I didn't start hunting til I was almost 30. I had been camping and fishing for several years, but never did any hunting. I started out small game hunting with very little (read: No) success. Then i got the interest in deer hunting through my inlaws. They were kind enough to let me hunt their property, and mentored me along the way.
There's two moments that defined me. I borrowed an inlaw's 30.30 one morning. I had never fired a rifle before. I was in a deer stand and a buck came by. I don't know the yardage, but I remember looking at it through the scope. It was a broadside shot...and I didn't take it, not knowing the range of the rifle. In retrospect, I could have made the shot. I remember the deer looking at me, probably laughing as I was a total noob. That's when I realized I needed my OWN rifle that I could practice with and get familiar with.
The other moment came maybe a year or two later when I had my very own rifle...a .45 caliber muzzleloader. It was a cold morning during muzzleloader season. I was in the stand, and a two inlaws were hunting the area as well. I remember seeing deer coming down the dirt road. Oh wow! There's some deer! I was excited just see deer. A buck was walking towards the north of me and...hmmm, this deer is in range. I carefully raised the rifle, got the buck in the crosshairs, and pulled the trigger. Through the smoke, i saw the deer run, and I thought I missed. Then the buck's shoulder started drooping, and his head started drooping and swinging. And then he collapsed! I hit him! I remember the heart pounding and the shakes that followed afterwards. And that was a rush I will never forget.