Looking back at 2014...what did you learn?

[threeunder]

I realized that all those shooters who say they shoot better with a longer bow and a heavier bow might actually be on to something...LOL

[Fattony77]

I basically learned that I haven't learned near enough yet (as far as locating game and the planning portion of hunting)!  

[monkeyball]

I haven't actually learned it this year,it has been taking place over the last couple actually, and this is what it is......


  When I come home and jot down the days adventure in my hunting journal, it does not matter if anything has been killed or not. Anymore it is about what I see or feel while I am out there, because it is a true "privilege" to just be there.

 I love venison. Pure,lean,protein at it's finest, and when I do fasten a tag on a deer, the circle has come complete and I make the most of it. The years that the circle does not come round.....that's o.k. too!

                                       Good Hunting,
                                                    Craig

[dbd870]

I knew I'd be giving up possible shots on deer by going traditional. Indeed I could have had 3 in the freezer before gun season, instead I had none. What I learned was I didn't care.

[northener]

A doe at six yards early in the season is a doe that is still walking after the season ends. Oh well.

Age requires better clothing to stay comfortable on stand.

[D. Key]

#1.  There are very few deer in East Texas
#2.  There are fewer Bucks in East Texas
#3.  Don't lower your bow from your stand with 5 minutes of legal shooting light remaining.    :mad:  
#4.  There's always next year.
#5.  I've got to stop buying so many bows.
#6.  The most important one...I'm retiring in a few days and can't wait.       This will most likely help with #5.

Have a great year.

[md126]

Learned to keep focused on basics and pay attention to details. The rest will take care of itself

I also learned that there is no substitute for confidence and excellent equipment

[Dave Pagel]

I learned that I still have a lot of work to do on my new property.

There are not many deer in northern Michigan compared to southen Michigan.

Hunting big woods deer is tougher than hunting agricultural deer.

My plots came up great and I have access trails to play the wind when hunting a stand, but I need to create some bedding areas on my land.  The deer were not bedding on me most of the time and they didn't get to my place until after dark.  The chain saw is ready to roll for this winter and spring.  I will also plant a few hundred norway sruce and some shrubs to thicken things up in the future.

D.P.

[wtpops]

Relocated to Arkansas in March of 14. This is my first whitetail season ever, to say i learned a lot is a under statement. O i came from California

!. When Scouting in the summer time its HOT
2. When hunting in the winter time its COLD
3. Hunting in the cold is no where near as bad as hunting in the cold with a 15 mph wind.
4. Good wool clothing and boots to handle 2 & 3 are not cheep but worth it at twice the price.
5. What a white oak looks like and why you need to know that.
6. What a pinch point and a travel corridor looks like.
7. How to use a climbing tree stand
8. Aim a little low when hunting from a climbing tree stand.
Got to go More to come.

[JDow3]

I learned early in 2014 the importance of a freezer alarm. Lost 100lbs of deer meat, 85 lbs of hog, 6 chickens and 4 rabbits. Such a waste.

I learned that shooting a bare bow instinctively is much harder than shooting a compound with sights......I also learned that I find it much more rewarding and enjoyable.

I learned that the biggest buck on the property I was hunting didn't get big by being stupid. First sighting other than Trailcam pics and even though he was as close as 9 yards behind my stand, he never presented a shot and ignored bleats and grunts until he was 32 yards away....

....then, I also learned that when faced with a quartering away shot between two trees and a million tiny branches at 32 yards on the biggest buck I've ever hunted, I had enough respect for the animal and ethics to not force a bad shot just because I wanted him.

I learned about the Trad Gang and feel extremely blessed to have found my way here.

[VA Elite]

I learned that you can't kill a good buck every year, and some years you just have to be satified with taking some does. I also learned I need to try my hand at trad hunting next year.

[Tom]

Don't pass a shot in October you'd be glad to take in December. Not quite tag soup this year but awful close.

[Dave Lay]

1.that monster bucks can just appear out of no where

2. when said buck sees you in tree at 10 yards, go ahead and finish draw,  because he wont be there long

3. like others have said, dont pass early what you wouldnt pass on the last day

[Trumpkin the Dwarf]

1) Be in the spot as early as needed, and don't be afraid to drop off the backside, even if it means losing 1500 ft of elevation.

2) when you find elk, don't give them a week to reset their patterns. (hunting multiple days in a row would have been really smart)

2) There's always a way through the cliffs     =>    :eek:   =>       (see #1)!

[SuperK]

1.Go hunting more in the AM.  My trailcams have verified this fact to me.
2.Don't rush your shot.  If a deer is close enough to shoot then it doesn't know you are there!  
3.If you are going to hunt from a ground blind, then you need to practice shooting from the ground blind.
4.Continue to practice IN deer season just like you do BEFORE deer season.  This is a lesson that I "relearn" every year!  (the hard way, I might add!)
5.THANK THE GOOD LORD FOR EVERY DAY HE GIVES YOU and WHAT JESUS DID FOR YOU ON THE CROSS!

[Joeabowhunter]

I'm happy to say I've put venison in the freezer every year.  This year I decided to hold out for a "good buck".  When the opportunity presented itself, I missed (deflected arrow).  Lesson learned, pay attention to what lies between me and my target.  No problem, I wasn't even upset.  I had the opportunity and I was still seeing deer every sit.  I decided to continue holding out for a "good buck".  I sat a stand I just moved and had a nice buck in front of me...busted as I tried to stand to take my shot!  Lesson learned, practice more from a seated position.  Season continued and I passed on several chances for does and young bucks.  Lesson learned, try to fill the freezer in October then hope for an opportunity at a "good buck" in November.  In November I passed on a beauty of an 8pt twice that was too far 35 yrds.  I saw that buck a couple more times at the end of the season.  Lesson learned, he'll be there next year!

[Joeabowhunter]

[fmscan]

Even if you make a poor shot, give it time, don't assume, follow up cuz you owe it to the critter! 100 yes later a nice 6pter. God is good!

[KyRidgeRunner]

Originally posted by hitman:
I learned that when you move to a new  hunting territory do not neglect to check out your old faithful spot. The new one was a flop and the old one was overran with big bucks. Lol, that's the breaks of outsmarting yourself.

Same happened to me!  Found a farm 5 minutes from my door and it was a flop.  My old farm that has been a flop in the past was on FIRE!  The lady sold off all the cattle and there is nothing left but deer and turkey now.  I also learned that gadgets is over rated and I'm well on my way to an all trad 2015.  I started it off last week when I hit a running rabbit with my recurve!

[mangonboat]

I was lucky. I learned not to assume that  the loop of strap you click your harness tether onto is the loop secured to the tree. After hunting for 4 hours in a stand that is set in place for the season, I lowered my bow to the ground, stood and turned to unhook my tether and discovered that in the pre-dawn darkness I had clicked my carabiner onto a random loop of excess strap, not the loop that was intended and secured to the tree. Thank God I didnt stand and lean out for a awkward angle shot. Next year  and thereafter I will double check every time.