I posted this on Archerytalk.com and because I have done a lot of lurking on this sight with out much posting, I thought I would share it here also. I am 29 years old and after gun hunting for years, I decided I should get into bowhunting. I am unemployed and have nothing but time, so I blow the dust off a bow I bought 15 years ago and never got to hunt with. It is a Darton SL50. I go to the local bow shop and get it gone through and get the thumbs up from the tech that she is good to go. I spent the next few weeks shooting as much as possible and acquiring equipment off craigslist. I got my camo, a climber, and a bow and some arrows. Feeling confident I spend a week scouring public land, picking the perfect spot. I set my stand up earlier this week knowing I didn't have time to hunt that day but that I would be back in a few days, bow in hand. So tonight was the night. I get out to my stand around 4 and climb on up. Its beautiful, tall grass thick brush, lots of berries and a small clearing of mature hardwoods with a lot of runs crossing it. The particular state land in my area is scarce and basically it is either underwater or just like this, thick brush and tall trees scarcely scattered through it. Did I mention that it is nothing but cornfields around these small plots? Anyway, I climb up and sit. It's fairly windy with a snow/rain mix starting. As it gets dark the sleet turns to just rain and almost intolerable. I climb down and walk out. All that is on my mind is the view from 18 feet up. I didn't see anything, I got wet, I got cold, and now I have fallen in love. There is something about the view from a treestand and the anticipation of knowing you have to be right on top of them that is almost intoxicating. I can only compare it to going to my first concert when I was 16 or 20 minutes before I walked down the aisle of my wedding. I NOW SEE WHY PEOPLE LIKE TO GUN HUNT BUT LIVE FOR BOWHUNTING!!! -Joseph