What did you learn about Bowhunting this year?

[manitou1]

3 1/2 months goes a lot quicker now than it did 20 years ago!

[Mike Schlegel]

I learned my hunting karma is still in the toilet!

[Sockrsblur]

What did I learn? ! Great thought I
Each year is certainly growth and I try to keep it in a positive direction. Lol each year I keep a journal of various types.  Yearly I remind myself to be aggressive and work hard at hunting deer. My nature can be to become a little to content and happy in the cabin clearing shooting my bow or working on one of an endless list of little camp projects... ha this year my focus was better I shot my best buck to date 29Oct durring the worst day of hurricane Sandy in the middle of a golden rod field at 1130am. I was just in one of those stubborn moods and the outcome literally amazed me... I still shake my head?! Its my best story and I should share it with you all i've enjoyed so many of yours
This year I reinforced what we all probably should know all ready...  PERSISTENCE!

[twistedlim]

Practice, practice, practice.  Practice from different ranges, with heavy cloths and gloves. Practice from sitting, standing, tree stands and on one knee.
Tune your setup perfectly and have confidence in it.
All of these things helped me to be patient, calm and take a good shot as if on cruise control. Put in the time and the moment of truth can be a foregone conclusion.

I always practiced a lot but never had the confidence I did this year.

[awishanew]

I told myself to hold back on shots that may be iffy. Passed up on a buck at 17 yds. and later got a doe at 7 yds. with my selfbow and stone point fir shaft. Patience. Practice till confidence sets in.

[South MS Bowhunter]

Iv’e learned that past success doesn’t guarantee future success! Continued success only continues when effort is persistent. 3 shots 3 misses and an old adversary (TP) still rears his ugly head  

[4 point]

Without a little luck all the hard work in the world won't help.  

[Josh Perdue]

Originally posted by 4 point:
Without a little luck all the hard work in the world won't help.      

Persistance is a good thing, but I also believe "a little luck" plays its part as well.

[mooseman1967]

I learned it is a lot of fun to have a camera and a bow with you in the field, the trick is to have the right one in your hands at the right time!

[old_goat2]

I learned that not all my bow hunting stories need to end with the line "I did everything right till I pulled back the string" usually that is where everything goes to heck, finally got a deer with a bow and a grouse with a bow this year. Been trying several seasons for both with a compound, finally got it accomplished my second year hunting with a stick bow!
 
 

[Kingsnake]

175 grain Woodsman Elite-tipped arrows belong in QUIVERS.....NOT on the flooor next to the barefooted owner who (for reasons beyond belief) could inexplicably jump from the couch (barefooted) to mimic a kung fu movie on television.  9 stitches make SURE the lesson sticks with me!

     

Kingsnake

[BOHO]

I learned that no matter what always enjoy your time in the woods. Someday we will all have a last hunt. Enjoy them all.

[leatherneck]

I actually learned a lot! I spend a lot of time in trying to kill trophy bucks. I also put a lot of pressure on myself to get out every chance I can. Well, I swore that this year would be different. I took the pressure off and just went out when I WANTED to and not feeling like I had to.
Best part was I got to hunt with 4 different kids! Talk about an exciting year. Me and my nephew(Hayden) had several buck encounters on the times we went out together. Me and Woods were knee deep in BIG bucks the week him and his dad were here.(there's a 140 class that Woods has a score to settle with). Of course my daughter and me had a couple great hunts. She's getting picky Now since she turned 16.lol  I got to take Benny who is 8 and on his first hunt. A doe almost bought the farm.
So, in a nutshell it's great to kill big bucks, but hunting with the above group topped any big buck I could have shot.

[Ed Frye]

I learned not to leave bows and equipment in truck at house so someone else can steal it.      

[Rustic]

I learned to get in better shape, simplify my hunting strategy and take less equipment. I bumped several deer headin out in the morning cause carrying a seat, pack and bow was too much stuff.  Now I just take my bow and stand near a tree for a few hours.

[medic77]

I learned that being on the ground and having deer close is amazing.  I also realized that there is such a thing as to close and deer hear way better than I am quiet.

[joe ashton]

1. Grizzlies work.
2. Don't bother hunting an area after 19 Black powder guys invade.

[Sean B]

I learned that you can't shoot anything if you're not in the woods!  Other obligations kept me a little busiier than usual this year.  

[NothingHappenedToday]

Squirrels are probably one of the most difficult things in the world to shoot. Period.

[Michael Arnette]

1)Mostly, I just learned to avoid any stress that cuases you to enjoy the time in the woods any less.

2)If you see deer moving with any consistancy in another location while nothing is happening under your stand...move it.

3)I will be putting my stands higher with more cover this year, I got busted a few times. And trying to find a safety system that doesn't drive me crazy and save more deers lives than mine.

4)I will be more concerned about how I enter my location.

5)I got to see more mature bucks this year and am very impressed with their smarts, I wonder how many mature deer I have missed sighting in the past and didn't know it.

6)I brought my 17 HMR on stand every time I hunted this year and was glad I did, I got 4 consecutive coyotes the first three bowhunts. I may have missed some opportunities at deer because of it, but it was good to be able to shoot the darn things.

7) Most importantly, I feel like I have learned how deer jump the string here in Oklahoma and will be aiming for the lower chest and slightly farther behind the shoulder at any range from 5-30 yards.