Who measures the quality of their year by the success of deer season?

[fairchaser]

I know this is shallow and sorta corny. But, when I look back at my year, I often measure it by whether I got the buck I was after. If I do it's been a great year! If I don't, it's just been average. I haven't had a great year since 2018. I'm hoping this year turns around for me. I need an exit wound on a target buck! Either way, God gets the glory!

 

[Jcalder]

I don't measure it by kills, but by sightings. I've sat too many days in my life not seeing deer. A good hunt is seeing deer, and killing one is icing on the cake. Last 2 seasons have been extremely slow, seeing mostly young bucks when I do see deer

 

[backyardtndeer]

With some of the health issues I have had, I am thankful to be able to go. While it may be disappointing not getting a target buck, that doesn't necessarily make or break my season. I will usually have a target buck going into season, sometimes things break my way and sometimes they don't. I am usually able to put a lot of time in the stand, I enjoy watching deer whether I squeeze the trigger or not. Some of my best/most successful seasons were ones where my kids went with me and they took deer.

Fwiw, a target buck often disappears from our property before I ever make my first sit. Would be setting myself up for failure and disappointment if i let that be the only factor in determining how my season played out.

 

[Ski]

Well I'd be lying if I didn't admit deer season means an awful lot to me. It's a year round endeavor with habitat work, scouting, and hunting. Sure is fulfilling when I get my hands on a buck I've been dreaming about.

That all said, my life is multi faceted and sometimes complex, even though I myself am a simple person. There are many, many measures to consider. Generally speaking if momma is happy, kids are good, everybody healthy, then I feel the Lord had blessed me beyond what I deserve. And that makes a great year. The big buck is certainly a cherry on top!

 

[Kelljp]

Alot of days I don't take shots I probably should.
Enjoy sitting in the stand and watching critters, getting old is making me be more selective.

 

[JeepKuntry]

My biggest measure is sightings. With the majority of my time being east Tn public consistently seeing deer has always been a struggle. Only seen 1 doe this month. Early bow it was measuring up to be a decent fall.

 

[Crappieaddict]

So far, if this is how I measured success, it would be very depressing. Fortunately, I have enjoyed hunting this past week. The only deer I've saw was in the field in front of the house when I was returning from a hunt. I didn't do a Seek One, so there's that.

 

[Kelljp]

Rut seems slow this year. Only deer I see are in my orchard beside the house around dusk.
Notice a young buck joined them this week. Maybe things will pick up.

 

[Ski]

Rut seems slow this year. Only deer I see are in my orchard beside the house around dusk.
Notice a young buck joined them this week. Maybe things will pick up.

It's been a strange season for most of the country, not just TN.

 

[philsanchez76]

Success= some deer in the freezer and my wife still wanting to be married to me

 

[Stalkhunter]

Successfully being able to hunt another season. God has given me 12 more seasons since my my non curable cancer diagnosis in 2010. So I thank God for everyday I get out there. Deer or no Deer and getting meat is just another blessing.

 

[Snake]

Only a couple of times have I had a target buck and I absolutely hate being tied to one buck so now any buck could be my target . Being able to just enjoy God's creation and come home the same way you left except a little more tired is a successful hunt to me . I've had what I think is a successful deer hunting career if you want to call it that killing many deer . Got several mounted no monsters but good ones to me and have delighted many people with venison over the years just hope I can go a couple more years . Thank God I've not kilt myself as I've done some dumb things but have enjoyed my time hunting . To God the glory !!

 

[Duck dogn]

I know this is shallow and sorta corny. But, when I look back at my year, I often measure it by whether I got the buck I was after. If I do it's been a great year! If I don't, it's just been average. I haven't had a great year since 2018. I'm hoping this year turns around for me. I need an exit wound on a target buck! Either way, God gets the glory!

I haven't killed a "good" dear since 2010 but alot of factors play in like loosing places to hunt and so on. I'm not sure if you've read some of my other post about being at my place now for 4 years and trying to manage just 20 acres a helping with food so I'm just now starting to see better deer. With all that no I can't base my year on getting a target buck lol

 

[tellico4x4]

Well I'd be lying if I didn't admit deer season means an awful lot to me. It's a year round endeavor with habitat work, scouting, and hunting. Sure is fulfilling when I get my hands on a buck I've been dreaming about.

That all said, my life is multi faceted and sometimes complex, even though I myself am a simple person. There are many, many measures to consider. Generally speaking if momma is happy, kids are good, everybody healthy, then I feel the Lord had blessed me beyond what I deserve. And that makes a great year. The big buck is certainly a cherry on top!

X2

 

[Chickenrig]

No sir
I do not rate my year on deer killed. I rate my year on how i felt, friends i have made,old friends i have seen ,and if our God has granted me the oportunity to wittness another sunrise and sunset I used to hunt my ass off and think i was doing something ,but nowadays i just mosey down back and climb into my shooting house and wait for the wood ducks to fly over and see if any deer will grace me with thier presence. If a goodun steps out then so be it ,but my freezer is stocked and our bellies are fed. Thats how i rate my year
God bless those that can still do and those that hunt thier asses off

 

[muddyboots]

Not on kills but how many times I get to go and what I see.

 

[wsm]

Thankful to be able to hunt and see what God has made for us to enjoy .

 

[MUP]

I don't measure it by kills, but by sightings. I've sat too many days in my life not seeing deer. A good hunt is seeing deer, and killing one is icing on the cake. Last 2 seasons have been extremely slow, seeing mostly young bucks when I do see deer

Pretty much the same for me. I don't target any specific buck, I haven't even run tcams the last couple of years to have an idea of what's on my property even. I think I like it that way better, so I just hunt to see what's out there. As JCalder said, I've hunted East TN enough back in the late 70s and early 80s to have had many a deerless sighting hunt, and still have some on occasion, so just seeing deer is a successful hunt for me, and that carries over to a feeling of accomplishment after the season and into the next.

 

[Bass1090]

Great thread!

As I have gotten older (54) my measure of success has changed like it has for others. I don't measure by sightings or kills anymore but mistakes and quality sits. I have challenged myself to not have any bad sits (not climbing a tree that conceals me but also allows me to see, hunting the wind wrong, to much movement, setting up to close to bedding etc.) I still make plenty of mistakes and get busted from time to time but I want to learn from each of them.

If I don't see deer or kill a deer and go home "feeling" like it wasn't my fault I call that success.

 

[RockMcL]

I have to say some of the posts above really hit it out of the park.

I live in a woods farm for multiple reasons and I definitely am a hardcore hunter gatherer but I don't rate my years. I thrive as God gives.

I have goals and I measure them but my summation of each year, so far, is always excitement for the next year.

Deer goals are almost always habitat related and/or family harvest. Grandchildren as they come up to bat, each son's personal development/goals, family members respectful harvest/management, safe attitudes, etc are great plusses.

Live through it, learn from it, and hopefully don't limp too much afterwards is something I have said for many decades.
I do limp but I am still moving, the wife is still here, my boys are all good God fearing men. What a blessed year! Lord willing I look forward to next year...