I started out rifle hunting had a 308 Remington 788 bought from a gunsmith for $125 I met at the range, he overhauled that rifle, floated the barrel, trigger work, on and on what a deal, I could group quarters at a 100yds with a 4x4 scope, killed a few nice bucks with it in Utah
I then I picked up a bow for about 15yrs and killed a bunch of nice bucks with it before giving up on hunting, I mastered the craft and started ocean fishing I've had several boats and currently have a 18ft center console, we fill the ice chest full!
The guy who taught me how to bow hunt owned a archery shop, he was tops in So Cal, Trophy Local Bears 500lbs+, monster elk from Utah/Colorado, Monster Bucks from every where
He told me one of "Many" of his stories, he Saud he was on the trail back to his truck and he got that 6th sense feeling and turned around, and a big 180lb+ mountain lion was behind him like 30ft doing the sneak crawl to jump on his back, shot him with a arrow
He was on a standard deer trail hunting a brute bear 500+ and they went face to face on the trail 20t apart as the bear stood on its hinds, he hit the bear in the right chest, he jumped in the brush feet hanging out on the trail, all he said was he could remember the bear rattling the alumnium arrow shaft in his teeth trying to pull it, as the bear hit his feet running by on the trail
Those are just a few of many real life stories, Ole Earl was the man, could track a hit animal like a blood hound, lots of good and scary memories