As I look back over my hunting career, the encounters, not the kills are what jump out at me as the most memorful(is that a word?). Just getting the chance to bowhunt is good enough for me, arrowing a deer is just a bonus. The most gratifying thing is when I see a nice buck that I know Ive passed on in the prior years. Being successful is not just killing if it were our sport wouldn't be called hunting. I live for those close encounters with all the wildlife be it deer, a coyote that was close enough to drop kick, the owl that landed a foot behind your shoulder, etc.....

Good planning, forget nothing, see lots, put blood on the arrow. Doesn't get much betterr. Forget all that touchy touchy feely feely stuff. If I don't hear TWACK.... I failed. I do that alot.[8D] When I fail it's an OK hunt. A great hunt lays a blood trail. There isn't any such thing as a bad hunt.

every year is a successful season just because i get to spend time with my friends in the best place of all the great outdoors even if i dont kill one

I'd say successful is seeing lot's of deer near your stand while hunting ,and having the opportunity to at least take a few of them. That's a successful season that I had this past fall.

nubo