Hi Brad, I started shooting longbow several years ago in the spring. I worked very hard at it and by fall I felt that I was ready to hunt. I did take 3 deer with it that year. I started with a 50 pound bow and have continued to use it as my sole bow. I recently ordered a 42 pound bow as I really like to shoot and sometimes I can feel the 50 pound bow in my shoulder. I think the 42 pounder will be great for working on form and from what I have read here and experienced it should be good to go in the deer woods with very sharp two blades and well tuned arrows. You have a great deal of good advice to sort through in the posts above. You will work out what is ultimately right for you---right bow, right poundage, right arrow, your form, when you are ready to hunt... If you haven't purchased a bow yet you may want to check out Maddog bows. Good luck on your journey.