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?

[Night Wing]

It took me 2 years to get my first deer, a doe. I started when I was 14 years old and bagged the doe when I was 16 years old.

[Red4arm]

I got mine the first year... After four missed shots. We are lucky here to have a good population of whitetail. I feel for guys who have to hunt all year for a shot. Just keep at it, I felt like a kid on his first hunt when I finally connected.

[owlbait]

First shot, first year. Then many droughts. But it is so rewarding when you get it right.

[goldflinger]

"The pain of failure that is so much greater than the pleasure of success" Ian Flemming

I hunted 42 hours this year alone before I got my first shot and killed a doe. Keep after it, and you will be rewarded!!!

[Manitoba Stickflinger]

The 1st one is the toughest...it gets easier after that! A buddy of mine hunted 3 or 4 years without a shot. I took him out and put him in a stand and he shot a buck the 1st morning. After seeing how I set up and what I looked for he too began to kill deer every year on his own. I was fortunate to be born into a bowhunting family so was "fed with the silver spoon" when it came to getting shots. I'm no better than the next guy but grew up with mentors...just as I was to my buddy. Ever think of finding a mentor? Best of luck..Ryan

[Jeff Strubberg]

19 years...

What hurts is the opportunity I passed my very first night archery hunting.  Had two does stop ten, maybe twelve yards in front of my blind and stand there looking around.  For the life of me I couldn't remember if my tag was any deer or buck only!

 

[Bobhat]

I'm  44 years old.  I started bowhunting when I was 14.  I killed my first with the bow at age 20 so that would be 6 years.    Of course as I got older and more skilled I increased my efficeincy.  

[Mint]

It took mr 5 years of hunting till I got my first deer which was an 8 pt. Then I scored for the next 6 years in a row.

[traditionalman]

About 4 years

[ron w]

Got my first shot the second year I hunted,that was about 42 years ago....haven't had a shot opportunity since.....Oh yea, I missed the first one! But I'm still out there looking for a chance to kill a deer!

[rice]

Was after them for 2 years without success. The third year I got lucky and killed a buck.That was back in 1981. Were few deer in northern Oklahoma as compared with today. I now live in Southern Oklahoma and disappointed if I don't at least see a deer every time I go, in the 80's I was lucky to see 5 or 6 deer per season.
Stick with it will happen.

Chris

[Stinger]

My second year when I was 17 years old in 1970.  There weren't near as many deer around in those days.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

18 years and going strong.

Of course for the first 4 deer I wish someone had told me about picking a spot.  And for many years I was just plain greedy, looking for bigger horns than my friends. I will be happy with any old deer now, didn't know how well I had it back then.

[bad arrow]

Its my 1st year hunting traditional and still waiting. Haven't got a shot at a deer yet but I'm seein'em . I'll gladly take a turkey, racoon, coyote, anything wild!.... Phil

[PEARL DRUMS]

29 days into my first season, 3 point.

[cleopatra]

It took me three or four years til I got my first whitetail doe. Missed a nice buck on my first year.

[seabass]

i am still waiting for mine.i am a good shooter,but no so great hunter.i'll find a careless deer one day.until then,i will just enjoy being out there.good luck buddy.don't give up.you will one day be rewarded and it will feel good,steve

[pitbull]

I took a doe my first year at 17. Don't get frustrated learn from your mistakes and it will get easier. If there were no challenge it wouldn't be as rewarding.

[varmint101]

I didn't have any deer walk by that I wanted to shoot that first season. Second year I killed 4 does. That's hunting!