I learned that the more I think I know about deer hunting and deer behavior, I often find that I don't know squat........

I learned that dealing with hogs isn't all fun and games. We've been on this place over ten years and never seen a single pig until this year... We've kill 27 since October 1st

Don't cover your face completely with a beanie when bowhunting under a tree, no matter how deeply the wind bites.
Never forget deer calls. Don't call too often and master calls.
ALWAYS tuck pants into boots (50 chigger bites taught me this)
Don't be afraid to get out of stand and get after em if you can and the time of day/deer activity warrants it; patience only goes so far.
If meeting quota, shoot first, slaughter later (slitting throat).
Don't push deer too hard or they will get smart real quick and bed up tight and make the hunt harder and more likely less fruitful.
Never bring an unsighted weapon on a hunt (not my mistake, but another's and that which cost us much).
Never pull the trigger of a weapon unless you check the barrel first (I had a dream recently in which I accidentally fire into the floor of my home because I failed to clear the action of my rifle)
No scope no worries; git to em!
The more the merrier, except when ACTUALLY hunting; solitude in the deer woods is wonderful.

I learned that the older I get the faster the season goes by.....

I learned that there are no true coons in Texas. They're really all coatimundi.

Young, solid 8 points with potential make great cull bucks.

And, somehow, a Ziplock bag can be peed in and left in a blind without incident. I just don't know how.



Anyone know of a lease I could have to myself?

Boy your not kidding.

I learned how to build a duck blind.

I learned extreme patience (horrible migration year, miscalculated on the lease I got on. First lease ever).

I learned to trust my equipment (in this case, a '98 Tacoma) even though it's old and been through hell and I've always had questions about it being able to handle what would be normal conditions for a newer truck. That thing is a beast in muddy conditions, at least so far (knock on wood).

I learned hunting during a tough year is great for forging new friendships.

I learned a lot from my new hunting partner that has been doing it a lot longer than I have. We had never met until our first hunt this year. He is a cousin of a good befriend of mine that got me into hunting.

Been a great year, despite not harvesting much of anything, so I also learned it's not all about the harvest.

I've learned how much time and money go into a hunting lease and how much of a pain it can be to manage a place with a new group. Been hunting free with my in-laws the 15 years previous so this is all new to me.

I Learned not to hunt a pop-up blind in the middle of a wheat field during a storm w/ 50mph gusts
I Learned the 50 yd zero
I learned cows like protein a whole lot more than they dislike fences/pins
I learned that a good pair of muck boots and frog togs can go a looong way
I learned Camels are in fact a violent, terrible animal, and they pack a mean bite (HER name was Seymour)

I can already sense the same...

Don't be hating on the fanny pack...

I learned that coons can empty a feeder with a quickness(Operation coon eradication in progress)
That neighbors shooting all the time can make the deer nocturnal.

Learned that a lot of people on Fort Hood thinks the land belongs to them and some do some shady stuff to your equipment.

.
For what its worth... ta HF never hunted their...

That my sister has given the gate combo to 167,512 people and still counting.

and you're like what, 24? just wait young one...

HA 5 years ago! Thank you though

...didn't learn it this year, just reminded every year when season starts, why on the 9th day...God made Texas!!
Love it or leave it!!

30 is gonna suck

Your gonna start experiencing all kinds of new problems

To hunt from sun up to sun down. And always hunt the wind.

I learned that this year was much tougher to shoot a deer than last year. But it all worked out, as I was still blessed to have been in the blind with my oldest son when he shot his first buck. A memory that will last a lifetime! The grin on his face after he shot and we found the buck was priceless.

Haven't heard the coatimundi story Sneaky. ???

Just a fella on the lease that knows a lot of things the rest of us don't. It's one of the many "facts" he enlightened us with.

Na I do 50 kegals a day

Is a Kegal some new kind a keg stand?

I hit the big 3-"O" in a couple months too