What is a successful hunt for you?
 

I'm talking about gross scores or the such, but what is a successful hunt for you? I think if I see a deer, then the hunt is a success. I can't go out a lot because of college, so anytime in the woods is good for me. Do I want to shoot a deer? Heck ya! But if I end the season today, with no deer, I'm not going to break down and cry. What are your thoughts on the subject?

"Playing under the table and dreaming"

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

A successful hunt is bringing home a deer. It's the reason I carry a weapon into the woods.

Now before people jump all over me, let me also state that I enjoy being out in the woods even when I don't shoot anything. Some of the sights and experences are priceless. I do not get mad, if I don't bring anything home as I understand that more times than not such is the case. But I do not consider a hunt successful unless I bring home game. Most people claim every hunt is a success, because they are just there. I've never understood that thinking as many will not understand mine.

The thing that matters most is that you enjoy your time in the woods, both successful times and unsuccessful times.

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

I consider it a success any time I get to hunt.trap.or fish regardless. I just enjoy being alive and outside!! [;D] [;d]

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

All the fun is in the hunt. Pitting my skills against mother nature.

The kill is, as it should be, anti-climatic and when the work begins.

Bowhunter

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

I consider it a great hunt when I see deer. I have seen 21 so far this season and have yet to take one.
I consider it a sucessful hunt when I take a deer ( or what ever game I am after). After all thats what we are doing out there is hunting and the end result we hope for is to harvest an animal otherwise why would we bring our bow.


"Born to Hunt Forced To Work"

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

This evening as the light failed in the heavy woods I slipped out to the opening just overlooking the ridge and edged back into a cedar. There was enough light for about 10 minutes of hunting.

Out of the left peripheral vision I saw something flying through the air toward me. It was an owl landing in the tree immediately to my left. I watched him as well as the clearing for the next 15 minutes. As the light failed another owl began to call. He flew away. THAT WAS A SUCCESSFUL HUNT!

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

Every time i can go out and hunt i do and that hasn't been a real lot this year so far because of my job. So its a success even if i dont get a Kill.

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

Right now it would be if i could get more than 20feet from my back door. "i have a broken leg"
L. O. D. Charter member and L.O.S.

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

Im happy just being there, Last year I let everything walk. and loved every min of it. U have to slow down to catch up with nature.

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

Just getting out = big grin. Sitting enjoying God's wonderful creation = smiling large. Actually be close to game and knowing my plan and ideas really might work = ear to ear. Connecting with my intended quarry = a school boy with his first encounter x10....big toothy, ear to ear, grinning mug. Driving home with my harvest and the smell of the job....priceless.

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

If I can get out in the woods, enjoy the day, and get back home safely to my family that to me is a great day period. The harvest, if it comes, is a benefit. Now that I have said that, I am hoping for 3 benefits this year to fill my freezer. Good luck to all and BE SAFE.

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

Being able to get out is successful. Since I hunt bow-only, I enjoy being within distance and not getting detected. Whether I get a shot or not, just being in close is fun for me.

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

Successful is simply being in the woods, very successful is seeing deer and EXtremely successful is a harvest.

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club

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[Deleted by Admins]

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

For me, a successful hunt, is getting in the woods, and then going up and down the tree I'm in, without getting hurt. If those three things happen, I've had a great time.

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

StraightArrow Your KILLIN" me! LOL. I'm Laughing so hard I tipped my lamp over!

I have to say I like being in the woods, but I get antsy when I don't see anything. "Anything is just that"...I'll watch squirrels and chipmunks for hours. But I've been out a few times and seen NOTHING! I don't really mind, but then I get bored and fall asleep and fall out of my treestand and as Straightarrow hinted around to...That aint' no fun.LOL

It's kinda funny how non-hunters think though. I sneak in and out of work to catch the peak times and whenever I get back everyone asks " did you get one?" I've said no every time this year. One day last week a girl asked " Why do you keep hunting and spending all that time if you haven't gotten one yet?" I told her without hesitation that the kill was really secondary. It's enjoyable regardless. And when you do "get one" it makes it all worthwhile.

Trushot }}------>

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

Oh... COME ON PEOPLE!!!! All the above are fun times, good trips, nature walks and FAILED hunts.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> A successful hunt ends with blood on the arrow and a drag to the truck. Someone had to say it. We hunt to kill. Everything else is failure.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> I fail at it a lot and have a ball doing so.... but it still isn't why we went to the woods. You can have a successful hunt or a successfult nature walk.... they're not the same.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

I classify a successful hunt as bringin home a deer. doe or buck.
2 years ago, I was down in a NWR, and had a huge river bottom 8 pointer thrashin bushes, and snort wheezin, and gruntin, and was even lucky enough to get a shot at him at 10yds. didn't touch him, now
that was not a succsesful hunt, but it was one of the most enjoyable hunts I've ever been on.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

daytona 500 winner- Ward Burton
go Cat-22

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

Just seeing deer from a stand that I picked is enough for me.....If I learn something new that will help me be a better deer hunter that's a &quot;BONUS&quot;....let's face it...the majority of the time we do not get our deer so we better enjoy what were doing!!!!!!!!!!

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

I hunt every chance I get. Being out in the woods with family and friends is great. I do not necessarily enjoy havesting deer as I give mosy of the meat away as the family won't eat it. For me the best par is the wildlife and having a chance at a nice deer.

I am very selective in the deer that I take. Managing the deer herd for me is the most enjoyable part of the hunt. I found out years ago that you are usually going to have an unsuccessful hunt if you go expecting to harvest a deer.

I enjoy trying to get within yards of deer, hunting on a ground blind, doing as much as I can do to go undetected. Irf everyone shota deer everytime out, we would have few deer and not many trophies out there.

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

A successful hunt is one where I leave the woods with a smile on my face and some knowledge that I did not have when I walked in.

I used to hunt to kill, now I kill to have hunted. Symantics? Maybe. Difference? Absolutely.

JRW

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

To me, a successful hunt is anytime I can get out of the house and into the woods without getting too much grief about it from my wife when I get back.

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

Last Sunday I spotted a 10 pointer heading across the field in front of my stand. I gave him a few doe bleats and turned him my direction. Although I couldn't get him curious enough to come any closer than 80 yards, that's still the closest anyone has gotten to him in the past 2 seasons. I consider that a success. Especially since this is only my 2nd season and the other guys who hunt this property have been hunting for years. Now if I could only make that 10 pointer my first deer that would be the ultimate success.

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

Anytime I'm in the woods. No matter what the season, I am always deer hunting. Not hunting out-of-season mind you, but even when you are scouting, selecting stand sites, etc., you are essentially performing the acts that are all-encompassed by one word - HUNTING

That's why IMO, if you're in the woods, it's a successful hunt. If it wasn't, why bother going back!



GForce

Shoot often - Hunt always

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

I have to agree with wimp (first reply at the top) that a successful hunt is when I harvest what I'm after.

I consider being in the woods a blessing, which supercedes success.

-Brad
Eastern Nebraska Bowhunter

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

I solo bowhunted CO one year - packed in myself with a backpacked and hunted hard. I did kill a 5x5 bull, first bow elk but the hunt itsself was demanding, tough and very rewarding.

Another elk hunt that my Dad packed in with me. Another hard hunt and we both took big bulls.

The hard physical hunts are very reewarding to me, those and the hunts my Dad and I share.

Killing an animal doesn't make the hunt.
Stealthycat's Photo's

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

The most successful hunt I have ever been on - to date - was the day that my 11 year old went deer hunting for the first time in his life. Although he shot at a doe and missed it was still the most exciting time I have ever had in the woods.

I look forward to him getting one this year - regardless of how big or small it is. When he gets one - that will then be the most successful hunt for me.

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

Every moment in the woods is great. I love it. But a successful hunt is one where I put myself in the right place at the right time. Here's an example:

My in season scouting found a river crossing being used by some of the more mature deer in the woods. I saw two deer that walked across on a row of barely submerged rocks. I found fresh scrapes and tracks a few days ago so I set up a ground blind. As I walked out to the blind I stopped to check out a very fresh scrape. As I stood up, I was EYE TO EYE with the buck that made it! We were on opposite sides of a fallen tree - all I could see was his eyes and antlers. He turned and trotted across the stream.

I will never forget that moment. I went home with a story and the feeling that, as a hunter, I am a success.

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

Meat in the freezer!!!

&quot;Nocked,cocked & ready to rock&quot;

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

No political spin on this one from me. A succesful hunt is when I fill a tag. The rest may be enjoyable, but not succesful.

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

Stickun,

Success will depend on what your goal is. If your only goal is to shoot an animal, then it will not be successful unless you do.

Personally, I never have that as my only goal. In fact, I don't have the same goal on every hunt. Sometimes, I use hunting as a release from the pressures of work. If I come out of the woods relaxed and feeling good, I was successful that day. Most days, my goal is to enjoy the outdoors while trying to get as close to deer as I can undetected. I find myself just as satisfied if a buck walks by and I pass on it, as I do when I kill one. Actually filling a tag has never been needed for me to be successful in obtaining what I was after.

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

A successful hunt for me is seeing deer as is yours jeff. If i see deer then i know i am doing something right. I know i have good scent control and good stand placement. And next time i will try to bring in my climber and get closer to the action. So seing deer is just a great thing for me.

Forever Hunter

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

It seems that what a few here consider to be success , I consider to be fun or enjoyable or pleasurable. If your going in the woods to get away from it all and thats your only goal , then I guess if you accomplish that , it's a success. If your going in the woods for the reason most everyone here is (to harvest a deer) , then success would be harvesting a deer. Pretty simple!

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

Just being in the outdoors hunting is what i love,sure we all want to harvest a animal but after the hunt is over i am just happy with the experience i was able to partake in.



keep it safe and enjoy!!

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

I always pray that the Lord will watch over me and allow me to return home safely, If that prayer is answered then I consider it a successful hunt, because I already know that He will provide me with enough deer for the year!<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

Success is determined by the individual. Watching & Hearing everything come to life in the morning and going to sleep in the evening is something some city folks love to escape to. Tazman probably said it best:---Tazman: Successful is simply being in the woods, very successful is seeing deer and EXtremely successful is a harvest.

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

any hunt is successful i live in the city and hunting allows me to get away from my busy life i was born in the wrong part of the state i was meant to be a country not city

RE: What is a successful hunt for you?
 

I think its a success when I go and actually see deer even though you your heart still sinks when they dont offer a shot.

The Brown-Down is ON!!!!
Steven J. Collins (Trock63)
Bowdaddy Productions