So what is mentoring new hunter all about? Well beside sharing the sport I love with someone who has never hunted, it is exciting to hear how he felt after is first on his own hunting trip. My friend Zach wanted to start deer hunting and thought that bow hunting would be something he would enjoy. Below you can read in his words all about his opening day of archery season and his first season with a bow. With the upcoming Sportsman's it is a good time to look for someone that you can get hooked on hunting and take them to the show.

From Zach: "I Am Hooked! First ever Deer Hunt and with a Bow.

Opening day of Archery Deer Season came up on me quick. Still wrapped up in my other hobby, practicing and scouting kind of took a back seat. This was my first time ever deer and bow hunting. I was able to practice enough to feel confident at 40 yards. I was told by a couple of great bow hunters (The O'Donnells) that's if you can keep your arrows inside a paper plate, you will be fine. I was able to scout one area close enough to my house that I can make it there after work. This spot is in the Belfair WA area.

Opening day was on a Wednesday so I hustled from work to my house and jumped in the truck which was all loaded up. I had my camo, backpack, knifes, arrows and New PSE Bowmadness with Limbsaver Fall Away Rest, Limbsaver Sight and PSE Quiver (set up and tuned by Butch & Lisa O'Donnell, Thanks again Guys!!). I also packed my mountain bike.

When I got to the spot I had scouted two weekends before I noticed a lot of cars and the gate to the clear cut was open. Unfortunately they started to clear cut an area right next to where I scouted and wanted to hunt. This was not what I wanted to see at 5 o'clock pm opening day with no backup plan. So I had wing it. I ended up going down the road and finding a clear cut road with no trucks already parked there and no clear cutters. It was a good ride in the woods in an unknown area.

I didn't see a darn thing until about a half an hour before dark. I was making my way slowly through a few year old clear cut toward the mid to small size doe. The closer I got and the more she sensed I was there, my heart raced faster and faster. I was able to get within 50 yard, just outside my shooting comfort zone. I told myself if it was not opening day and if it was not a smaller doe I would have taken a shot. The rest of the early season I was not able to get that close again. I did however learn a lot and that experience was enough to hook me. Can't wait for the late season!

The Young and the Inexperienced Deer Hunter, Zach"

Steve " The Big Hairy One"