I started bowhunting while Duck hunting. I grew up in the Texas Panhandle and went mule deer hunting on the Texas/New Mexico border with my Dad and brothers with rifles. I don't believe I ever saw a whitetail until I was 23 or so. We took a trip to San Angelo and to me it was like fish in a barrel.
Didn't hunt much again until I was around 30, was starting a family, new job, new town, no money and no place to hunt. Then moved to Grayson County and started waterfowling around Texoma and Roberts. I had alot of fun and success with duck hunting, one day while we were leaving the lake we ran into a guy that was just getting out there. We told him he was too late the ducks have quit flying. He said he was out there to deer hunt. I said, "Out here? are there any deer out here?". He told a a couple of stories which we took in hook, line, and sinker. As we continued to leave we started looking for deer. We saw 2 doe bedded down on our way out that day. The next day I went and bought my first bow. Practiced for about a month and still not having a clue went hunting for the first time with my bow. I climbed a tree and sat there waiting. Heard a noise and a doe popped out. Heart was pounding, I had never been that close to a deer. About 15 minutes later a buck followed behind. It was the biggest 10 pt I had ever seen. I did like the hunting shows and made a grunt sound and whistled. No luck, he kept on going from right under me. Even though I didn't take a shot I was hooked. The next year opening day I took a mature doe and that permanately seal the deal for me. I've taken my kids gun hunting but I haven't been since.
Most rewarding, just the thrill of being able to out smart the animal and have the oppourtunity. On a side note it also prompted me to start volunteer teaching archery at my kids school. We have since had 2 time state champion and State runner-up teams at the State NASP tournament. So archery has been very rewarding to me.
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