just curious

b/c hunting means more to me than just killing a deer. and its not my goal, but it is included in the days activities sometimes. it is not the measure of my success.

kenman

I would never tell someone their season was a success or failure depending on if they put something in thefreezer or not, that isn't my place. My goal for the rifle season was to take a big 8-10 point I had seen a couple times during bow season. I hunted him hard, I mean real hard, and he out dueled me this year. I saw a couple other smaller bucks I could have whacked, but that was not my goal. I failed, and failed badly (I seen him 3 times during the rifle season). That being said, I had a great season, I put 2 deer in the freezer with the bow, couldn't be happier. My friends all got nice bucks, and we celebrated all of them. I am already thinking/scouting/planning on how I'm gonna put that big SOB down next year. My failings in my hunts this yearwill give me somewhat better odds of taking him down in 9 months.

DannyD

HI Kenman,
Just curious. So do you consider your season a failure because you did not get the 8-10 pointer?
Whatever your answer, you are right.

rybohunter

I thought this was a rather simple concept to understand, evidently not.

hunting means WAY more to me than just a kill. It's a way of life. No one here has said that killing a deer is the only measure of enjoyment, or the only reason they hunt, but it is a measure of success, otherwise we'd all just be nature watchers. I don't understand why so many people just don't want to admit to being unsuccessful.

I went elk hunting this past fall. Didn't get one, I was NOT successful. I made great friends, saw incredible sights, experienced things I've only read about, it was the time of my life, despite failing to kill an elk.
I'm ok with being unsuccessful and still having a great hunt.

kenman

Hi Dan,
My goal for my rifle season was to take a particular deer. That goal was unrealized. I am a competitive person at heart, I hate to lose. I don't know why, but some people have a hard time admitting failure. I dont, I learn from my failings. It makes success so much sweeter. When I drop that boss buck next year, the fist pump will be way awesome.

Look at it this way...the last day of the season when I was walking out from that last afternoon hunt. I was bummed because that deer was still walking...success doesn't bum me out, failure does.

DannyD

Kenman,
I can see that. No doubt you did not reach your main goal and if you placed the utmost impotance of the season on that then in your mind you were not successful. End of story.

Jimmy, who is just as entitled as me or anyone else to his opinion, believes that no deer = unsuccesful season or failure.

I posted a scenario before that I will copy here
look at it the other way..you go through the whole season and kill a doe, buck whatever. but you had planned to go out 20 days this year and you only went out once. You planned a few trips with your dad but he couldn't go. Your kids were supposed to be out there with you but their grades were poor so they couldn't go. After you shot the doe you fell out of the tree stand and broke your back. Was your season successful?

In this case my opinion is that this would not be a successful season. But a deer was killed so according to Jimmy S this is a description of a successful season (sorry Jimmy i'm not picking on you. i'm only point out that you and others say deer=successful season).

sjsfire

Did you stop and wonder maybe we don't all think like you? Like I said in one of my earlier posts, I don't measure success on pulling the trigger. If youthink not getting what you want as unsuccessful you have problems my friend......

Jimmy S

Danny, you are absolutely correct. If I fell out of my treestand after shooting a deer, it certainly would not be classified as a successful season. Yep, even thoughtI was successful in tagging a deer. You get no rebuttal from me.

It is, and has been my contention, that just because we all love hunting and all have a wonderful time with family and friends,there isstill such a thing as failure when hunting.

I never suggested that I measure the kill as the final, determing factor, for me,if I had a great season. I always have a great time whether I shoot a deer or not. That feeling is never in question. I have never NOT had a great time hunting.

I just have a hard time understanding how someone that scouts and hunts a big old buckthat he/shehas seen for years....and when the moment of truth comes, loses out to that deer. And does not admit that they failed.

There is nothing wrongwith admitting that. Trust me, I have failed miserably while hunting many times in my life. No one ever took away my birthday....I take that as part of the entire hunting experience.

If I never failed while deer hunting, I wouldn't be here typing this. I would be sipping umbrella drinkson my own island.

Maybe he heard/smelled/saw you just as you got ready to shoot. Maybe he only gave you a running shot after you failed to see him first...there are alot of different scenerios. When the dust has settled, the buck lives another day because he won and you lost. My goodness, that probably happens more often than not.

So, when I'm back after my trip and someone asks me how was the hunting?

I tell them all the wonderful things that happened.
I tell them how proud I was of the guys that did tag.
I tell them how much I learned this season alone.
I tell them of the funny stories that happened during the trip.
I tell them I had the best time doing what I love most.

I also tell themhow excited I was when I finally got a look at that big buck and how he again outsmarted me.

When they finally ask..Was your trip successful"?
My reply is "no".

Andmy answerhas nothing to do with all the wonderful things I experienced as a deer hunter.

TFOX

I can't understand why succes is measured solely on killing something. It all depends on WHY you hunt,if it is solely to kill something,then,imo you miss the whole point.


My season has been a complete succes.I put both my kids on deer and they made good shots.

Have I killed the one that I am after,NO but that doesn't define succes.


Now if you want to ask me if I succeded in killing something,I would reply NO.Except maybe for time.[8D]

TSR6

To me, as long as I COULD have pulled the trigger, it was a successful season.

If I had no oppertunities at all to shoot a buck, then I see the season as a failure.