hunting, not the shooting that is the powerful drug to me. I really don't think this makes me any less of a hunter than some of you that shoot year round. Could I keep up with you on the 3-D course? Probably, without too much trouble. Just not my thing I guess.

I do appreciate everyone's response to this - no one here is right or wrong, just the way we do things. It has made me think a little more about shooting year round. As someone said though, a live deer under you is a little different than the range. To me, nothing can mentally prepare you for that with exception to the real thing. I flat out know and have the utmost confidence in my ability to kill a deer with a bow. This is never in question.

BTW, this post may seem contrary to my name, so for those of you who may be wondering why an idiot like me with the name I have out here says he is good with his compound, here's the story.... I missed the same buck twice the first week of the season 3 days apart. Both shots were 16 yards, quartering away, clear shot. I named myself "badshotbob" to be reminded every day what can and will happen while deer hunting, no matter how good a shot you are. The first time I missed, a squirrel bounded over the downed tree the buck was standing along side a flash of a second before I released (kind of like locking your keys in your truck - the door is halfway shut when you realize it). As you may know, deer have lighting quick reflexes - he whirled to see what was coming over the tree after him just as my arrow went through the now void kill zone where he stood upon release. It was actually rather funny though. He never knew I shot the squirrel scared him so bad. The second time I missed this buck he was in much the same position. This time..... yep, you got it - I MISSED. Upon release, he took two steps forward and to his right allowing the arrow to tickle his belly. That shot went through my head right up until the last day of the season. It happens - you don't know what those targets are going to do. Had I practiced all year, would that have still happened? Yes. I do believe it would have.