Antlerless Sightings: 36
Bucks Sightings: 25
Different Bucks: 17
Shooters Seen: 6
Total Sightings: 61
Deer Killed: 3
Deer in Bow Range: 22
Morning Hunts: 8
Evening Hunts: 11
All Day Sits: 0
Skunked Hunts: 0
Total Hunts: 19
Hours on Stand: 43
Average Time Per Hunt: 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Deer Seen Per Hour on Stand: 1.42
Stands/Blinds Hunted: 9
Properties Hunted: 3
I wanted to put a wrap on my season and update a few numbers on my tally. After I killed my buck, I quit keep tracking on hours on stand and deer seen as I was largely just screwing around when I did go in to the woods. Overall, my bow season was better than I could have ever imagined and gun season was a bust for the most part. I did manage to kill another button buck during muzzleloader for the meat, so my freezer is a full as it gets and I have a taxidermy bill waiting on me. That must mean it was a great year!
I went in to this season hell bent on having fun and hunting looser than I ever have before. Fortunately, I was able to keep that promise to myself and it resulted in a season that was far more fun than any I have had in my career thus far. The weight that was lifted from my shoulders when I killed that buck is indescribable. It is a shame that I had reached the point I had in my bowhunting career where I was no longer having fun because of the self induced pressure to succeed. I always felt like I had the knowledge and ability, but I just wasn't getting the chances I felt I deserved and bad luck was the only luck I had. The 3 days that lead up to me killing that buck reassured me that I have the knowledge and ability, and that with seat time and dedication, my chances will come. I have to realize that I will not repeat this feat on an annual basis for any number of reasons. I have a renewed feeling of joy when I think of bowhunting again and the pressure is gone. I needed this season and it is the best thing that could have happened to me not only in regards to my bowhunting mentality, but also my everyday mentality.
This season was one for the books and I hope that seasons to come will rival it for best chapter in my book of bowhunting journeys. For once, I am actually looking forward to the season without a feeling trepidation!