Looking back on when I started to hunt and the information on the internet today, I still would take my own experiences of trial and error over the internet....but that's me. I think this is a subjective question Scott, good question though as I've often wondered the exact same thing. In fact I thought about it when I read some of the exact same threads that spurred this one.
Some folks learn better by reading then applying, others by doing, and either failing or succeeding, then applying what they just encountered. That's me, I'm a hands on guy and what may work for you won't for me. A couple other factors come to mind and they are as follows....
1. A lot of what you read here on the internet is pure crap....sorry guys but it's true, I laugh at the screen often when I read some of the "ideas' being passed around here. This may put some on the defensive but you can tell in a short period of time who's full of (you know what) and who is the real deal. I can't speak for all here but I don't have the time nor the inclination to rebut all the BS that's passed around so some of it goes unchecked and therefore many take it as gospel. In doing this some may actually need more time to figure out what works and what doesn't than they would have taken had they just "did it themselves".
2. What works in your area may not in mine so where is the useful information to be read? Now I'm not talking about general bow hunting strategies as most of that can and will apply pretty much anywhere but that won't arbitrarily get you closer to your kill in your neck of the woods. This can only be done by going out and seeing what will work where you hunt.
The bottom line is the internet can and (I'm sure) has helped folks greatly. It's a great place to learn basic bow hunting informationand if you stay away from the BS can be a useful tool. However that being said, I'm glad I started out without the aid of the internet, I feel that being able to do things "hands on" has given me a more solid base to work with...if that makes any sense.
The internet can be helpful no doubt but something can be said for the old "trial and error" method too.
