Just crunching numbers today and it looks like the national average is still holding strong. Only 12% of those entered have bagged a buck so far. I think we'll get another half dozen to a dozen entries this weekend, so that would take us up to 17% if twelve of us score this weekend. I think I remember reading somewhere that the national success rate is something like 20-25% for archery hunters. Can anyone verify this? Also, is that success rate for any deer or just bucks?

My early season ends on the 12th of this month, and I plan on taking off Thursday and Friday to hunt if I don't score this weekend. I don't get to hunt much during the late season because of the Holidays and the wife is beyond fed up already.[&:]

Anual success rates in NY with a bow are around 11% for just taking a DEER........for a buck would be much lower I would guess.

The shocking thing I saw was last year gun success rates for deer were only 14 or 17% if I remember correctly. [] The way the slugs fly you would think every other guy out there was bagging one.

According to ESPN Outdoors site, Nebraska had a 28% archery success rate last year, but that is including all deer. I couldn't find anything for bucks alone.

Some of us are very selective. I won't shoot anything unless it's huge until December or January. I may just take a decent buck to just add to my team's score since my hunting time maybe limited here on out. We will see. I have a feeling I can't resist the woods. Bills can always wait until final notice.

Selectivity is a huge part of success rates. Although I feel guys in here are probably a little more into it than your regular joe, they are probably more selective, so I guess it all evens out.

I am being very selectie too. ANY DEER that is close enough I will shoot. Of course, I have never harvested anything with my bow so I will be happy to get something. Have seen at least 1 deer everythime out, but they are either out of range or I cannot get a shot. 2 have been little bucks. Bow hunting is the hardest, most frustrating hunting I have ever done. I just love it..

You have to remember that all the Southern hunters are just getting started. Our rut doesn't even start until mid December where I hunt.

Also, success rates can be very deceiving. In MS they calculate it based on total harvest and total hunters. For instance, last year I killed 4 deer with my bow, so if 3 others didn't kill anything, we are still at 100% success.