How long did it take you to take your first big game?
3 years
4 years to get a shot. Killed the deer. Hap
Missed a nice buck my first year. Took a beaut of a button buck and a mature doe seven days apart my third year. The button buck was my first ever trad kill. Shot at 8 feet from the ground.
With trad gear 2 years.
I had a few shots on Does that I missed on my first year, I also killed a buck my first year, which was this past season!
2 Does, first season with tradbow. Bobby
I was 12 years old (first year allowed to big game hunt) shot my first deer (button buck) on Jan 15, 1996 with 10 minutes of legal shooting light in Montana. The temp was -15 degrees and dropping. I shot him with a 55 lb Bighorn Recurve, cedar arrow of my making and a 125 grain Snuffer head. I shoot the bow to this day and the arrow is on the wall. In short it took me 4 1/2 months.
4.5 year old spike my first year, that was twenty years ago. Feels like it was yesterday, time sure does go by fast when youre having fun.
Since going trad fulltime I took a good 8 pt and a doe my first 2 weeks of the 2006 season. My oldest buck ever, horns going back down in size, weighed 175 in sept, gutted, huge chest, teeth worn down to little brown nubs.
got a nice black bear and wolverine within a year and a half of hunting, that does not include shooting years.
3 years
My very first day with trad gear. Now I did live in an area with alot of deer. I did miss twice that day, had about 10 min. of light left. Did shoot 4 deer that year. Now it has been two years of livung out west and have missd a cow elk and shot a bull at ten yards that I never found for 4 days. That being said, I hunt the way I hunt cause it's what makes me happy. I could have shot 3 elk with a compound by now. I would'nt be happy with it. But that's just me. It's my choice to hunt this way. What's gonna be is gonna be. Would'nt change it for anything.
It took me about 5 yrs.
Been hunting since I was 14, now 40 and still waiting! :biglaugh:
Still waiting and still having fun after 5 years
This was my first year with trad and I got a doe the fourth day i went hunting. Got another doe a few weeks later. Passed up a lot of does waiting on a legal buck but it never happened. Ended the season with the two does.
Made this out of the first doe. I thought it would be a good way to remember her.
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc157/pactac/quiver.jpg)
Ive hunted with my trad tackle about 7-8 times in the last two seasons without taking anything.
I've decided to go all trad this fall, and "we'll see".
About a 3/4 of a month missed a doe before i shot a nice 8 point at 13 years old
David
Missed a shot on my first year, killed a doe on my second, killed seven big game animals on my third.....
I went totally into bow deer hunting in 1977, and got my first deer the next year.
I had hunted deer with a bow before that; and for small game; but not with the obsession that I did: after that 1977 season!
I killed my first bear- the second year I hunted for them; also in 1978.
Second year for elk too.
The guy who guided me into bowhunting for big game; (and who I would most like to hunt with again) :archer: - took 12 years to get his first deer with a bow.
One day.
A couple weeks. I am blessed to live in an area of the country that has an abundance of whitetails. On one farm I hunt if you don't see about 10-15 every time you sit in the tree you've had a bad day.
Took me 3 yrs with a bow. When I switched to trad, it took about an hour.
Mike
First year out nothing but screw ups and mishaps. Second year out I was lucky enough to put down my first on opening day (a doe). I ended up the season (last year 08) with 5 deer in the freezer and 2 misses. Joe
a little 8 pointer and four does my first year
Still waiting This year will be my 7th season. Plenty of small game, just hasn't worked out with them darn blacktails.
2 years so far and nuthin but a bunch of squirrels. Missed two animals this past season though. First was a Black Bear at 10 yards on the ground with nothing between us (shaking so bad i completely forgot to pick a spot and sent the arrow 3 feet over his head!), and a 7x8 Muley that I missed at 25 yards, the arrow falling a hands width uder the heart area. Only thought he was a little under 20 yards away. That one still hurts to this day.
10 years before I took a anterless buck, but I shot at least a half dozen arrows the first year, missed every time by mere inches. I had no one to show me the traditional way of shooting. I missed all those first shots because I had "vanes" on my arrows instead of feathers and at the shot the arrow would porpoise up and down out to 15 yards before stabilizing. Alot of early mistakes were made and learned from, still loving the traditional way and learning!
Okay, so I am not the only guy out west who is battling with the blacktail. This fall will be my third season deer and second elk. This summer will be my third try at hogs. Just needed to here this is normal again. I am loving the challenge but get a little frustrated when I tell people how much I love hunting. The first thing they want to know is what youv'e killed. When I say nothing they kinda get a look like "are you kidding me, you call yourself a hunter?"
Still trying. First trad season (07) we had my son five days before the season opened. Hunted a few times and passed on a small buck. Last year, I had two shots, under twenty yards, on the same decent 4 pointer. Whiffed on both....forgot to pick a spot the first time, and aimed low the second expecting a reaction which didnt occur. Walked out of the woods smiling each time.
So far, Im up to three rabbits...and loving every minute of it.
I've hit more stumps than a horse tail in fly season! Does that count? :bigsmyl:
20 minutes into my first hunt with a borrowed Bear Kodiak TD. Fat doe that was a gift at 8 yards on the ground.
I killed a doe in 1976 and a doe in 1977 my first 2 years of bowhunting,both with a 50# Bear Alaskan recurve and Bear cedar arrows with Bear Razorheads.
Must have been "Beginners Luck" because there have been ALOT of dry years between then and now LOL.
I haven't got anything with a bow yet but haven't hunted with trad cause Ive only been into it for about a month. Hopefully Ill get a chance at a deer next hunting season in virginia's month of archery-only hunting.
Less than 2 weeks after buying my 75# Proline Saxon longbow 30 years ago I killed my first javelina. Is that big game?
I hunted 10 years before taking a deer with archery tackle. Started taking them consistantly after Michigan legalized treestands. Hunted with a Paul Bunyan fiberglass bow, then went to Bear grizzly.
I'll let ya know when it happens....
My first season hunting with traditional equipment, a 1950's recurve I inherited from my brother inlaw: I killed a rock chuck twenty minutes into the first day of spring bear season then killed a cinnamon colored black bear that evening. I drew a mountain goat tag and filled it, a 115 whitetail, five whitetail does, and a cow elk. Let's just say it was one of the last good years for hunting where I live; before the wolves were forced on us.
This was my second year,still waiting.
0 for 1 here
I got mine on January 10th of 2009. My first archery deer. I sold my compound in '06--never got one with it....so it was my 3rd year exclusively with the longbow. I missed my first on the ground with a longbow in '04...hunted with a rifle and compound in between before '06. Now I don't own either a rifle or compound. Hang in there....it will happen.
1969,started shooting bows when I was 15 which was 1965,first deer with a Ben Pearson cougar, nice 8 point in West Texas.
College and the Navy got in the way until 2001,couple of pigs and a Sambar deer here on Guam With an Elkridge longbow. Been after the Sambar ever since and have not had any luck yet.Have taken a couple of Whitetails in Texas and a few more pigs on Guam since then.
Danny
2nd year. First shot I ever took at a deer. 1965. Not many deer back then.
QuoteOriginally posted by vermonster13:
20 minutes into my first hunt with a borrowed Bear Kodiak TD. Fat doe that was a gift at 8 yards on the ground.
:bigsmyl:
0 for 1 for me too. didn't even find any shots to miss last year but trying to scout harder this year during the "off season".
1/2 hour.Lucky I guess.
I was a lucky one. My very first deer with bow was a PSE Wheelie thingy back in 2001. Then in 2005 I got my First deer with a Original 54" Shrew. Again on opening day for that season. The Great Spirit was looking out for me then and Honored me the Meat They had.
If You haven't gotten one Yet... Don't push it, Let it come to You. Trust me it will be well worth it.. WHAT A RUSH!!!!!!!!!!
2nd year. Button buck, very lucky it was. 7 arrows later I finally killed it. I would shoot over it and it would jump towrds me I would shoot under and it woud jump two steps away.
Missed a doe the first morning out...didn't hunt with a real bow again for eight years... made the switch to trad only and got a nice 8 pointer my first season and then a nice gobbler in my first turkey season...I'm lucky in that we have a healthy population of deer and turkeys, here...
David
Nothing last year..going into my second year now. Prolly won't hunt anything till Whitetails in November but I have my hopes up for year two. :)
3 years
It took 7 years for me to take my first. The picture of the buck is on my profile. Taken in 2003
(It didn't help that I set a "personal goal" of 8 points or better for my first)
According to my journal, I passed up 23 other smaller bucks (and blew countless attempts)
Way to long!! But it is not the kill that makes the hunt for me. I am still trying after my 14th season. I missed my first buck with my bow this past season so I am getting closer.
13 years for me, from 1963 to '76. In those early years deer were scarce. My first was a spike, taken with a Ben Pearson recurve. Talk about excited! I didn't touch the ground for days.
My first season bowhunting for deer was in 1976. I killed my first deer in 1980. i didnt even get a shot for the first two years.
Last year I killed four deer. Either I have picked up some knowledge in the last 30 odd years or the deer have gotten dumber, Maybe a little of both?
Bought my first recurve in 1967, a Browning Stalker 52" 40# hunted on and off ever since, still have not killed a big game animal.1967 thru the 2008 season...do the math!!!!!
Was an idiot on my first season opening day. Nice 120lb freezer doe stands broadside ten yards in front of my blind. I'm sitting there at half draw wondering "Was that tag any deer or buck only?".
Apparently my ineptitude upset the gods of field and flood. It was another five years before I bagged my first big game and fourteen before I got my first deer!
First Archery hunt at 14 - first deer at 16 - first elk at 19 - first bear/pheasant and duck at 20. Moved to Alaska in 1976 - could not get anything with bow there. Seattle in 1986 - ditto. Back home to Montana in 2006 -still trying. Now 59 going on 60, will never give up.
20 years, Wasn't many deer in my county when I started. When I could drive and hunt the mountains I couldn't hit anything. Shot my first deer,a six point, at six yards off the ground. It was self defense. :banghead:
I'M LIKE RON W. MAYBE WORSE CAUSE I MORTALLY HIT A BUCK TWO YEARS AGO BUT DID NOT RECOVER IT. RAIN WASHED OUT THE BLOOD TRAIL. HAVE TAKEN SQUIRREL AND RACCOONS. GONE HOGGGIN' THIS FALL, MAYBE WILL BREAK THE JINX. LOVE TO WATCH THE ARROW FLY.
1st season with trad I took a bear and 2 deer!
Killed a deer on my second hunt with trad gear. Missed one on my first hunt, the day before I killed.
Started around 9...didn't connect till 24. :knothead:
I shot at so many deer with that recurve it ain't funny.The same bow I shoot today.It lived in the closet for a little while till she came back out.
I CAN tell you with a certainty if there was a trad gang around then I'd have actually learned things the CORRECT way and shot alot more deer. :archer:
11 months. I am in my 5th year for a turkey though.
Still haven't gotten my first trad deer. It has been 4 years, but not due to lack of chances. ALL due to my mistakes.
-Charlie
Whitetail 3 yrs
Turkey 5 yrs
5 years !
My first big game was a male roe deer (four points)
started hunting trad when i was 16 and got my first 2 bucks when i was 29. it was a long dry spell and well worth the wait.
Reading all these tales make me think I need a new place to hunt where there is more game.I notice that alot of the really sucsessful hunters are not hunting in upstate N.Y. Down state yes, up state no.
QuoteOriginally posted by ron w:
Reading all these tales make me think I need a new place to hunt where there is more game.I notice that alot of the really sucsessful hunters are not hunting in upstate N.Y. Down state yes, up state no.
Tell me about it...the deer difference between washington county and Westchester county is unreal(Horns and population wise)... :eek:
2008 was my first year trad only, I took 2 bucks a 4pt in NH and a doe and my second best buck with a bow here in Vt a 8pt. Passed up over 20 bucks on Ohio, I was a little to picky.
QuoteOriginally posted by Wannabe1:
Been hunting since I was 14, now 40 and still waiting! :biglaugh:
Same here except I started when I was 16. Only the last 4 years were with trad gear.
First time deer hunting alone, I got a spike.
QuoteOriginally posted by vtmtnman:
QuoteOriginally posted by ron w:
Reading all these tales make me think I need a new place to hunt where there is more game.I notice that alot of the really sucsessful hunters are not hunting in upstate N.Y. Down state yes, up state no.
Tell me about it...the deer difference between washington county and Westchester county is unreal(Horns and population wise)... :eek: [/b]
I hunted Washington County in my teens and early twenties. Took your typical basket rack sixes and four points. Somewhere around 1999 I started hunting Westchester and saw bigger deer but still did not take anything of size. Westchester started to really get hammered about the time I discovered it and now is a shell of it old self. I now hunt my home county, a little in the Catskills, and some near Binghamton. Joe
It took me 3 seasons of tag soup to finaly connect on my first big game animal. A cow elk at approx. 12 yards, I was able to stalk up to her in her bed, she ran about 20 yards turned to face me and she fell before I could nock another arrow.
With a rifle, it was my second year before I got a shot. About age 14 ('77), a dink 3x3 at 125 yards with an iron-sighted 30-30. Dropped him in his tracks.
With a bow, just my fourth hunt ('81) before a little 3x4 whitetail wandered by and I double lunged him. I was 18 at the time. That said, I'd been around hunting all my life and had rifle hunted before so I wasn't a complete rookie.
First traditional bow kill was Oct. 25 of '88, my first season with a Schafer Silvertip. Passed up a number of them before a nice 4x5 obliged my Zwickey-tipped arrow.
It was my first time out with trad gear and had been in the stand less than an hour before I took my a doe!
My first with a compound was opening day of archery season when I was 14 years old, made the statement "I don't see what is so hard about bowhunting?" Next bow killed deer was six years of hunting later and was my first deer killed with a traditional bow although back then it was just called a recurve. :thumbsup: Joseph
It took me 2 years to kill my first buck with a compound.8 years later I was up to 7 more bucks.I switshed to a recurve for 5 years and killed 7 more bucks.
I started building selfbows 18 years ago and have killed 33 bucks with my own bows.
Thats not counting 35 bucks with a rifle and 14 with a muzzleloader.
2 years for first Trad coyote.
3 years for first Trad deer.
3 misses and 1 wounded deer during that time :banghead: Almost gave it up! :(
Now I hope I got the "bugs" worked out----aiming for elk this fall.
ben
I wish I knew how to build some kind of map display on the computer to show the results on this thread. I am starting to think that different areas of the country have very different averages.
First season with a bow I think was 1975 and killed my first big game(deer)with a K-mag in 1976.I never hunted with a compound and killed my last deer Jan 3rd. this year, still as exciting as my first.Kip