3 years ago my 12 year old son took his first deer with a shotgun. The excitement was incredible for both of us and I was glad to have him with me no matter what equipment he used.
Last year he fought "target panic" so bad he decided to shoot a compound instinctively throughout the hunting season. He was fortunate to take an incredible buck not far from our home in PA.
Determined to beat target panic and shoot a traditional bow he switched to left handed. He practiced proper form over and over careful not to over shoot or develop any bad habits....(we've all been there)
He also made a promise that the next deer he would shoot would be with his McCullough longbow. Determined right up until the last week of the season all he would carry to the woods was his longbow.
Well...patience, practice and determination paid off this weekend. He made a beautiful 12 yard shot on a doe as she snuck past his stand tucked into an evergreen 6 foot off the ground. She made the whole event more interesting by dying in the river, fortunately it was low tide.
For those of you who know my son, know he is a first class young man and that I'm very blessed. If he is the future of bowhunting along with those "Baker Boys" we are in good hands!