RE: Let me re-phrase the "failure" question..
The only way I would view my entire season as a failure would be A) I did not see any deer period! B) I did not see any deer within range that ICOULD have shot. C) The deer spooked and didn't allow a shot. Any time I go into the field and see a deer within range that I COULD shoot if I so chose to is a sucess. I don't have to pull the trigger to call it successful.