Welcome.... A lot of others have already given excellent advice. So, I'd like to add a little of my own, if I could.

I set my bow sights to be anywhere from 10 yards to 40 yards. Normally in the offseason I slide the whole sight to be 20,30,40 yards (3 pin sights). But when hunting season comes around, I slide them back to be 10,20,30 yards. I don't trust myself to take a deer all the way out to 40 yards. Until my confidence improves I'll use a maximum of 30 yards when hunting.

I have only been shooting a bow for 4 years. So as a "seasoned rookie" I can tell you straight up front: SHOOTING A TARGET AND SHOOTING A DEER ARE NIGHT AND DAY!!! [&:]

I have ripped fletchings and busted nocks at 10,15,20 yards before when shooting into my Block target. The accuracy is there and the confidence is there....

....but when it came time to put the skills to the test, I blew it big time. [&o] I had a beautiful 8 pointer come in behind me (another hunter bumped him out of the heavy thickets). I heard a lot of commotion and saw a brown streak leap over the trail nearby over my left shoulder. I froze right there, then calmly slowly turned around to see what it is. I looked down on this gorgeous 8 pointer from 20 yards away. He never knew I was there. Instantly my heart shot up to 280/120 blood pressure and I broke out in a sweat. I mean, who was more startled, me or the buck? But I waited for him to settle down and lower his head to sniff the ground for danger. Once he did that, I drew back. But once I stood there at full draw, I got all "freaky" and was shaking like a leaf because I saw the size of the tines on the antlers. I hardly could control my breathing, the thumping of my heartbeat, and my racing adrenline and succummed to "Buck Fever". Long story short, I tried my best to take the 8 pointer, and ended up sailing the arrow right over his back. Either he jumped the string (he crouched down likea cat ready to spring) the split second I hit the release, or I just flat out blew it and got so off on my bow shooting form, that I cleanly missed him at 20 yards.

I still see this 8 pointer in my dreams too. There is NOTHING in the world that could giveme the heart pounding adrenline rush like bowhunting. Having a beautiful buck in your sight pins and launching an arrow is the ultimate of all hunting experiences. You just have to learn to control your emotions and concentrate. That's where the skill and experience comes into play.

You will find yourself so hooked on bowhunting that you find yourself reading all sorts of articles and practicing almost everyday. It's an incredible experience!

Where are you hutning in CA? I used to live there and I might be able to give you some landowner names for permission slips.

just wanted to add my welcome....you'll LOVE bowhuntin'...it's a whole new world...best of luck to you.

Everybody-

Really appreciate all of the information! I have learned so much in so little time just by reading the forum! Great forum!

Anyways,I am located in Healdsburg, Sonoma County, CA. Pretty open land. Any property owners/ contacts for hunting grounds would be greatly appreciated.

I am currently going to school at Fresno State, so any locations in this area would be cool as well (I hear that the King City area has some awesome hogs!??)

Thanks All,

Dan Rotlisberger