How do you determine success in the field?

[Wingman]

What makes us tick? How do you rate your hunt successful, or unsuccessful? What exactly has to happen, for you to be pleased with your time spent in the field? How do you determine if your time in the field was a worthless waste of time, or a valuable learning experience/priviledge to have spent that time in the outdoors?

Personally, I think our definition of success changes as we age.....for most of us anyway. I hear some guys with kids that hunt say, "Now, just seeing my kids get to hunt is enough thrill for me. I don't even need to actually hunt to feel the excitement."

I can remember a time when I needed to not just kill, but kill alot to be satisfied. Now, I'd like to take a limit, but it seems that I'm satisfied with just being out there. Yeah, going bust several days(or weeks) in a row is sometimes disheartening, but I'd rather be on a hunt, with no kills, than not go on a hunt at all.

Do the poll, and answer honestly.

I'll tell you now, I answered "I have to see and/or shoot only a few ducks to be happy." I'm not to the point where I can go time after time without shooting or seeing ducks and be okay with it. If I ZERO several times in a row, I become disgusted. Maybe one day I'll be able to accept that no matter what happens, I'll be happy. For now, my definition of success is connecting with my quarry at least once every 3 or 4 outings.

Wingman

[blazer5]

wingman, ill rate my success like this. #1 ive gotta have a place to hunt 1st. #2 then the just being there part. #3 shooting/seeing ducks. like i said the hardest part is a place to go, all my buddies deerhunt.

[Ducks be us]

I believe hunting, ducks or anything else, is what you make out of it. Words of wisdom, "You get what you put in and people get what they deserve." Me, I like to bring a little something home, i.e fish, ducks,deer whatever but I prefer my "catch of the day" fresh as can be, so, getting a limit is not as important to me or my family as quality time in the great outside.

[Marty N.]

I think the anticipation of Duck season and the preperation, coupled with just being out there. Good friends in the blind, and a good dog make the day whether I see or get alot of ducks makes the hunt for me

[Caller1]

I like to see some birds AND shoot at some to be really satisfied. I get alot of each category, so just being there isn't the ticket. I can see going on occassion just for the experience, but when the real object is to kill something, I wanna shoot too. Go to much just to "Enjoy being out here".

[Caller1]

Wanna make sure ya'll understand me. I love to go on good ole buddy hunts the most, and in that case it doesn't matter what happens. Kill a bunch, don't see anything, somebody falls in, shoot a few thats all good.

As a guide you want to produce results in the form of something tangible, that means birds in the bag. Jokes, blind humor, meet and greets are great fun, BUT hunters are there for that other part as well. Going right now to check friggin water thats probably bustijn levees where i've been pumping .

[backwater]

I started to say being out there is enough for me but that's not the truth. The truth is...seeing my dog work is what it's about for me. That means seeing ducks and having something down for her to do her thing. In the blind is where she belongs...not in the backyard or in the house. If I only had more time to be out there with her....work sucks!

[Bullreds & Greenheads]

I've only been hunting once around what I would call hundreds of birds working a flooded grain field. What a sight! It was thrilling just to be there. Killed just one duck. Lack of cover kept us from getting where the ducks were coming down, keeping us just out of shotgun range. I think that hunt is where I got the addiction from.

Most of my hunting has been pass shooting woodies, or jumping ducks off a small pond. Small potatoes, I know. Sometimes, I don't see any ducks, most times I have a chance at a few. I don't mind not getting a kill everytime I go. However, when I have ducks in range, and shoot at them, and they just keep winging on down the slew, that gets frustrating.

Grew up dove hunting--always did pretty good, got a limit or close too it, mostly depending on the birds. Shoot skeet--Hit about 70%. My duck shooting has a lot to be desired, at least from my perspective. Those ducks are different.

First came to this website looking for info on why I was missing so much, and have stayed around because of all the fine people who post on various and sundrie topics. Keeps the ole brain active.

Now the short version. I like just to go. I hate it when I miss a "gimmee". But I love the thrill of seeing hundreds of birds. Whether I get anything or not, the potential is there, and man, what a sight!

[judge jb]

to have a successful day could include just being there, but i don't want to do it 60 days in a row.... to have a successful season that will make memories, i need a little of all the above...... a good ole grumpy ass day feels pretty good at times.......

judge jb

[Wingman]

As a guide you want to produce results in the form of something tangible, that means birds in the bag

You are correct, caller1. Unfortunately, some people come on days when I can't produce. Hehe, it was a heck of alot easier to produce in 2001, than it was in 2002 or 2003.

You can break it down even further and find that for some folks, success is only in the form of a certain species of duck. A jillion widgeon, teal or gadwall could land on my feet and start talking smack about the trip from up north....and still, some guys rate the hunt a flop, because they didn't get any mallards.

As ole crow said in another post, we're all different.

Wingman

[goosebruce]

As long as at the end of the day, you can say, at least nobody got (seriously) hurt, its usually ok. I'd like to kill (a $#!+ of) ducks, and Id like to keep from tearing anything expensive up, but the first quailifer is always at least nobody got hurt... hehe.

Always wonder why the serious injuries always seem to coincded with really KILLER days... And I always wonder why most people who really need stiches, think you have to stop hunting to drive them... afterall, they are the ones needed medical attention, why should I have to leave? travis

[laduck]

The way things are going down here, I had better be happy to have a safe hunt and make it back to the house. Hunting by myself is ok, I use to like it more than I do now. I guess that getting old is part of it. Now that I don't even have my dog to go with I am not real happy. If some of you are going to have some good puppies soon, let me know.

[Unlucky Ducky]

Just being there is a success for me. After all a lot of things have to fall into place for that to even happen. The job, wife, kids, and so on, all have to cooperate.

Just as the judge said - I need a little of each for the season to be an overall success. I can take the bad days (a lot of times I have no choice) and still be happy. Those bad days make you cherish the good days even more. But being able to enjoy the outdoors, the sun-rise, fellowship with friends, and hunting all equal success for me.

[Gman]

I just like to be out in the cold, on the water, before the sun comes up. This is the time when I feel closest to the One who made it all. He put the anticipation, the appreciation, the desire, the longing, and the love of it into my soul when He created me. It is where I belong...........
To shoot a few ducks is just gravy..................

[duckmaster]

It only takes making sure the "One Eye" burner works to cook breakfast on the creekbank. If this puppy fires up everyone has had a successful day!!!!!!!!!