How long did it take?
 

Just curious...How long afer you started bowhunting did it take for you to harvest your first buck? I am new to the sport this season (I have gun hunted before) and was just curious...

RE: How long did it take?
 

Got shut out my first year and a half...the first one is sweet though. Good luck to ya!

RE: How long did it take?
 

Got 2 my first year..... I believe I was 16. My standards werent high then. I think one was a fork, the other a 6. Only been one year I didnt harvest one. I had many opportunites that year but passed up dozens of bucks. I guess a lot depends on your hunting area. We have a ton of deer here in the upper peninsula of MI but they arent bruisers that you would find in other states. A huge buck here is 130 class.

RE: How long did it take?
 

first year, but i went through like 2 dozen arrows...... i remember my first bow kill like it was yesterday. It was a big fat doe by her self and i was sitting in a creek bed with my bow in hand and here she come about 40yds away, i drew back and let her fly..............it dropped right beneath her belly!! She just looked down and sniffed my arrow!!! So i knocked another one and aimed a lil higher, and WHACK...........hit her hard and good behind the foreleg, she dropped right behind me when she ran. Great hunt for a doe!

RE: How long did it take?
 

My first kill was a buck, I hunted 1 season before that and missed 2 bucks.

RE: How long did it take?
 

Doe the first year, buck the second.

RE: How long did it take?
 

Second year and counting for me, hopefully i atleast get an opportunity for a shot this year.

RE: How long did it take?
 

I didn't get mine until my third year but it was a doozy. My first two years I shot does early. I could only shoot 1 deer a year and I didn't matter to me if it was a buck or a doe. Brown was down back then:)

RE: How long did it take?
 

It took two seasons for me. I had several misses those first two years, it really drove home the need to practice,practice,practice.

RE: How long did it take?
 

My third season I arrowed a button. That was my first bowkill and one I'll never forget. Ever since then I've one gone one year where I didn't shoot anything and the bucks have come every year for the past 5. Multiple does in most years too.

RE: How long did it take?
 

Coming up on my 3rd season, and I STILL haven't gotten a buck or doe! [:o]:([&o][:-]

Butch A.

RE: How long did it take?
 

My 1st year, the season started 7 Sept 92. On the 17th of Sept 92, I arrowed my 1st deer, a little spike in velvet.

RE: How long did it take?
 

I have been bow hunting for 10 years in NJ now and can honestly state that i have never dropped a buck during bow season. In NJ we have to take a doe first before we can obtain the rights to harvest a buck. I have taken multiple does during bow season, but never fortunate to get a shot off at a decent buck. Nailed a few bucks during firearms season.

Heck, my time will come and until then I simply enjoy being away from work and in the woods to enjoy nature. If God pushes a doe my way, so be it. A deer is a deer.

RE: How long did it take?
 

Thanks for the stories... Hopefully I'll get a good shot this year. I have been shooting for a month now and can hit sub-1-inch groups at 15 yards, 2-3-inch groups at 25 yards and about 4-inch groups at 35 yards with field points. I start practicing with broadheads this weekend, after my shoulder "cures."

RE: How long did it take?
 

I shot my first deer with a bow on the second weekend when I was 12 (legal age), it was a button buck that I shot from 16 yards, made a terrible shot, but severed an artery in the hind leg, and crushed the main bone with my 100 grain muzzy... I have learned since then how to shoot, and have hit 3 bucks that we surprisingly havent found... I have three blood soaked arrows to prove it

I also hit a nice doe that we found a ways away 3 weeks later...

You may think we cant track, and I cant really defend that based on this evidence, but we can follow blood till it runs out and then it gets tough...

New bow and all new equiptment this year, my expectations are higher

RE: How long did it take?
 

Went with a buddy who showed me what it was all about in fall of 2002. Obviously i liked it as i bought an 02 legacy on sale at the end of that season. Started buying accessories as the paychecks would allow over the winter and spring and finally shot it late spring of 2003 and got its first kills on july 1st(Canada Day)....gophers, lots of em.

I practiced real hard all summer and filled all four of my deer tags that fall, ending with a 5x4 whitetail buck nov 24/03 with a 19" inside spread. First deer not a great shot but recovered, the next three i hit in the heart in the 25-35 yrd range. I live in a perdy good area for deer mind you, but i worked my ass off trying to get the shooting part sorted in time(to learn the bow etc.) and spent most everyday for 3 months straight hunting the deer. I was very determined to say the least.

It can be done pretty quick with todays equipment and help(forums etc.) but most of the hard work is getting permission in the right spots etc. and putting your time in.(the actual hunting imo)

B

RE: How long did it take?
 

I was into my 3rd season before I got my first buck with a bow. I had one come in my first year, late into December, temps were below 0 and I was so cold I couldn't get my bow back. He stood there rubbing a tree 10 yards in front of me for 10 minutes and try as I might, I just couldn't get it back. It sucked at the time, but I look back now and just laugh about it.


After the first one, it's alllll downhill from there.

RE: How long did it take?
 

I was able to harvest a 7 pointer my first year. I used to gun hunt but I would hardly see anything. I think it was just that I would go to deer camp every year and I could not scout areas out. But I got out of the military and borrowed my buddys bow, scouted and tagged a deer! I was hooked on the bows. Its amazing what you see when you scout and spend time out in your stands. My success rate and knowledge is getting better each year.

RE: How long did it take?
 

The first time I hunted was with my cousin. I went out with him and another friend second season during shotgun (sorry wrong forum). We over slept because of too much drinking the night before :D We got out there. We were eating jerkey and drinking sodas. I was talking to my cousin when I noticed a deer behind him. We all got silent. the deer walked right in front of us as we were sitting on the ground. As the doe walked behind some brush he handed me the shotgun. All I could see looking through the scope was brown. I took the shot. The doe fell over backwards. We waited there for like an infinity!! That was my first kill. We were there for like 15-20 minutes before taking the shot ;) That really ruined me for the next few years!!

I have yet to get my first bow kill!! Even though I have greatly enjoyed the hunt :D

Steve

RE: How long did it take?
 

Been hunting two years and fortunate enough to harvest a buck each year. first deer a half racker with two points and a small button of a brow tine...second deer last year a decent 8 with about 15 inch inside spread. Hoping to do better this year....I've got one spotted....

RE: How long did it take?
 

My first kill was a buck (a fork) and it came about 1 month into my first season.

RE: How long did it take?
 

I did not get my first deer untill the second season. But on opening day of the second season i took 2 doe`s back to back!!!!;)

RE: How long did it take?
 

It took me about 5 years to nail a buck in NJ but that is b/c I missed about 2. With time and practice, I now pass on smaller bucks each season and sometimes never shoot a buck if the opportunity for a decent buck is not there. I think bowhunting makes one a much better hunter and I have seen many more deer and bigger bucks during bow. I have also seen deer mating/making rubs and scrapes and just more natural behavior which makes for a more enjoyable time.'

Good luck!


Bob

RE: How long did it take?
 

This will be my second year hunting. My first year I was unable to get a deer into bowrange. This year I hope is much different. Last year was actually bad luck.

I had heard something across this draw and I went to get my binoculars out of my pack. As I started to put them over my head I hear footsteps coming from my back. I turn around frozen with my hands over my head and see an 8 pt. staring at my stand. To make this story short(er) he trotted away after I had the binocular strap stuck in my cap. I wont be bustin out the binocs this year unless I must.

RE: How long did it take?
 

This will be my first bow hunting season also. I am very anxious to get out there. I may even have a case of the "fever". I have been gathering as much information as I can take in.

I've been firearm hunting for 27 yrs.

Can't wait till the 3rd week in October!

RE: How long did it take?
 

I could have shot my first buck 10 minutes into legal shooting light my very first bowhunt when I was 13yrs old. I shot right over a nice bucks back at only 10 yards.:(
I didn't wind up taking my first buck until 4yrs later at age 17.
It's not easy killing a buck sitting on tree limbs and hiding in blowdowns when your a kid.;)

RE: How long did it take?
 

Still waiting........................................... ............................................. On my 3rd season now. If I don't get one I'll just pack up my bow (start praticing again) and wait until next year comes around lol I enjoy being out in nature tooooooo much to quit. Sure I can't wait to take down a monster buck. But until I get a proper clean shot I'll be patient, keep praticing, and enjoy nature at it's most beautiful.:D

RE: How long did it take?
 

Second year!

RE: How long did it take?
 

I shot a seven point in my third season, and have shot at least one every year since.

RE: How long did it take?
 

My first bow kill was many years ago when Ohio only allowed one deer of choice.I had applied for the extra doe tag but was not lucky that year.I held out for a buck untill Thanksgiving day.(Our gun season always opens the following Monday.)I stalked a brush covered field and jumped a doe.I was able to get a heart shot on her at 12 yards.I've been fortunate to have killed deer every year with my bow since,but the first is special!!!

RE: How long did it take?
 

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.

RE: How long did it take?
 

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! :D

RE: How long did it take?
 

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".

RE: How long did it take?
 

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!