I'm still very new to deer hunting or any hunting for that matter. This is my third year at it. My first year, I didn't see a whole lot of deer and only rifle hunted during the two week rifle season. I did learn a lot, but was also a bit disappointed that I dind't get anything. I got a late start on getting into hunting. I didn't grow up in a family that did any hunting. My little brothers started before I did and my youngest brother is the one who really got me interested in it. He also talked so highly of bow hunting that I decided to try that my second year. I bought a used bow off ebay, got it sighted in and tuned. I practiced for several months before my second year of hunting. Bow season also runs from October 1st through Jan 15th here, so I knew I'd get to spend a lot more time out in the woods. I didn't get a deer with my bow the first year using it either,but I did learn a lot more about scent control, looking for deer sign, and got to see a lot of deer that year. I was lucky enough to take a mature doe on the last day of rifle season last year. My youngest brother lives a few hours away, so I didn't get to learn a whole lot from him. When I did take my first deer last year, it was a learning experience all the way around. I'd read everything I could about hunting and watched a few hunting videos. I'd watched my brother field dress a deer, but didn't have anybody to show me exactly how to do it that year...I'd been hunting alone most of the season, but reading and watching videos helped me a lot. This year was my second year with a bow. I decided to buy a new bow (right before bow season) got it sighted in and practice about a week with it before going out to some new property. I hadn't had time to do much scouting, so I just put up a couple of tree stands and hoped for the best. I did set one stand up along an area where there were a few rubs. I shot my first deer with a bow and it was a buck. Not a huge buck, but a good buck....a great first buck! So, I'd have to say that no, killing a deer doesn't make it a successful hunt. Just spending time in the woods, learning, and enjoying the times I do get to hunt with family makes hunting a success. I've enjoyed every minute that I get to spend in the woods. Due to getting a late start in deer hunting, I don't get to spend as much time in the woods as I'd like to. I've been married 7 years and have two kids (boy and girl) and work a lot, but the time I do get in the woods is great. I sure hope for a trophy someday, but it's not all about getting meat or a trophy for me. I really enjoy the challenge and learning new things as I go.

Sorry if that was kinda long, but it's hard to just sum it up in a few words when you enjoy something so much. I wish I could get my wife interested in hunting so she'd understand why I enjoy it so much. I've started taking my boy out a few times and hope he ends up enjoying what I can teach him as much as I enjoy going out there.