What a great thread!
I started myself on bowhunting. I grew up with all the men in the family hunting but I guess since I was a girl they never thought of me being interested so they never took me along. Way back I did take the hunters safety course but getting married and all kept me from ever going into the woods. When we moved to the property we're on now my uncle asked if he could hunt here. We welcomed him and one day while he was here he said I could tag along. I didn't even have a license or a gun - so the night before we went out and I got my license and a new rifle. Of course I only had a buck tag so no buck came along. But it was exciting and I knew I was hooked. The next year I was watching bowhunting on the Outdoor Channel and I thought that I might like to try it. Went out and found a bow that fit me and practiced as much as I could before the season started in two weeks. I've read a lot of books and magazines to teach myself as much as I could. I love to be in the woods so bowhunting just gave me another excuse to be out there. There's nothing like the peace and quiet. It is much better than gunhunting. You're up close and personal - the deer aren't spooked yet. It's just better. Plus, anybody can shoot a gun, but it takes skill to shoot the bow and to make the shots count.