Bowhunting has been a tough nut to crack for me. I've been at it for over 30 years and have nothing but stories. I tried to quit and take up steelhead fishing in the 90's, but I just couldn't not hunt. So, I have to persist.
The reason I hunt with my longbow is that if I am not going to see much anyway, I might as well be having as much fun while I am out there. And I like carying and shooting the longbow more than the compound. I quit hauling and setting up tree stands for the same reason.
These days, my quiver is full of stumpers and I have as much fun waiting out a chipmonk or rabbit as a deer. I have learned to love the hunt and almost not care about getting the deer.
However, I have noticed that the less I "care" about the deer, the more encounters I am having.
I like reading RonW's posts. He hunts beautiful, sparcely populated areas, success be danged; and seems to love doing it. That mindset has opened up tons of public land options and unforgettable hunts for me.
Love the woods, love the bow, kill the stumps hope for deer.