I started when I was about 12 (about 25 years ago).

Used a simple target recurve bow and many shot trees, tin cans, ice cream tins and shot as far as a I could over the tall gums trees into a paddock on the other side.

Also played that "game" where you shoot the arrow straight up and watched it as it came down and dodged if necessary. Really bright, aye?

Shot quite a few pigeons roosting in the hay shed - broke more arrows than recovered pigeons. An occasional rabbit too.

Camoflaged the original light weight bow with paint for some reason but not the larger one.

Have also tried to hunt roos with one. But they are much more sporting with a bow than a rifle and almost always spot you, hopping off another 200 metres so you rarely get within 100 metres of one. Easy with a rifle but frustrating with a bow.

Goats and pigs are easier to approach closely than roos.

Wouldn't consider hunting deer with one at the moment, though on many hunts especially towards the middle of the day, one does chance apon a sleeping deer and can get within a few metres. However these would only be taken for meat, as the trophy animals are never that easy. I think a good bowhunted trophy deer is truly a hard worked for trophy.

Haven't tried to bowhunt for a long time, but with a forum like this it does whet the appetite!

PS I think it would be great to hunt warthog with a bow. In the high grass while tracking other game, BigFive and I routinely walked right up to dozing warties who are very comical to watch.