How do you judge sucess?

[MI newguy]

As our season comes to an end, it seems a new season has begun. It's called complaining season. And I'm guilty as the next guy. I think I am losing the real reason I hunt. I enjoy being out in the woods, sharing time with family and friends. Sure my season could always be better, by bagging that buck of a lifetime. Truthfully, I see some of my friends the most around hunting season. I judge my sucess by the times I've spent in the woods. So I had one heck of a season. I was in the woods all season except, maybe 8 days. As I look back, I don't have nohting to complain about. The time I spent in my tree stand alone thinking and enjoying nature at it's best. The time I spent with the youth hunters, with thier exspresions of just seeing a deer. Time with my friends and my daughter hunting during rifle season, and coworkers during muzzleloader. I think I may have become a little selfish. I love to hear hunting stories, good or bad, some funny and others sad. But most of all I like hunting, it's called hunting because you never know what will happen. If you killed an animal every time you went, it would be called killing. Times have changed a lot from 20 years ago, access is harder to get. And in most area's so have the deer.

You know I still have both my buck tags left, and I have had a great season!

[mudflapimmc]

i judge my success by how many different seasons/species i was able to attempt a GOOD hunt. i also think of the success i had during the season by spending time with my sons out in the woods/field. whether its just taking a walk,training our lab,watching my oldest boy get his 1st goose,:woohoo1: meeting other sportsmen, or making new friends, i don't think there is anything in the universe that could compare.

[JAS]

Boy, a double serving of tag sandwich and you still feel like its a good season. Now thats dedication! For me, I like to harvest(kill) animals. Always have, but with limits of course. It's like this. At the beginning of the season I always say, "8 points or better!". Then as the time and days go on and on and on.... Then it turns into a 6 point. Then BOOM! There is no way, and I mean no way, that I am going to get skunked on venison. I was very lucky this year. I mean very lucky. 2 bucks in CA. 1 elk and 1 buck in MT and 1 buck in MI with my smokepole. Thats a lot of animals(and money) to let the air out of. Everyone I know is enjoying the fruits of my good fortune and steady aim. Although I am very stingy with the elk just to let you know.
I know what you are talking about. I have had my helpings(numerous) of tag sandwiches as well. Thats just the way it goes. We, and I mean almost of all of us(those who say that haven't are liars) have eaten our share of tag sandwiches. Just makes you want next year to come around that much sooner. Me? I am ready to roll another one. Heck, I am going to try to let the air out of a pig this weekend.

By the way, my father has shot 1 deer in 36 years of hunting. Every time I sneak up to him in the woods, its almost always the same thing. I see an open Detroit Free Press and cup of coffee and cigarette smoke rising from the pages. A 30-30 leaning on a tree 10 feet away which I doubt is even loaded. He always says, "They weren't big enough". Or, he will be already in the car and says "What? I just got here 1 minute ago" but the car tempature is all the way up and heat in the car is like a flame thrower. In short, that's hunting to him. A lot of woods in Northern MI and time spent with his Marine son. The deer? What deer?

JAS

[aquanator]

Quality hunting time with fmaily members = success to me. Top it off with a nice buck, and so much the sweeter!;)

[William H Bonney]

Boy, a double serving of tag sandwich and you still feel like its a good season. Now thats dedication! For me, I like to harvest(kill) animals. Always have, but with limits of course. It's like this. At the beginning of the season I always say, "8 points or better!". Then as the time and days go on and on and on.... Then it turns into a 6 point. Then BOOM! There is no way, and I mean no way, that I am going to get skunked on venison. I was very lucky this year. I mean very lucky. 2 bucks in CA. 1 elk and 1 buck in MT and 1 buck in MI with my smokepole. Thats a lot of animals(and money) to let the air out of. Everyone I know is enjoying the fruits of my good fortune and steady aim. Although I am very stingy with the elk just to let you know.
I know what you are talking about. I have had my helpings(numerous) of tag sandwiches as well. Thats just the way it goes. We, and I mean almost of all of us(those who say that haven't are liars) have eaten our share of tag sandwiches. Just makes you want next year to come around that much sooner. Me? I am ready to roll another one. Heck, I am going to try to let the air out of a pig this weekend.

By the way, my father has shot 1 deer in 36 years of hunting. Every time I sneak up to him in the woods, its almost always the same thing. I see an open Detroit Free Press and cup of coffee and cigarette smoke rising from the pages. A 30-30 leaning on a tree 10 feet away which I doubt is even loaded. He always says, "They weren't big enough". Or, he will be already in the car and says "What? I just got here 1 minute ago" but the car tempature is all the way up and heat in the car is like a flame thrower. In short, that's hunting to him. A lot of woods in Northern MI and time spent with his Marine son. The deer? What deer?

JAS
Tag sandwich? LOL,,, its more like wall paper for me. Although, there's a little less of it this year. :rolleyes:

[Dedge]

I guess all I really have to say is that if I went hunting only to kill animals I would have given up years ago.:lol: I just love the woods. Now don't get me wrong I can get frustrated as the next guy when the season is going slow and I am not seeing deer, but if that was the only reason I went out there I seriously would have given it up a few years ago. Probably after my first year.

Dan

[walleyechaser]

I judge a season by the number of young bucks that I pass on knowing that they'll have aged by another year by next season and venison in the freezer.
On the first note the season was a flat out dissappointment.
During the bow season I passed on 7 different bucks, all being 1 1/2 year olds except for a 2 1/2 year old 8 point while hoping to connect with a Shooter that I saw several times.
When firearm season came around, those bucks began to disappear and no, they didn't become nocturnal. They died on adjoining property from "unnatural" causes, ie, human predation.
Did I enjoy the season? As always the answer is yes.
Was it a good one? Absolutely not as the "Brown and Down" mentality
continues to prevail in both counties I hunt in.
Tell me that 1 buck only and MARs will have no effect and you'll be in
for one hell of a argument!
Do away with CDPs and I'll be even happier!
Better yet, show me Browse Lines in the SLP and I'll @$#&!

[Whit1]

The measure of "success" is a work in progress. It isn't something that remains the same and if it does we stagnate as hunters and even more as human beings.

I've taken a lot of deer over the years, bucks, does, 6 month old fawns, button bucks, two wall hangers, and almost a 1/2 centuries of memories. In the past three years I've taken two does and no bucks. Was I successful in these recent seasons? You bet your sweet butt I was. From this perch of 61 yrs. old I've come to understand that the hunt is so much more than the taking of a deer, but that has where I've progressed as a hunter and as a man.

[Joe Archer]

I couldn't agree more with Whit's assessment that "success" is a variable that is constantly being redefined. Early on, I would have said venison in the freezer marks a successful year. In comparison, it didn't take me long to realize that just being out there and sighting deer was another baramoter I could rely on. As my kids became of hunting age; teaching them, sharing hunts with them, and enjoying the jubilation as each one took thier first deer was incredible success. Nothing is more rewarding than the words " I love you dad! Thank you for teaching me how to hunt!". As I view either end of my fireplace now I have bookend bucks marking two very successful days of bow hunting. Each of my son's first deer sit next to them on the wall, and my daughter's first deer will take center stage above the mantel. As I sit and appreciate these mounts, it makes me realize how lucky we are to have hunted, to have been an integral part of nature, and shared these experiences with those we care about. I am sure that in a very short time my definition of success will be simply that I am able to still get out and make it up in a tree stand. After that I hope I am lucky enough to see this heritage passed on to my grand children. And when my days are numbered, I look forward to that fall breeze brushing across my childrens face as they hear a buck approaching and feel compelled to whisper "Yeah, I love you too dad!"
<----<<<

[Gilbey]

Great post.

First of all, I'm the only one in my family that hunts. What this means is that tradition was created by myself, and my friends. I got "adopted" into a camp north of escanaba after years of hanging out at camp, and now am a member. My traditions were really formed there. From the daily eatings of vennie, to the warm camp stove, to the card playing and brew ha ha that is all involved.

Only a part of the success is the hunt. One that stirs my adrenaline hearing a twig break fifty yards away, to the faint grunt that comes back to you from somewhere back in the cedar, or the bucks sparring over the ridge. Not to mention the countless encounters with wildlife: bald eagles, grouse, pheasant (introduced) yotes, wolves (too common).

What's involved in a successful hunt? All of the above, and whatever else happens over the weeks in the woods. Some of it may even "stay in camp";)

Dessert is that all your scouting and time spent in the woods is rewarded as that buck comes from behind you following a doe.........

[Whit1]

Dessert is that all your scouting and time spent in the woods is rewarded as that buck comes from behind you following a doe.........

You know Gil, I find that I enjoy the scouting as much as the hunting. The analyzing, planning, gathering in all that information and then putting it together to facilitate a deer hunt is a daunting, but most rewarding of tasks.

[deputy865]

Getting there and back...getting a deer is just a bonus..

Shane

[dtg]

I didn't take anything this year, but after a few years of hunting the same public land and NOT seeing anything, I had some buck & doe sightings this year. So now I know I'm in the right areas and found a lot of good trails, scrapes, bedding to scout a little better this year. So this year was a success for me. It's a bonus that I hardly saw another hunter in the area I was hunting. I did see about 3 different squirrel hunters and a buttload of turkeys this season. I didn't see nearly as many squirrels or rabbits than in the past. The previous year, I saw a lot of HUGE fat squirrels. I missed an opportunity at a 6pt on Private land and am hopefull that he made it through the season to return next year as a bigger buck.

Since I've been hunting solo for the last 3-4 years, I am finding it harder to get up early than I did in the past and actually fell asleep on stand on more than one occasion(THANK GOD for the Hunter pro safety harness), I'm still trying to figure out how my bow stayed in my lap each time. I don't know how to remedy this problem.

[Adam Waszak]

The memories and who you shared them with is how I measure it. I had a fairly poor season overall this year in terms of meat but it was one heck of a memorable one for me. I shot a deer with my two little girls with me it was a doe and it is also my favorite hunt of all time in 19 years of hunting not because the size of the deer or anything else just having my girls with me after a very difficult year for us. I also saw my brother shortly after he tagged his first buck ever and that was great to see. I saw my first bobcat ever! What a rush and a memory that I'll take to my grave. It is about the time and experiences. Watching my setter slam a pheasant and then downing it and placing it in the game bag and realizing she will be 4 this spring:yikes: She still seems like a 6 mo old to me and someday i will bury her but the memories are what will remain long after she is gone. I take pictures to share with people but I can remember so much more than a picture can capture. I get more enjoyment anymore from baiting my daughters hook and taking a brookie off her line than I do if I take one off of mine because her eyes just light up and my heart swells with pride as I snap a pic of her and her trophy. I have never shot a pope and young buck I really will be ok if I never do too. I have taken many different animals and they are all special in some way shape or form but it is the memories like helping my Dad with his first deer how many sons get to witness their dad get his first not many but it is burned into my memory and I hope I can share that with my grandkids someday. I tend to beleive we get too caught up with equipment, numbers, antler size, body weights, and constant competition when what we need to realize is we get short doses of heaven as we sit in a deerstand and watch the sun rise or maybe take a sip of scotch along a rippling trout stream while we watch a fawn drink. It is times like that if you take the time to appreciate them and take it all in you will die a successful sportsman. But thats just my opinion not back to how many bucks you gotta kill to be considered good;)

AW

[WILDCATWICK]

You know Gil, I find that I enjoy the scouting as much as the hunting. The analyzing, planning, gathering in all that information and then putting it together to facilitate a deer hunt is a daunting, but most rewarding of tasks.


Very well put. I'm in agreement. For me "success" has been redefined over the years. For me it's a combination of things that will determine if I personally feel that I've had a sucsessful season. The first criteria, which is just part of the tradition for me, is that I hunt with a few friends. This includes a having a couple of nights of deer camp:D . The second criteria is that I enjoyed my time in the outdoors, I have never not enjoyed the season, but I have had days that I did not. They usually came because of trespassers. The third and final criteria from me is the harvest. If I don't have venison in the freezer, I did not have a sucessful hunt or season.

IF I don't have a sucessful hunt, it does not mean I did not enjoy my time in the outdoors, or time spent with my friends. But just the thought of not having enough venison to last me the year makes me:SHOCKED:

[tdejong302]

1. family 2. friends 3. solitude ie... upper peninsula 4. safe hunt with hopefully nothing breaking 5. Atleast an opportunity to harvest a deer. Even if I miss :D Pretty much in this order.

[Swamp Monster]

Good memories and Grill marks! Don't always need the grill marks ofcourse because they memories are always good.

[mich buckmaster]

I have two successes:

1..........Going out and hanging stands to have friends and family be successful with my experience, scouting, and company.

2..........Success based on me hunting an animal to outwit him on his own terms and be able to harvest that animal humanely!!!!!!!!!!!

Other than that I thank GOD every day that I get to be out in the great outdoors.

[bobht]

I base my success on the number of opportunities I have to hunt with my bow for deer.I consider this year a success although I didin't see many deer.I got to hunt approximately 60 evenings and 15 mornings. Every time you are out there you have the feeling of exceitment that you might be successful wether you are or not.

[unclecbass]

As long as Im not missing any fingers and I have enough meat to keep me in chili through the winter, Its a success.

[sandbur3]

1.Hunt with family and friends.
2. Have some venison, preferably fawn.
3.Hunting to the last day of season and still having my only buck tag left. And still a chance of a big one on the last day!!

[One Eye]

Successful season = Great times spent with my dad, my kids, and my friends. I had all of those in 2005, so yes, it was successful. BTW, I would actually like to see a few more deer on the public lands that I so enjoy to hunt too.

I would find even more success if others would quit trying to apply their rules on me and let the professionals (biologists) actually manage the resource for the good of the habitat and the resource.

Dan

[Chuck]

How I rate sucess changes every year. This year was my best year becouse I saw the biggest buck I have ever seen while hunting. I also shot the biggest buck I have ever shot with a bow. I put my nephew in a sweet spot and he got a shot at a big 8pt (missed clean, but still good for his first year out), being out in the woods with my nephew, dad, and brother inlaw is priceless.

Getting a deer is icing on the cake but its not needed. As much effort as I put into hunting it seems like I should kill more deer but just seeing a few nice bucks every year is all is takes to keep me going out as much as possible. Also learning more every year and finding new areas to hunt. There is something about cracking the code of a wiley old buck on public land that will always be rewarding and challenging. When you finally even just see him its a reward becouse you know that all the time and effort and listening to your insticts and reading the sign that you were right and that it was big buck sign.

On the 2 Archery Elk hunts I have been on I would have been happy just hearing the bulls bugle in the canyon. All the time, money, hard work, and preperation is worth it just to hear that sweet sound. I was lucky both times and harvested animals so it was icing on the cake.

Its also rewarding just to be in the woods away from everything. Its therapy and should be a tax a write off! :)