Define a "successful" season
 

Ok Guys, I know when seasons close the board sometimes get's a little negative. Perhaps through boredom or lack of any hunting situations, we tend to beat our chests, a little to prove our Top Predator Status. I guess I'd like to read some more postive posts to keep the hunting fire burning.
So I ask you what makes the season a success for you?

Me? well don't get me wrong, a boomer buck at the Taxidermy shop being mounted for my den would be great. But it's not that barometer that measures success for me. I like to reflect on the encounters... the situations where you know you could have, but didn't, shoot an arrow. The nice 8 point I passed up because it was only the 2nd week of the season. The extra wide 6 point that was so scared of my decoy he ran towards me (I was on the ground) and stood 6 paces from me looking nervously at that funny "frozen" doe in the field.
Or the other chance encounters, the squirrel that was eye level in the tree beside my stand. As I'm wonderring what do i do if this friggin thing leaps at my camo masked face, he desides to go higher and annonce to the world my presence for the next 1/2 hour.
I love coming home, and as I walk in, my face seems to tell a story,(or lack of) and the family knows by my expression that I have yet another tale to tell over dinner.
Hunting the wiley Whitetail, as you know is not always exciting, somedays pass by, without much excitement. But you never know, the slowest day can turn around in mere seconds to the best day ever.
It's a challenge, it's test of patience and knowledge, somehow it gets into every fiber of your being..and when it does and you've given it your all, it's been a successful season. ;)

RE: Define a "successful" season
 

I know the "right" thing to say is the experiences, encounters with deer and such. But that just don't cut it for me. If there isn't deer in the freezer, I had an unsuccesful season. Period. Maybe as I mature in my deer hunting career that will change, but for now, I like to shoot stuff.

RE: Define a "successful" season
 

MOBOW That's great I'm not looking for political correctness. In my youth I was right there with ya.

However now at {gulp} 40, and apretty highlevel of success in "kills" perspectives change, and the hunt is the success for me.

RE: Define a "successful" season
 

I consider it successful if I have a handful of bucks in bow range..... Whether I kill or not doesn't define success.....

RE: Define a "successful" season
 

A successful season for me is a season that I get to hunt once again with my father.

I spend approx. $500 on a hunting trip back home last year. I took a nicebuck but that wasn't what made it successful.It was successful because Ireturned home, sat with my father on a rock outcropping opening morning, waiting for daylight to break. He then turns to me and says, "I'm glad your here son."

That is what a successful season means to me.

RE: Define a "successful" season
 

:(, that was beautiful MD, :D
I agree with that 100%, I spend more money on gas each year to hunt than actual hunting itself, just because I enjoy going home to hunt with my father.When it comes to that, money is no object.

For me a succesful season is being in the right spot at the right time and having mature bucks around me, not just one chance encounter, but multiple times. Even if I do not bag one, just knowing that Ifigured them out, deciphered their patterns,and I was good enough to put myself in the right locations is succesful for me. That makes me proud.

RE: Define a "successful" season
 

Lots of time in the woods, by myself and with family and friends...

Lots of deer seen regularly....

Lots of opportunities to harvest those deer....

RE: Define a "successful" season
 

After 20 years of bowhunting and plenty of "kills", I measure my bowhunting success as experiences and goals I set for myself prior to the season and it is never about bringing home venison. I don't set my goal to bring home a deer, if you do, you fail more than you succeed and I don't call my time in the woods a failure.

Here's a link to my HNI journal that explains it more. I'd love feed back on it.
http://www.huntingnet.com/fieldjournal/fieldjournal_detail.aspx?nID=179

RE: Define a "successful" season
 

PS, great thread Badatta2d.:D

RE: Define a "successful" season
 

i'm successful if i see deer...i've only seen does no bucks yet..hunting for a couple years now..its kind adepressing but what are you gonna do... this year is gonna be my first bowhunting season...just bought a parker hornet...hope it goes well for me