WHAT YOU LEARNED THIS YEAR

[always89s boy]

What did you learn in the field this year?
I learned that bloodtrails are allot harder to follow at night and that raccoons like to chew on and break bloody arrows.

[RPolk]

I learned that if you take "one-more-step" the wind WILL change and the bear WILL disappear....twice

[$bowhunter$]

i learned to always look behind your blind when you get board. you never know when a 10point will be 4 feet from your blind and you not know it. also ground hogs and crabon arrows dont get along.....

[Stinger]

1) Relearned to never take a shot if the deer is looking toward you, even if 20 feet up in a tree.  I did that twice and had them jump the arrow both times

2) If you use the makeshift toothpick and rubber band arrow holder, it won't always come off as you draw the bow back and if it doesn't you are going to miss

3) Big bucks in the heat of the rut, hot on a trail, CAN be mouth grunted to a stop ... but you better not be using that toothpick / rubber band thing!

[ronp]

Didn't really learn this, but I was certainly reminded:  Change up the route you take to your favorite stand.  Deer are pretty good at patterning us.  And a doe with two fawns is about the most alert animal I have encountered.

[Earl Jeff]

PICK A SPOT.  PICK A SPOT. If you don't you will be looking for a arrow instead of a blood trail.

[GraniteStater]

That my glasses fog up way too fast in cold rainy weather.  And that I should save for Lasic surgery for me eyes. ^^

[statedriller]

I learned to take a good look around before starting to shoot at the squirrels...

[LONGSTYKES]

I learned too look where you place your feet. Not at the tips of the antlers over the rocks. Shale does move.  Nice Buck.

[highpoint forge]

I learned to practice so that I can pick a spot and be ready, rather than a bundle of nerves and afterwards looking for an arrow. I also learned how to set up good ambush spots, and identify travel corridors. I learned a lot.

[SL]

I learned I still dont know it all.  

[Cocklebur]

I learned when I think I have it all figured out, I don't.

[Bowwild]

I've been a bowhunter since the 60's.  However, I just fully returned to traditional this year after switching to compounds in 1975.  I'm pleased to report that I've learned a record amount of stuff this year -- a lot from this site!

I learned that a dog can relearn old tricks. I can do this recurve thing!

I learned that I love hunting with a recurve and only regret a long absence.

I learned about these bows: Blacktail, Rose Oak, Silvertips, Tall Tines, The Stick -- my wife's swimming pool savings account wishes I hadn't learned about these bows!

I learned about single bevel broadheads. I never heard of before reading about them here. The Helix worked great for me!

I learned about Fletching Tape - -Love it! Sold two fletching jigs since Saturday -- I don't need to glue up fletching in mass like I used to.

I was reminded that I don't need 60 pounds of draw weight to shoot clear through a broadside deer.

I also learned of a bunch of great bowhunters pounding out howdies on this site!

I'm exhausted now and so is the reader.  Been a very exciting new year of archery for me!

[BlacktailBowhunter]

This year so far I have not learned much of anything    

However, last year in 2010, I learned to settle down and pick a spot.

Going from a compound to a trad bow has been tough, but I learned to control my adrenaline and focus on a spot.

I still struggle and missed a couple shots, but hit more than I missed and finally got several harvests last year.

[Rick Butler]

When the Landowner says "Eight Points or better" the only bucks you'll see are seven points and smaller.  

[vtmtnman]

CLEAR SHOOTING LANES COMPLETELY

This way when you drive 11 hours to Ohio you can get a buck too instead of watching your friends get deer,and you get to tell everyone you shot under one because there was a limb in the way that you thought could stay...        :rolleyes:      :rolleyes:                  

[pauljr]

I learned that QDM and big bucks dont matter, having fun and the quality of the hunt are what matters at the end of the day.

[Huntschool]

I re-learned knowing that danged doe with eyes on you can snort in 1/8 of a second or less when it takes you 1/4 of a second to draw and release on a 160" buck at 12 yards, so you just let him walk.. twice

Then learned again, not that I needed to, about the ties that bind this site together...

That I can still get around as good once as I ...  well you know what I mean.

And, as pauljr above said... the fun and the quality of the experience are what matters at the end of the day....

[Red Tailed Hawk]

I learned that i actually can hit a deer with this recurve  

[wooddamon1]

I learned not to get too cocky and start grilling backstraps before I even get a shot off...
I was also reminded that it's a long wait 'til next season.