I started when I was old enough to pull back a 50lb bow. I think I was 14. I didn't get one the first year, and the second year I missed two. My third year I missed 3 more. My fourth year, I finally got things strait and managed to arrow a nice 3 point and a doe the following week. I have shot several since then, and love to bow hunt better than anything else.

My first year with archery gear yielded only glimpses of deer... I knew next to nothing about scent and wind issues back then. Rifle hunting had me spoiled and I paid the price not knowing what "hunting" really meant.

My second year was much different. After tons of archery related reading, I managed to call in a mature doe from around 100 yards and arrowed her at 17 yards. My first buck came later that same season with the bow... a nice little forked horn with big Y's at 26 yards. I've been fortunate to fill both PA tags with the bow since then... praying for a monster this season... to help team 12!

Still waiting for the first buck. I took a doe my first year bowhunting, '01 I think. I had to take last year off to build my house. This will be my third hunting season and I've been putting in a lot of time shooting and scouting so hopefully it will be "my year".

I shot my first deer, a doe, 15 minutes into legal shooting time of the first time I ever bow hunted deer. It wasn't until 5 years and several doe later that I finally connnected with my first buck which scored 126PY. My goal had been I wanted my first buck to be PY and I made it by one inch. The very next year I shot a buck that scored 172 and have shot 4 more in between those two. As far as how long it "could" have taken me or "could" take you is dependent on how selective you want to be. Those 1.5 year old bucks are dumb as heck and easy to get close to...a mature doe is harder to kill than one of those young fellas. Best of luck to you!