Hello all!  New to the forum.  I'm just wondering how long it would take to be proficient enough with a traditional bow to be able to hunt with it.  I know this is very subjective to the shooter.  I currently hunt with compound and have been successful; I just find traditional archery very appealing.  I've tried a few bows here and there and never became serious.  I'm guessing that it's too late for this upcoming season.  Thanks to all.

I was confident out to 20 yards within two weeks and out to 40 in one month. I shoot a light bow (49#) so the learning curve for my muscles was light.

Form being everything I highly recommend a light set up. I'm pretty sure my bow will handle anything in North America if I do my part.

only you can answer that question.....

Practice perfect form and the curve will be short...

I should add that you will be able to shoot a barebow as well as you can concentrate. Focus using good archery form is everything.

With a little shooting instruction, no reason you shouldn't be able to be shooting a stick pretty well within a few weeks.  Your effective range will definitely decrease though, at least initially, maybe to 15 or 10 yards.  Good luck.

All depends on how much you shoot over the next month or so

I would suggest selecting an instructional shooting system, stick with it and really follow it! Avoid the trap of seeking help in this initial stage from multiple established shooters who commonly have differing techniques, it can drive you nuts! It is a lot easier to reach your goal if you don't end up spending time "un-learning" bad form and techniques you have ingrained while just shooting a lot, use this initial period to set the groundwork for where you want to end up.

Kent, I would give you only one advise: Have fun shooting the bow, enjoy every minute of it!

Stumpshooting is a great way of training

F-Manny

Something I am learning the hard way is to be very methodical in tuning your bow/arrow combo. A properly tuned bow will tightn grounps up very nicely. And as said start out w/ light poundage to get a good handle on form.

Here is a good link.

http://www.bowmaker.net/index2.htm

Most of all have fun.

Get the DVD "Masters of the Barebow" volume 3..
A wealth of info on form and learning properly.

In all honesty, yes it's too late for this season. It takes more than a couple weeks to be "ready" to shoot at big game animals and be "truly confident".

Yeah, you might be able to hit a pie plate 5 out of ten times in two weeks, but in my opinion, that just isn't "good enough".

Start after the season, work on it all summer and you'll be confident and ready to go for next season...good luck!

What Curt said.