So, I don't have any friends that bow hunt, but I would love the ability to take a deer in early October. I would only hunt for Texas white-tail.

Any advice on getting started in bow hunting?

--Where to get a bow.
--Reading up on technique.
--Where the heck do I practice?
--Other hardware I will need.

www.huntersfriend.com

Tons of great info on everything you are looking for.

Also, www.archerytalk.com

Lots of articles and a great forum.

Bought my first complete bow set-up from HuntersFriend. Great customer service and good prices IMO.

www.texasbowhunter.com

texags recommendation on arrows

texags expandable broadhead/broadhead tuning

a great tutorial from Field and Stream

hunter's friend bow selection guide

Acheiving perfect broadhead flight

I will add this to the FAQ thread, because this comes up often enough.

editied to add AggieChemist's broadhead write-up.

[This message has been edited by 35chililights (edited 9/28/2009 3:58p).]

I will also add my mood-killing $0.02 and say that I hope you're looking at 2010 because you won't even be close to ready to ethically shoot a deer by October 2009.

Bit of blanket statement there Sean. While would agree that MOST people couldn't do it - some guys just have "it" with a bow in their hands. I'd say to not EXPECT to be ready, but know your limits. If it happens it happens.

Man, that manbearpig knows his ****.

got my first bow at 15 years old in August 2000. Practiced EVERYDAY from every situation (sitting in a chair, climbing tree stand, roof of my house) until i could put three arrows in the 3 inch circle from 10, 20 and 30 yards... Very first bow hunt was the second week of october just two months after getting my bow. One shot, one dead nine point. You can definitely be ready to ethically kill a deer with a couple months of practice.

just make sure you buy quality accessories.
NO PLASTIC!

you wanna be able to crank down on your mounted stuff so they wont move. Theres no need to buy a $150 rest of sight, but at least find something decent.

Make sure you are comfortable making a good pattern before you even attempt shooting an animal.

Where are you located in Houston? I go to Viking archery near 59 and Beltway 8 on the SW side at least a couple of times a week. Also you can get a membership to Buffalo Field Archery Club to practice long range outside, they have a great practice range.

As far as which bow to get I would recommend finding a good shop nearby and getting them to measure your draw length then try every bow in your price range until you find one you like.