How long did it take you?

[PatriarchArcher]

This is my third year of hunting for whitetails. I am enjoying the learning process, but it can be frustrating because I haven't even got a shot yet. How long did it take you before you got your first one?

[Stumpkiller]

Five years of ground hunting.  


Six hours in a tree-stand.    

[ron w]

I replied to the first post......

[elknutz]

1st season, was on the ground.  Proof its better to be lucky than good sometimes.

[Last of the Breed]

2nd full season of trad, on the ground.  Put in a lot of hours.  Really depends on the type of property you are hunting.  Now I'm on public grounds and just seeing deer is a challenge.

[dirtguy]

This is my third year and I got my first and so far only shot a few weeks ago.  Seen plenty of deer, but getting a shot is another matter.

[Night Wing]

It took me two years to get my first deer, a doe. I was 14 years old  when I started bowhunting. When I arrowed the doe, I was 16 years old. Shot from a concealed ground blind.

[LostNation_Larry]

It took me 5 years and I didn't start until I was 39.  I missed a few those first 5 years and I kept saying "you can't keep getting closer forever without connecting sometime."  Yes, it is frustrating but it will happen.  If you are doing the right things then you will connect.

Make a point of enjoying the out of doors time.  Be thankful you can go hunting.  Watch the squirrels  (use them for target practice) and it will happen.

[imhntn]

Took me about 3-4 weeks of hunting my first season with a bow to get one.  I had friends though that had hunted for years without getting a deer so I may have just been lucky.  That was 28 or so years ago.

[ishoot4thrills]

It took me 3 seasons of trad hunting before I killed my first whitetail with one back in 1997. It was a young doe. Then, one week later, I killed my second whitetail, my first buck with trad.

[Coonbait]

Three frustrating years! When I finally took my first buck I felt like I won the lottery, but better!
GLENN

[Archer Fanatic]

It took me 3 years.

[Chris Sims]

Tried 9 years of frustration with 3 misses and one injured deer before I went back to wheels.  I still love shooting traditional and I still hunt with traditional bows, but my confidence was so shaken 4 years ago that I have not dedicated myself to it completely again.  I am getting there though and have hunted more with a traditional bow this year than in the past 4.  Don't give up I haven't.  I basically look at my compound as a rifle and use it in certain situations.

[OutbackMan]

I may also be one of the lucky ones...this was my first year w/a trad bow and I put a doe down...she was the first deer I ever shot at and only the third animal (I smacked a red fox w/the shaft of my arrow and smoked a fox squirrel prior to her.)  Good luck.

[Recurve50 LBS]

Been at this Trad game for almost 8 years. I've had some shots at deer but have never killed one with Trad gear. Keep at it.

[mookie]

8 years with a compound nothing to show for it first week with trad equipment 8pt buck and gave the training wheels away.It will happen if you keep with it.

[crotch horn]

This is my forth season of trad without a deer. Missed a few and hit a buck this year that I did not recover yet. I have killed two black bears & a turkey though. It is all good. Enjoy the journey.

[PSUBowhunter]

25 Minutes into my first hunt on stand with a recurve. Couldnt have worked out better. That was three years ago. Go figure, this year I never got a shot in 4 weeks of hunting.

[swp]

First full year got a button buck, once again better lucky than good.

[Covey]

I've been hunting with trad gear for 4 years and havent connected...YET, but it will happen if you give it time and be patient. As far as I'm concerned I didnt start hunting till I picked up the recurve. Stay at it and good luck!! Jason