OK guys this might be long.

OK i started hunting in KY 5 years ago This Nov 18th. I started gun hunting.
I started because i loved deer meat. I was not a hunter as a kid did not own a gun till i was 18.
I bow hunted two season at 13 with no deer.
I was one of those guys that bought a gun some scents and drove around till i found a area to hunt.

I did not scout much at all. I hunted 6 times then stopped that year.

My second year i scouted some public land. I counted 20 guys hunting the area and saw two deer both down one on a guys truck leaving and one being drugged out.
I got a bow that chrisms. Thank god!!!!!!

I skipped my third year due to moving to late in the year.
Last year i scouted alot then got on some private land.
Most of you know how this years as gone so i will skip it.

Now my first year i would not have called my self a hunter. I was a guy in the woods with a gun. In fact opening day i drove over to a house i was remodeling and saw 10 deer in a field right before shooting light.
I passed on the shot it was 10 minutes short of legal shooting time.

I did not see another deer that year.

Now to my question. When do you become a hunter and stop being a guy in the woods trying to kill something.
Is it when you try and learn as much about your area or the deer before you hunt. Is it when you make that first kill. Or is it just when you walk in the woods the first time. As the guy trying to kill something

I am self taught. I do not know anyone well that hunts. The only people that have taught me about hunting is all you guys on here.
It has been hard but well worth it. I have wondered a few times if i can stand another year with out a deer. What worries me most is knowing i will need to spend another 2000 or so on hunting stuff between a climber and muzzle loader and other stuffnext season. Not sure if i can if i get no deer. But unlike every year before i have not said i am done if i do not kill one. Mostly because i know i will not stop and because i do not want to throw away the 1500 bucks i spent this year on stuff.

Are you a hunter even if youhave not killed a deer.