Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bow Hunting => Topic started by: Smossy on January 30, 2013, 06:23:15 PM

Title: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Smossy on January 30, 2013, 06:23:15 PM: Just curious as to how long some of you had to hunt before you actually got your first kill of the species you were targeting? What age?
Next year will probably be my first official year getting some field time in so I kinda want to know what Im up against so I dont get discouraged.

Im a bowhunter, Cant touch a gun.
Title: Re: How long did hunt before first kill?
Post by: blacktailcody on January 30, 2013, 06:26:29 PM: 2 days, deer, 13yrs old
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on January 30, 2013, 06:32:08 PM: 4 years, deer. Killed lots of upland game before that every year.

Whoops didn't notice archery section, first year I used stick and bow. :tup:
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Smossy on January 30, 2013, 06:33:35 PM: Quote from: Boss .300 winmag on January 30, 2013, 06:32:08 PM
4 years, deer. Killed lots of upland game before that every year.
Might be a dumb question but what is considered upland game?
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: xd2005 on January 30, 2013, 06:34:54 PM: 2 years in, no big game. Some ducks, but that's it.
Title: Re: How long did hunt before first kill?
Post by: crschralping on January 30, 2013, 06:35:22 PM: Hunted with my dad from about age 5 to 12 or 13 without getting to have a gun. First kill was 13 or 14 whitetail doe second morning out.

It's all about effort and time in the woods. Pops always says you're not going to get'm sittin on the couch! And he's right.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: romaknows on January 30, 2013, 06:37:40 PM: Remind yourself how lucky you are just to be out in the outdoors and you will never be discouraged.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: kentrek on January 30, 2013, 06:39:54 PM: the odds are pretty slim budy..not being rude,just realistic..youve mention in other posts your doing this all on your own so that puts ya pretty far behind compaired to people that have generations of family hunting history being passed down to them

best thing you can do is find some one that will let you tag along...even if ya dont pack a weapon and only get to use you binos and pack board it would be worth it 1000%..esp in regards to what ya do when ya get one down

but as you know hard work lets people defy odds all the time :tup:

as for your question i think it was my second year hunting with a bow that i shot my first deer..sorry forgot your using bow riggin....
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: h2ofowlr on January 30, 2013, 06:42:30 PM: I was eight and had my first duck down after about 10 minutes. I had my first deer down the first day out. Elk took me 3 or 4 years.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: ellensburgpo on January 30, 2013, 06:44:01 PM: About three hours to get my first buck on public land at 16 years old. It was 100% dumb luck because I had no idea what I was doing. After I got it down it was an absolute circus. Elk took me five years to get my first one.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Russ McDonald on January 30, 2013, 06:44:38 PM: First day a squirrel at 10 years old and 7 days for a big 10 point white tail buck at age 12.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: lokidog on January 30, 2013, 06:50:51 PM: Two or three years for my first pheasant (my dad kept shooting them out from under me :yike: ).

Duck the second time out at 12.

About two hours for first deer at age 12.

First deer (WT) with the bow was three years, not for lack of throwing arrows at them though. ;)
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: carlyoungs on January 30, 2013, 06:51:06 PM: Quote from: Smossy on January 30, 2013, 06:33:35 PM
Quote from: Boss .300 winmag on January 30, 2013, 06:32:08 PM
4 years, deer. Killed lots of upland game before that every year.
Might be a dumb question but what is considered upland game?
[/quote
Upland game would be quail, chucker and birds of that sort
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: bwhntr350 on January 30, 2013, 06:53:40 PM: This is a bowhunting thread, correct? Some of these answers are kind of impressive.

Three years for me on an archery 5 point elk, 19 years old. Passed many smaller bulls in search for a good one.

As far as deer, with a bow, never. About 6 or 7 seasons in and have taken one shot, clean miss. Once again, passed some smaller bucks looking for a bigger buck. I may be trying all my life, who knows.

If we are talking hunting in general, I got my first elk at age 16 with a rifle, rag horn, 2 days into my hunting career.

Deer was season two, 17 years old.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Russ McDonald on January 30, 2013, 07:09:58 PM: Oh crap didn't even notice that it was archery . So age 43 after 2 years hunting with a bow. Minnesota white tail doe.

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: hoyt2002 on January 30, 2013, 07:30:39 PM: It took 4 days for my first bow kill on a nice 3x3 muley. My very first kill took three years. At age 15 I killed my first deer a 4x4 white tail.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: crschralping on January 30, 2013, 07:36:18 PM: First bow kill was age 16, 4th night/time in my tree stand. Michigan whitetail.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Turner89 on January 30, 2013, 07:43:46 PM: Spike white tail during late season in NE wash(with a bow). About 10 minutes into hunt. Last time I went WT hunting :chuckle: I missed a 135'' blacktail in september of that year(2005). My brother ended up shooting it out of my tree stand on the last day of modern :bash: :bash:
My first kill was about an hour into my first deer season with my dad when I was 18. Sitka blacktail.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Rainier10 on January 30, 2013, 07:44:37 PM: Second weekend of deer season with a rifle. The next year I went to muzzleloader and that took the full two weeks of early season for an elk. Then I decided to really challenge myself and switched to bow hunting. Awesome experience and tons of fun over the next five years of early and late season deer and elk before finally connecting.

The learning curve is steep bowhunting but man is it fun, I wouldn't hunt any other way now.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Axle on January 30, 2013, 08:03:36 PM: Quote
First day a squirrel at 10 years old and 7 days for a big 10 point white tail buck at age 12.

This is a western state. Are you counting both sides? :bash: I'm ducking my head for the answer :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: sakoshooter on January 30, 2013, 08:35:58 PM: 1968, 12yrs old, 36# recurve, spike buck, northern WI. Hunted about 3 - 5 times with my dad and Oneida Bowhunters making drives. 52 deer ago. Man, I'm getting old, LOL.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: chukar hunter on January 30, 2013, 08:39:59 PM: First year hunting age 12, a spike blacktail at 35 yards. Opening morning in OR, before daily doubles football practice!

I asked Larry Jones at a sports show the same question at age 11 and he said the average bow hunter takes 7 years before their first harvest.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on January 30, 2013, 08:44:56 PM: Couple days ... I was 11 ...killd my 1st whitetail :tup:
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: jburkett on January 30, 2013, 09:10:31 PM: Two days on my first deer at age 11, then I went ten years before I got another. My first archery deer took two years of trying before I got ahold of one. I shot my first buck when I was 28 and now I am 30 and have shot three with my bow. If you stick with it and put in your time, you will learn to be successfull.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: elkslayer99 on January 31, 2013, 05:14:52 AM: I did not start bow hunting until I was 39, a friend of mine got me into bow hunting helped me set up my tree stand. Opening morning Elk 10 minutes in my tree stand 20yrds broadside cow elk.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: MIKEXRAY on January 31, 2013, 05:41:54 AM: It took me three years to be able to stalk in on my first mule deer with a bow, I learned a little each year and finally put it all together on how to see game & get close consistently. Apparently I am a slow learner, what is stupid is after each unsuccessful hunting season it was so obvious how to correct the mistakes I had made. When I started my scent reduction regiment the third year is when my success started. I now wash my clothes & bag them up and hike to my hunting area in shorts & tee shirt. I clean up at a stream & dress up in my hunting area, I have seen a measurable difference. Mike
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Commando on January 31, 2013, 06:04:21 AM: Started deer hunting when I was 18 I'm 25 now still looking for my first deer. But for 4 four those yrs I was in the Marine corps so I was never able to make it home to go hunting.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: D-Rock425 on January 31, 2013, 06:06:38 AM: Quote from: Commando on January 31, 2013, 06:04:21 AM
Started deer hunting when I was 18 I'm 25 now still looking for my first deer. But for 4 four those yrs I was in the Marine corps so I was never able to make it home to go hunting.
welcome to the site and thank you for your service. Good luck this season.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: GoldTip on January 31, 2013, 06:38:16 AM: Killed a deer, elk and bear my first year rifle hunting in Montana, age 12. Started bowhunting age 17, killed a deer that year, small forky. Took me till age 21 to get my first elk with a bow.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Mongo Hunter on January 31, 2013, 06:56:28 AM: Hunting since 2000, got first deer in 05 if I remember right with modern rifle. got skunked the next 3 or 4 years then started hunting out of state and started bringing more home, havent been skunked again. first bow kill was 2 seasons ago.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Camo Queen on January 31, 2013, 07:07:24 AM: Took me 3 years to harvest my first deer. Was only a doe but was still a trophy to me :IBCOOL: Got another doe the next year, but nothing this last year due to a lack of practicing with my bow :bash: That won't happen again ... Still hoping for a nice buck someday and hope to try for elk this year :) Good luck on your first season and as someone else already mentioned, if you can find someone to tag along with for your first year (at least) you will/can learn a lot.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: 7mmfan on January 31, 2013, 07:55:30 AM: Very first hunt with a bow nailed a nice 2 pt blacktail about an hour into the morning. 15 years old
Killed my first deer at 13 in Wyoming about 10 minutes into the first day i'd ever carried a weapon. Nice 3x4 mulie.
Hunted elk with a bow for 4 years and missed 2. First year with a rifle nailed a nice spike.
Killed my first duck with a single shot 20 ga jump shooting a pond I knew they were on. (Then missed like 40 times in a row)
Upland I've been lucky to go with people who know what the heck is going on and had great success immediately.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: matt345 on January 31, 2013, 08:08:50 AM: 3 yrs for my first bow kill, whitetail doe 40 yds from a tree stand.
I have hunted 3 seasons early and late with my bow for elk and had many close encounters but have not closed the deal on an elk!
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Smossy on January 31, 2013, 02:27:21 PM: Quote from: kentrek on January 30, 2013, 06:39:54 PM
the odds are pretty slim budy..not being rude,just realistic..youve mention in other posts your doing this all on your own so that puts ya pretty far behind compaired to people that have generations of family hunting history being passed down to them

best thing you can do is find some one that will let you tag along...even if ya dont pack a weapon and only get to use you binos and pack board it would be worth it 1000%..esp in regards to what ya do when ya get one down

but as you know hard work lets people defy odds all the time :tup:

as for your question i think it was my second year hunting with a bow that i shot my first deer..sorry forgot your using bow riggin....
I know I know. Thats why I found this website. You can learn more in a single day out in the field then you can weeks and weeks or months even trying to study and prep.
Just gotta find my GURU :) Hes on here hopefully. Ill find him one day.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Smossy on January 31, 2013, 02:31:59 PM: Its really truly amazing the diversity of all the hunters in here! Thanks for all the replies. Kinda opens my eyes that its going to be a rough next couple years. Going to try to stay positive as I possibly can and get me that meat! I'm not really after trophies. Never really been that typa guy. I just like to provide food. Makes me feel good inside knowing I'm giving sustenance to someone else to help they're life continue.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: h20hunter on January 31, 2013, 02:40:49 PM: Third year for deer....2nd year for bear.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Broken Arrow on January 31, 2013, 02:55:27 PM: Archery: 2 years deer. 3 years bear. 3 years cow elk, 6 years bull elk.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on January 31, 2013, 03:05:25 PM: It was exactly 1 year for my first archery deer. Skunked my first year, killed a 1x2 yearling mule deer buck about an hour into opening day of my second year. Like you, I was completely self taught up to that point, except for pointers from the bow shop.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Smossy on January 31, 2013, 03:08:48 PM: Quote from: DOUBLELUNG on January 31, 2013, 03:05:25 PM
It was exactly 1 year for my first archery deer. Skunked my first year, killed a 1x2 yearling mule deer buck about an hour into opening day of my second year. Like you, I was completely self taught up to that point, except for pointers from the bow shop.
Nice man good job! Hopefully Ill have the same luck!
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Hunt4ever on January 31, 2013, 03:17:55 PM: 6 DAYS... I WAS 7... FIRST WT BUCK (RIFLE)...
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: swinters on January 31, 2013, 04:03:00 PM: I hunted with my Dad for years but didn't have a gun until I was 12. Took the WA Hunter's Safety Course right after I turned 12 (early 1960's) and bought a 30-30 Winchester with money I'd earned picking berries in the Puyallup Valley the summer before. First day out about 2 hours after sunrise I dropped a blacktail spike up Deer Park road outside of Port Angeles. I used that 30-30 for years. Replaced it with a .270 once I figured I had learned to track cripples good enough...
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: bear hunter on January 31, 2013, 04:25:19 PM: Well!!! It took me 3 years to bag my first deer. It was a nice big blacktail doe in unit 513. I was drawn for a any deer permit for rifle. She was the biggest deer out of a herd of 12 I could see. So I shot her with my Remington 700 BDL in .270 at 15 yards. :dunno: Now what? I didn't know how to gut a doe. :dunno: LOL I only watched videos on how to gut bucks. So I had to get HELP. *censored* after the old man showed me how it was easy. I felt like a idiot :bash: That was back in "96" and haven't ate a deer tag since but I was self tote how to hunt. Well Good Luck Next year.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: blacktailcody on January 31, 2013, 04:30:27 PM: Pm sent.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: KenPCPilot on January 31, 2013, 05:19:45 PM: Honest to God 40 minutes. I had always enjoyed archery shooting since at 10. I was 16 years old and worked at a feed store and a coworker took me to Pe Ell bow hunting. I decended a ridge and jumped a 2 point black tail 40 minutes into shooting light. I literally crawled on my hands and knees under the jack firs and brush. The closest I got was about 15 yards. (close enought to smell that nasty wet dog smell deer have). After another 40-50 minutes the buck spooked and jumped down about 35 yards. He spotted my buddy up on top of the next ridge and he was locked on to him so I was able to stand and draw down on him. The shot was perfect broadside. I let it fly and the arrow passed through and stuck on the opposite ridge about 40 yards away. I honestly believed I shot high and missed since it was down hill and the arrow did not appear to wobble or veer off trajectory. the buck trotted around another jack fir tree out of my sight. My buddy stood and walked down the hill. I called for him to hide as to not scare the deer. He yelled back "Scare what? The dead deer." Still probably my best hunting story ever. I loved that I got home and was able to really rub it in to my father who thought bow hunting was a joke. needless to say I am still hooked on bowhunting. still looking to bag my first elk with a bow. I have the antlers on the wall of my man cave. The year was 1982. The bow a Jennings Woody that was a compound bow with a maple riser.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Gobble Doc on January 31, 2013, 07:08:27 PM: Just got my bow so I've got an official 0 hours bow hunting under my belt. I've been working on shooting every night though. April will be my first try on turkey. I'll let you know how long it takes (maybe in decades). :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: kingfisher82 on January 31, 2013, 08:27:20 PM: I was 28 first season hunting for turkey I killed a sparrow with the truck on the first day dose that count. But kill my backtail on my first archery late season. I dont really put to much time in elk hunting mostly deer
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: DoubleJ on February 01, 2013, 06:50:14 AM: 15 days for my first bow kill on a spike blacktail. Still looking for an elk and a bear
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Smossy on February 01, 2013, 02:05:30 PM: Quote from: bwhntr350 on January 30, 2013, 06:53:40 PM
This is a bowhunting thread, correct? Some of these answers are kind of impressive.

Three years for me on an archery 5 point elk, 19 years old. Passed many smaller bulls in search for a good one.

As far as deer, with a bow, never. About 6 or 7 seasons in and have taken one shot, clean miss. Once again, passed some smaller bucks looking for a bigger buck. I may be trying all my life, who knows.

If we are talking hunting in general, I got my first elk at age 16 with a rifle, rag horn, 2 days into my hunting career.

Deer was season two, 17 years old.
Yeah I just kinda meant in general but I myself am a bowhunter. I just like to kinda know the odds of actually seeing them and being able to get a good shot placement.
Im more into providing meat, Not too concerned about getting a large trophy.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Smossy on February 01, 2013, 02:08:40 PM: Quote from: KenPCPilot on January 31, 2013, 05:19:45 PM
Honest to God 40 minutes. I had always enjoyed archery shooting since at 10. I was 16 years old and worked at a feed store and a coworker took me to Pe Ell bow hunting. I decended a ridge and jumped a 2 point black tail 40 minutes into shooting light. I literally crawled on my hands and knees under the jack firs and brush. The closest I got was about 15 yards. (close enought to smell that nasty wet dog smell deer have). After another 40-50 minutes the buck spooked and jumped down about 35 yards. He spotted my buddy up on top of the next ridge and he was locked on to him so I was able to stand and draw down on him. The shot was perfect broadside. I let it fly and the arrow passed through and stuck on the opposite ridge about 40 yards away. I honestly believed I shot high and missed since it was down hill and the arrow did not appear to wobble or veer off trajectory. the buck trotted around another jack fir tree out of my sight. My buddy stood and walked down the hill. I called for him to hide as to not scare the deer. He yelled back "Scare what? The dead deer." Still probably my best hunting story ever. I loved that I got home and was able to really rub it in to my father who thought bow hunting was a joke. needless to say I am still hooked on bowhunting. still looking to bag my first elk with a bow. I have the antlers on the wall of my man cave. The year was 1982. The bow a Jennings Woody that was a compound bow with a maple riser.
Thats an awesome story man! See thats another reason Im kinda glad that Im forced to go into bow hunting, It may have been my first choice anyways. I like the closeness you have to get to your animals. Where your are virtually 100% sure on what it is, u can see the hair moving on where you want your arrow to glide through.
Cant wait to get my first buck. In all reality Ill probably pull ever last doller outa my butt to get it mounted, Thats just a memory you cant take away.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Smossy on February 01, 2013, 02:09:55 PM: Quote from: kingfisher82 on January 31, 2013, 08:27:20 PM
I was 28 first season hunting for turkey I killed a sparrow with the truck on the first day dose that count. But kill my backtail on my first archery late season. I dont really put to much time in elk hunting mostly deer
lol Nice, a sparrow!
I know I have this deep down lust to get a nice elk, Something about pulling a game animal that dwarfs me that I feel like nothing else can compair to. Ill take whatever I can get though! Atleast for right now, I dont have the skill yet to pick and choose.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Skyvalhunter on February 01, 2013, 02:16:28 PM: Still after that first one..
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Smossy on February 01, 2013, 02:24:41 PM: Quote from: Skyvalhunter on February 01, 2013, 02:16:28 PM
Still after that first one..
Dont give up!
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: ouchfoss on February 03, 2013, 08:37:01 AM: I hunted deer with rifle for my first two seasons and never got anything. Then my third year I bought my archery tag and have killed a deer every year since except last year (14 years in a row if I remember right). It took me 4 years to get my first archery bull.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Smossy on February 03, 2013, 09:18:03 PM: Quote from: ouchfoss on February 03, 2013, 08:37:01 AM
I hunted deer with rifle for my first two seasons and never got anything. Then my third year I bought my archery tag and have killed a deer every year since except last year (14 years in a row if I remember right). It took me 4 years to get my first archery bull.
Congrats man, Ive met allot of great people in here "Not personaly, yet" who have offered help on getting my first deer! Im excited for next year its going to be a great experience, regardless what happens.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: goody31 on February 05, 2013, 11:00:04 AM: With Archery I got my first deer at the 5 year mark, missed several others years prior. Still waiting on a elk to fall to it.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: duckmen1 on February 05, 2013, 11:15:17 AM: First season that I bow hunted I got my first elk the next season was my first time archery deer and got my doe. Had many close calls these last two seasons on elk but did not take any shots on elk and haven't really tried bow to much for deer since because of the opportunities to land and tags and such for other weapon choices. But I prefer a bow or muzzleloader over a rifle any day. Overall it took me a few years off the start to learn the ropes and now once I see an area a bit I'm set up pretty good.
The elk was taken at 38 yards and the doe was at 30 yards.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Smokepole on February 05, 2013, 11:37:23 AM: I was 17 when I killed my first deer in them woods. Spent the first 5 years just learning how to hunt. When I finally slowed down and started really hunting, it only took 5 minutes.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: WaltAlpine on February 05, 2013, 12:00:29 PM: Turkey - First Day. About three hours
Deer Two years and still nothing in the scope.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: pianoman9701 on February 05, 2013, 12:02:33 PM: Five years before my first whitetail. Then pretty consistently bagged 'em after that. Got my first elk in my third elk season with a bow. Been waiting ever since.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Smossy on February 05, 2013, 07:12:01 PM: Quote from: Little Dave on February 05, 2013, 12:36:54 PM
Second season I got a nice bull elk. Spent a full year practicing shooting form, the first season was good and I had elk in range most days. The next year I spent more time with calls which made a big difference.
How did you go about learning how to actually use calls? Like, lol How do you know if your doing them right or not. Theres so many different variations of all species its kind of intimidating.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: spur_ride on February 06, 2013, 08:37:45 AM: Took about 30 min to seal the deal on a doe on Vashon island
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Hurricane on February 06, 2013, 01:05:29 PM: For me I started hunting in 04 with Archery. First trip out I tagged a doe. Last year I got My first elk after 7 years of trying.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: turkeyfeather on February 06, 2013, 01:17:13 PM: For turkeys I got mine the first year. For deer I hunted one year modern before switching to archery and got my first deer in year two of archery (year three overall).
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: throttlejocky20 on February 06, 2013, 04:10:14 PM: I killed my first deer the second season i hunted! But i think we should star a thread about how many misses we had before we made our first kill. I know for my the adreninlin took over and i couldn't hit the front of my barrell.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Instinct on February 06, 2013, 05:15:26 PM: 4 years, got my first elk in 2011. Every year w/ archery came close but my first year hunting was modern.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: shedmaster on February 07, 2013, 02:34:44 PM: Guess I got l got lucky ... two years with a bow... two bucks with a bow...
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: buck man on February 07, 2013, 10:03:02 PM: One year to spot and stalk a mulie doe. Two years to get it one for elk. Really good memories those hunts. Learned a lot from my mistakes. :tup:
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Little Dave on February 09, 2013, 04:38:45 PM: Quote from: Smossy on February 05, 2013, 07:12:01 PM
Quote from: Little Dave on February 05, 2013, 12:36:54 PM
Second season I got a nice bull elk. Spent a full year practicing shooting form, the first season was good and I had elk in range most days. The next year I spent more time with calls which made a big difference.
How did you go about learning how to actually use calls? Like, lol How do you know if your doing them right or not. Theres so many different variations of all species its kind of intimidating.

Saw a class taught by Rocky Jacobson, champion elk caller. (Class was advertised here actually, met a few other HW folks)

Went there, enjoyed the class, learned a little. Threw out the squeaky toy that everybody else seems to use and paid more attention to sounds I'm hearing and the calling patterns I need to make to bring in the elk. This particular morning, I called just twice.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: archeryantlers on February 14, 2013, 10:03:37 PM: Bowhunting is what I love; I enjoy the hunt itself as much as shooting an animal. Though I would say you get out of it, what you put in. I started bowhunting at age 23(wish I would have found it sooner). Shot a doe my second season. Took 3 seasons to find (and connect on) the type of buck I was looking for, in Northern WI. Took 3 seasons(1 week each year) in Eastern Montana to stalk an harvest an open country buck. Took 13 consecutive days to harvest my first Elk (6x6 in Arizona).
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: bear hunter on February 14, 2013, 10:16:07 PM: 2 years and 3 days in to the 3rd season to bag my first deer.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: sweetfreedomgirl on March 02, 2013, 09:49:34 PM: If talking hunting in general, I started hunting at age 18 or 19 and took my first animal (deer) with a rifle at 23.

If talking archery, I took my first animal (deer) in my second archery season.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Harborhunter on March 02, 2013, 10:07:11 PM: I killed a cow on the second day of the season, during my first season archery elk hunting. I really didn't expect to get an opportunity that fast, but i ended up getting the chance and couldn't pass!
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: LBES on March 02, 2013, 10:10:56 PM: Quote from: Smossy on February 05, 2013, 07:12:01 PM
How did you go about learning how to actually use calls? Like, lol How do you know if your doing them right or not. Theres so many different variations of all species its kind of intimidating.

I shot my first 5 point in my 2nd year bow hunting in 1999-ish... did it by hunting hard, but not smart. This may sound cliche, but around 2007 I started watching Will Primos videos (Big Bulls) and breaking down the tactics of their calling. From then on, I worked on calling - more so with estrus calls and fighting cow calls - and I have had much more success. It's just too hard to spot and stalk elk; especially on the west side where I hunt.

Good luck!
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: coachcw on March 03, 2013, 05:07:02 PM: about 25 minutes , beginners luck with a bow
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Skyvalhunter on March 03, 2013, 05:17:31 PM: Still hunting for it.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Bigshooter on March 03, 2013, 05:18:46 PM: Shot my first grouse about 30mins after daylight on 9-1-89. I was 9.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: lucky33 on March 05, 2013, 04:05:56 PM: 18 days for my first archery deer. :tup: Archery goose, 3 years. Archery coyote, 2 years. Still at it for grouse, elk, bear, and whatever else happens to come along thats legal to shoot. Woodchuck, 2 days. 8)
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: EvoOutdoors on March 21, 2013, 02:24:27 PM: I finally got an Elk and a deer (with a bow) on my third year. I had been hunting for years with modern (for Deer) and Muzzleloader for Elk. I decided to get a bow and try it out. My guns have unfortunately been collecting dust ever since then. It is quite a different experience being out in the field during archery season, and seeing so many animals. I really had to learn a different style of hunting and refine my technique in order to get close enough. There are so many times when an animal is just through some trees, or behind tall grass and you have to pass on the shot. I am not sure I will ever go back, unless I can't pull my bow back someday.

Dave
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: WSU on March 21, 2013, 02:36:31 PM: My advise is to shoot the first legal critter that gives you an ethical shot. Small deer, big deer, whatever. Everyone starts somewhere, and you're going to have to learn it all on your own if you don't have friends and family that hunt.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Smossy on March 21, 2013, 02:52:08 PM: Quote from: WSU on March 21, 2013, 02:36:31 PM
My advise is to shoot the first legal critter that gives you an ethical shot. Small deer, big deer, whatever. Everyone starts somewhere, and you're going to have to learn it all on your own if you don't have friends and family that hunt.
Yeah I just gotta get this class outa the way in may, The Ill be after all the local rabbits and coyotes in the area.
Im not really into trophy hunting, atleast not yet.. Im not sure what the future will bring, but Im sure once I develop a good group of friends/hunting buddies that well always be trying to one-up another. Isnt that how it goes? :chuckle: Ill be happy with just bringing meat home to the family. :EAT: With all the great advice, people Ive met on here already though. I think Im going to have a great, successful first year. I can only hope atleast.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Becky on March 21, 2013, 02:56:30 PM: Quote from: Smossy on March 21, 2013, 02:52:08 PM
Quote from: WSU on March 21, 2013, 02:36:31 PM
My advise is to shoot the first legal critter that gives you an ethical shot. Small deer, big deer, whatever. Everyone starts somewhere, and you're going to have to learn it all on your own if you don't have friends and family that hunt.
Yeah I just gotta get this class outa the way in may, The Ill be after all the local rabbits and coyotes in the area.
Im not really into trophy hunting, atleast not yet.. Im not sure what the future will bring, but Im sure once I develop a good group of friends/hunting buddies that well always be trying to one-up another. Isnt that how it goes? :chuckle: Ill be happy with just bringing meat home to the family. :EAT: With all the great advice, people Ive met on here already though. I think Im going to have a great, successful first year. I can only hope atleast.

.. and I can't wait to eat the meat that you bring home, and, eventually, WE bring home ;) I'll get there too..
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Smossy on March 21, 2013, 03:05:26 PM: Quote from: smossys-girl on March 21, 2013, 02:56:30 PM
Quote from: Smossy on March 21, 2013, 02:52:08 PM
Quote from: WSU on March 21, 2013, 02:36:31 PM
My advise is to shoot the first legal critter that gives you an ethical shot. Small deer, big deer, whatever. Everyone starts somewhere, and you're going to have to learn it all on your own if you don't have friends and family that hunt.
Yeah I just gotta get this class outa the way in may, The Ill be after all the local rabbits and coyotes in the area.
Im not really into trophy hunting, atleast not yet.. Im not sure what the future will bring, but Im sure once I develop a good group of friends/hunting buddies that well always be trying to one-up another. Isnt that how it goes? :chuckle: Ill be happy with just bringing meat home to the family. :EAT: With all the great advice, people Ive met on here already though. I think Im going to have a great, successful first year. I can only hope atleast.

.. and I can't wait to eat the meat that you bring home, and, eventually, WE bring home ;) I'll get there too..
Yeah right. lol This is you with a fish :yike: haha jk baby
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: WSU on March 21, 2013, 03:07:41 PM: Where are you planning to hunt. If I were bow hunting for my first deer it would be in eastern washington. You could get about 100x the chances.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Becky on March 21, 2013, 03:08:01 PM: Quote from: Smossy on March 21, 2013, 03:05:26 PM
Quote from: smossys-girl on March 21, 2013, 02:56:30 PM
Quote from: Smossy on March 21, 2013, 02:52:08 PM
Quote from: WSU on March 21, 2013, 02:36:31 PM
My advise is to shoot the first legal critter that gives you an ethical shot. Small deer, big deer, whatever. Everyone starts somewhere, and you're going to have to learn it all on your own if you don't have friends and family that hunt.
Yeah I just gotta get this class outa the way in may, The Ill be after all the local rabbits and coyotes in the area.
Im not really into trophy hunting, atleast not yet.. Im not sure what the future will bring, but Im sure once I develop a good group of friends/hunting buddies that well always be trying to one-up another. Isnt that how it goes? :chuckle: Ill be happy with just bringing meat home to the family. :EAT: With all the great advice, people Ive met on here already though. I think Im going to have a great, successful first year. I can only hope atleast.

.. and I can't wait to eat the meat that you bring home, and, eventually, WE bring home ;) I'll get there too..
Yeah right. lol This is you with a fish :yike: haha jk baby

LOL, rude.. I get excited! Geeesh. I'll just put a big red target on yo butt :hunt2: and tell you to run! ;)
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Smossy on March 21, 2013, 03:11:28 PM: Quote from: smossys-girl on March 21, 2013, 03:08:01 PM
Quote from: Smossy on March 21, 2013, 03:05:26 PM
Quote from: smossys-girl on March 21, 2013, 02:56:30 PM
Quote from: Smossy on March 21, 2013, 02:52:08 PM
Quote from: WSU on March 21, 2013, 02:36:31 PM
My advise is to shoot the first legal critter that gives you an ethical shot. Small deer, big deer, whatever. Everyone starts somewhere, and you're going to have to learn it all on your own if you don't have friends and family that hunt.
Yeah I just gotta get this class outa the way in may, The Ill be after all the local rabbits and coyotes in the area.
Im not really into trophy hunting, atleast not yet.. Im not sure what the future will bring, but Im sure once I develop a good group of friends/hunting buddies that well always be trying to one-up another. Isnt that how it goes? :chuckle: Ill be happy with just bringing meat home to the family. :EAT: With all the great advice, people Ive met on here already though. I think Im going to have a great, successful first year. I can only hope atleast.

.. and I can't wait to eat the meat that you bring home, and, eventually, WE bring home ;) I'll get there too..
Yeah right. lol This is you with a fish :yike: haha jk baby

LOL, rude.. I get excited! Geeesh. I'll just put a big red target on yo butt :hunt2: and tell you to run! ;)
*Does deff guy voice*

You nevvaaa gonna catch meee, see yall nextt yearrr.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Smossy on March 21, 2013, 03:12:08 PM: Quote from: WSU on March 21, 2013, 03:07:41 PM
Where are you planning to hunt. If I were bow hunting for my first deer it would be in eastern washington. You could get about 100x the chances.
How is it over there as far as hunting? Trees? Or is it all valleys of grass..
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: WSU on March 21, 2013, 03:24:59 PM: Quote from: Smossy on March 21, 2013, 03:12:08 PM
Quote from: WSU on March 21, 2013, 03:07:41 PM
Where are you planning to hunt. If I were bow hunting for my first deer it would be in eastern washington. You could get about 100x the chances.
How is it over there as far as hunting? Trees? Or is it all valleys of grass..

And everything in between. Never been to eastern Washington?
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Smossy on March 21, 2013, 03:26:07 PM: Quote from: WSU on March 21, 2013, 03:24:59 PM
Quote from: Smossy on March 21, 2013, 03:12:08 PM
Quote from: WSU on March 21, 2013, 03:07:41 PM
Where are you planning to hunt. If I were bow hunting for my first deer it would be in eastern washington. You could get about 100x the chances.
How is it over there as far as hunting? Trees? Or is it all valleys of grass..

And everything in between. Never been to eastern Washington?
Not to really look around no, Ive driven through it to go to other states but that's about it, It was long before I was ever interested in hunting so I wouldnt of looked at it like I would now. I see lots of coyote hunting videos over there and its all rocks and valley. But hey If theres more deer there then maybe Ill give it a go. Doesnt hurt to try.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: WSU on March 21, 2013, 03:30:43 PM: There are far more deer over there than there are over here. And, with less brush, you have a better chance at finding said deer. Pick a unit that allows you to shoot does and you should get tons of chances to try out your skills stalking a deer. You will still have to figure out how to kill one, but you shouldn't have much trouble finding them.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Smossy on March 21, 2013, 03:42:32 PM: Quote from: WSU on March 21, 2013, 03:30:43 PM
There are far more deer over there than there are over here. And, with less brush, you have a better chance at finding said deer. Pick a unit that allows you to shoot does and you should get tons of chances to try out your skills stalking a deer. You will still have to figure out how to kill one, but you shouldn't have much trouble finding them.
Cool. Depending on if some of the people who offered to take me out this year dont fall through. Ill probably give that a try. Its always nice to have options.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Austrian Hunter on March 21, 2013, 04:11:48 PM: All Deer and Elk and everything between are in Western Washington. All deer and elk in Eastern WA moved west ;)
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: Tradhunter on March 21, 2013, 10:28:53 PM: I was 12 and the first day of hunting when I shot my first deer. It was a spike blacktail. My opinion is to start bowhunting on the westside as there are plenty of deer here and typically if you jump a small buck or doe they tend to stand there broadside. Thats just my experience with blacktails. A big blacktail buck now...good luck! I bowhunt eastside mule deer and although I see and stalk many deer most of the time I come home and fill the freezer with a blacktail.
Title: Re: How long did you hunt before your first kill?
Post by: buck man on March 24, 2013, 01:56:21 AM: Smossy. Pm me. I think I could help you get your first deer. :tup:. Thatis if you would like help. It would be an early season doe in eastern wa. Got a little dirt over here overrun with does. :tup: