you'll be learning so much from these kinds of hunts, stuff you don't even realise until things start clicking and you'll look back chuckling at the things you used to do.
I would get a rifle and shoot a few deer first,it might just take that edge off getting that first deer and relax you more for your bow hunting.And one other thing as you've already experienced and its a massive learn that sometimes goes unlearnt for a while-when your starting out almost all encounters are when you least expect them and your not ready for the kill shot.Thats what I found and now that I know some areas well and are more dialled in I pretty much never spook animals without being ready, the other day I was thinking this is almost becoming easy.almost.
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