I'm gonna have to swing both ways on this one. It was most certainly a success from several standpoints. I learn more about deer behaviour all the time. This year, better than any other, I put myself in a position to see deer. I am on deer fairly consistently and have learned to hunt funnels to pinch them down. I have gained access to a couple of awesome places and secured them already for next year. I call that a success, and I haven't killed a deer with an arrow this year, though I did miss one.....[&:]

It has also been very disapointing. The ground behind my parents house that I have been hunting on for nearly 20 years I am now having to share with a young lad. Last season this ground was amazing, I saw more deer there than I ever have. This year......not the same story. This youngster rides his ATV right through the bedding area to gain close access to his stand that is in the worst possible position, and today I find a bait pile. From this standpoint......this year has stunk. Yeah, I know....he needs to learn to, and I made MANY, and still make plenty of mistakes. But it is awefully frustrating for me.