Cool back story for you.
For me, to be completely honest, was the fact that my neighbor had a crossbow for me to borrow. I had never hunted, I joined a forum with a bunch of crazy people, I asked a lot of questions, and I picked up the crossbow and started sitting in the woods. My wife ended up buying me a bow (it was before we were married, also I don't think she was comfortable buying a gun) so it was all I had! I actually still don't have a rifle. I have a slug gun, but haven't shot a deer with it yet.
I'm hoping to get a rifle soon, but still love bow hunting more than anything. I also basically only hunt Wheeler, which is bow only.