shed1

Great Topic! This year my greatest lesson was that no matter how hard I scout, no matter how much time I put in, and no matter how much knowledge I think I have of deer in my area, no matter how much I practice and how well refined I feel my skills are, there is still a greater power involved. I am not in control and I still have so much to learn! I simply try to up my odds by doing the aforementioned.

For me an animal is a gift from our Creator. They give their life to enhance ours in many ways. Every time I step foot in the woods I say a little prayer. I simply ask that I will learn something new. So far after 20 years of hunting I can't think of a time I didn't learn something "new" from nature and it's creatures.

IHW,
Shed

p.s. had troubles loggin on as shed...had to change it a little to shed 1

Edited by - shed1 on 01/11/2002 12:31:52

SuperX

I learned that even though I love hunting with a rifle and spending quality time in camp with my dad, brother, and sister, that for me rifle hunting has become too much see them and shoot them.

I learned that I love archery and that the prospect of my first bowhunt for whitetails next year is enough to keep me up at night - even though it is still just January. <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>.

Oh, had to add... I learned that I love my Parker Ultralite 31 <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

_________
SuperX


Edited by - SuperX on 01/11/2002 12:05:30

Edited by - SuperX on 01/11/2002 12:06:47

silentassassin

I learned that I should always follow my instincts.

shed1

Stealthy Cat..... congrats on your son's birth. I am sure you look forward to the day he joins ya in the woods. Oh by the way..I was born Oct 22... good month!

IHW,
Shed

Hidden Hunter

That to much of a good thing can throw a monkey wrench to your best laid plan's,namely To much CORN!Farmers went bezerk this year with their plantings,and the deer took full advantage of the excellent cover which it provides.Really slow beginning and middle season.

Deleted User

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Hucklburry

Something I learned many years ago, hunt all the way back to the truck. I was leaving an area once, walking a horse trail, real quiet and slow, and I got to the end of the woods where it became a field and just bumbled on out into the field. Opps. Up jumps a REAL nice 8 point and a doe, running from the word go. They had bedded down about 30 yds into the field of tall grass, if I had stopped short of entering the field I would have seen them and possibly got a stalk on the big guy. Felt sooooo stupid, always be ready, even sitting on the tailgate have that gun somewhere handy.

--Jim

hoytusa10

I learned that it doesn't matter what age you are because there are still sum really stupid people in the woods and to carry a flashlight. I'm 15 n got shot at by n idiot because he thought i wuz a deer but luckily i never got hit. also that you should never EVER buy a treestand under $60 kuz it kan cost u a real nice buck!! that you can get attacked when rattling and grunting on the ground. Practice, practice, practice!! And to make sure you know ur yardages!!!! I missed a total of 7 bucks this year!!! 3 were real bruisers n the one i had 15 yds. under my stand n missed bcuz i miss judged him and he was a 150 class 8 pt. One more thing to add is to say that ur never done scouting and shotgun hunting is totally different than bowhunting!! Jim

ampahunter

I am now convinced that deer have great memory. Never again will I sit in the 'same tree stand' if I spook or shot & miss at a good buck from that stand. This year I saw a buck I shot at and missed coming down his runway and @ 72 yards away he stopped to recky the tree I was sitting in when I shot at him. Once he made me out, he calmly turned around and headed back to where he was coming from. It was a real wake up call for me to see the intelligence of this deer. I moved about forty yards off of that tree to another tree and yes he did return and again he was checking the old tree stand, unfortunately for him I had moved and got him off-guard. I've learnt that I will NOT sit in the same location if I spook a deer that I would like another shot at (with a bow) in the future. Yes I got a shot at him and he's now in the freezer.

445 supermag

Great topic.

I learned that a good tree stand ( big shots buck shot) is invaluable.

I learned that not just practice BUT perfect practice make perfect.

I learned that I cannot wait till next year.

I am sure there are others but that is all I can remember.

brian