Germ.. You hit the nail on the head... one thing everyone has left out... FUN... That is the key to success.
Everyone stresses good points. Success vary's by indivdual goals & experience. I'm sure I would set different goals for myself if I lived / hunted the Midwest vs the "big woods" of New England. It is impossible to compare the 2 regions, types of hunting, andoverallquantitiy of game.
In my neck of the woods, you are considered a good bowhunter if you can consistantly kill a deer or 2 (buck or doe) with the bow... A buck and you are definately doing something right.
I try not to compare myself to others and rate my success based on accomplishing my own personal goals I have set. That is not to say that I question myself as a "good hunter" when I see others shooting big bucks...