What did you learn this past season?
 

Now that most archery seasons are ending, I was wondering what if anything you have learned? From being in the woods, I learned that I see more deer in the morning than in the afternoon. I also learned that in some instances, a whistle works better than a grunt. Bowhunting has taught me that it can be more rewarding to let one walk than to take a questionable shot or to shoot a yearling. What I learned from reading the forums is simple: WAIT WAIT AND WAIT SOME MORE before tracking the deer that you shot.

I believe that lessons are repeated until they are learned. I do my best to evaluate my shortcomings this past season so next season I can move on to other lessons to be learned.<img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

That's a GREAT Question to ask!
Maybe these were more of a reinforcement vs. learned: 1) you can never do to much pre season scouting 2) you can never have to many good spots 3) stay flexible 4) work with the wind 4)late season bowhunting is an AWESOME time of year and Lasty 5) Take your time picking your shot.

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

I like this topic tribal.
I learned how gratifying taking one with a bow feels.
I learned how to cut down on some of that squirrel activity near your tree. Sometimes when there are so many of them and they are real active it get to driving me nuts, but other times when that's all I see its nice to have the company. Taking one out with some of his buddies near by can work wonders in getting you some peace and quiet.
I learned I still need permission to hunt some nonpublic land especially after the early archery season ends.
I learned what a modern compound bow can do properly set up shooting a well suited projectile at your game when you fully understand the importance of proper shot placement. (Knowing you equipment and your quarry)
I learned how much I love bowhunting.
I learned how to process my kill.
I learned how much I just plain love shooting my bows.
This has been my best year and season yet.
I learned so much this year but I'll stop there. I'm anxious to read everyone elses posts. Thanks again tribal.:)

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

GREAT topic, tribal. Let's see:

When it's time to replace your rubber boots, REPLACE them! :) Nothing worse than sitting on stand with soaked feet.

Be patient early on. Bow season is real long, and you'll get more opportunities.

How disappointing, even gut-wrenching, it is to allow someone into your sacred hunting grounds and watch him wound and not recover two deer. I also learned most people won't look as long for a wounded deer as I will.

I TOTALLY agree with the &quot;wait, wait, and wait some more&quot; after the shot idealogy.

And, again, I learned how blessed I am to be one of God's kids and to enjoy the privilege and responsibility of having dominion over the wildlife he provided us with.

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

I learned that the older you get, the lighter you need to be! Trying to carry 260 lbs around in the mountains of West Virginia was a chore, made me sore, and I'm sure lounder was my snore!

I learned that getting ready for the shot is just as important as the shot.

I learned that when you hear something that sounds like a human walking, has a large, dark form like a human, and is headed your way, it is too late to get ready to draw your bow when he is 9 yards from you!! He was only about 13 yards away when I realized he was a buck!!

I learned that it can be warm in WV the week before Thanksgiving!!

I learned that traditional archery is fantastic. I wish I had bought a recurve 15 or 16 ears ago when I bought my first bow instead of a compound!

Bill

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

Well I guess I learned a couple of things this year. The first is never to shoot at a moving deer no matter how close it is. The second is to be very selective who you hunt with. The nicest people can sometimes loose all morals the second they have a big buck in front of them.

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

hehehe, Bill, I learned the same lesson you did. Even my boots are lite weights.

I also learned to think more and move less. Just not as stealthy as I used to be so have to approach my hunts in a much different way.

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

I learned the DNR can't count.

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

I learned to do more preseason scouting, and more important is to do more &quot;just after&quot; season scouting. I got caught behind the 8 ball a little this year. Do not get over confident! I did and messed up big time!!! I learnd just how Blessed I am to have such good hunting close to home, it's great to spend a week bowhunting out of your own house, and still see your family. Most import I think I learnd just how great it is to be alive and bowhunting!

TAKE YOUR KIDS HUNTING AND YOU WON'T BE HUNTING FOR YOUR KIDS

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

I learned not to draw to dang early! cost me a nice buck<img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

I learned the same lesson Bogobble and unfortunatly it also cost me a nice buck. I agee with tribal. For some reason i see more deer of the morning that evening. I also learned no matter how good you think the shot is give the deer time to lay.

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

Learned that if your season sucks and you want to hang up the bow....don't. Take the time you have and enjoy just being there!!!

G

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

I've learned about this great web site.

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

I learned this last year also but i kinda forgot it over the summer but now that deer season is almost up, i've been reminded that the deer is the wisest animal in the woods, AND I HATE THAT!<img src=icon_smile_angry.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

I learned that it's best to shoot from as high as you can up in the tree, because 10 extra feet up can make all the difference in the world. Never got busted once this season.
I also learned a few new hotspots to use when the club up the road puts pressure on the deer.

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

I also learned how great it feels to take a deer with a bow. Mine was a doe but I still felt like doing backflips.

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

I have learned that on top of all the products and tactics that there are out there that the very best thing to harvest a deer is just spending as much time in the woods as possible. This sounds simple but me and a friend always get our deer and our other friends are always wondering why us and not them. Well while they always find an excuse not to go hunting. We are not better hunters, we just put in the time and that I promise is the key.

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

I learn something every season, but you'd think I would remember it all! Nope! The thing I learned most is to practice more during the season instead of going out hunting all of the time. Wasn't as confident this season after missing a gimme on a 150 plus 10 pt. <img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

I learned that even if you are &quot;positive&quot; you know exactly where you hit a deer with your arrow, chances are, you dont.

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

I learned to always look behind you when ground hunting. Being patient with your spot because some days you might not see anything and others could be very interesting. Don't change spots all the time. I learned a lot from this site also. Thanks everyone.

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

I learned (or more appropriately remembered) to stay in your stand till the very end. Two different times I was either getting down or had just got down and had deer walk up to me.
Also re-learned how good the eyesight is on turkey!

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

I learned that I definitely need to put more pre-season scouting time in. I also learned the morning lesson as well. I learned that I need to study deer feeding habits regarding what foods are eaten when. I hunted a farm with a plethora of different food sources and I couldn't figure which one they wanted at any given time. I need to lighten up, myself. I also learned not to wear all the clothes in and get overheated.

The most important bloodtrail leads right to the foot of the cross

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

I found out that i need ALOT of work to control the &quot;buck fever&quot;.had a decent buck walk out just before dark--CHOKED!

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

i learned to wach out for the possibility of being silouetted. i got busted and never even thought about the possibility.
need to do. practice during the season. i practice about every day the rest of the year but when the season is in i sit in a stand. when the musels are not used they lose.

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

I have learned that you just never know what a child will do in the woods when there is a buck very near.I also learned that after you secure your saftey belt, make sure the stap on your binocs are around your neck.

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

Not to get my wife pregnant in December - my little boy was born Oct 23rd and my season was shot because of it ! Mid Sept or late Dec would have been MUCH easier on my hunting season ! :)

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

I knew it all before.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> I just don't remember sometimes.<img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

i thick i learn something new every time i go into the bow woods..this year i learned that scouting is just as important as the actual hunting..if you find where the deer are coming and going from you will have a better chance..i actually keep a mental log of every buck sighting i have ever experianced in my hunting life, i have been hunting the same property for my entire life so that helps..but deer are a creature of habit and bucks i have learned will do the same thing year after year, but usually they will come from where you expect but the won't alway cooperate..i'm learning around the clock.

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

I learned that no matter how busy our schedule is if we are going to bow hunt we must practice well before the seoson comes in. Got a nice buck but made a horrible shot from not enough practice.

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

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 &quot;new&quot; 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

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

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

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

I learned that I should always follow my instincts.

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

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

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

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]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

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

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

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

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

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.

RE: What did you learn this past season?
 

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