After 23 years, I am much better at waiting for the close broadside shot at calm animals. once I got that big idea more game have fallen to my arrows.

I have become better at studying and understanding how the terrain and habitat influence movement patterns of animals.  I spend a lot of time figuring out how the terrain will funnel movement and then set up accordingly.  Even a slight terrain feature that is hard to see can funnel animals.  While my ability to hit a 4 inch square with my longbows has increased in distance my actual shots on animals have decreased in distance.  I credit that with observation and studying movement patterns.

I can stalk way more quietly now even over leaves. Know when to move and when to freeze. Much better anticipation of where the animal and I will might intersect. Totally comfortable with my equipment set up. Less concerned with killing and enjoying the campfire more.

I have only been traditional bowhunting the last two seasons... I have bowhunted since my teens with very little interest in rifle hunting. What do I do different now verses two years ago, well nothing really. Now what do I do differently from 30+ years ago, well pretty much everything.

Now days my equipment is tuned to perfection... I never push a shot, today I'd rather watch than kill (except hogs). My blinds are made for bowhunting, where I can actually draw a bow without being seen. I ALWAYS use the wind to my favor whether sitting in a blind or stalking.

I am no better hunter today than I was when I started about 5 years ago...I am as good as I need to be to enjoy hunting...I am not hunting to live; I am living to hunt

DDave

55 years bowhunting. Have learned to slow down at everything I do, have never had any problem sitting in a stand for hours but when feet hit the ground a different story.

I think I get at least a little better at many things every year. I usually set defined goals and try my hardest to accomplish them. I try new tactics and equipment almost every year. Either refining what I already have or just changing things up for fun.

I have been hunting with traditional equipment for about 7 or 8 years now and hope to continually learn more about it as long as I'm on this earth. There are so many aspects to traditional bowhunting that I haven't explored it never gets old.

I have been bowhunting  biggame for 58 years this year. Its a tossup. I am definitely a lot better hunter in knowledge and patience and overall skill than I was at that time. However I peaked in my 40s and had it all. (for me that is) I still learned but gradually lost some stamina and physical ability. Today I do not have the ability to make the physical hunts I used to do and the last time I packed half an elk out was 10 years ago.
However I really key now on the enjoyment of the hunt and I spend a lot of time listening and watching and enjoying God's awesome creation and appreciating the fact that I can still get out there and do that.

God bless, Steve

For me, I built up to a better weight bow which has helped the most in taking down whatever I shoot. This was not the case when I started. Being short, the arrow carried little from it's time on the string and I being weaker, The bow itself didn't do much to make up for my inability to somehow always hit the scapula.  :(
The distance between the deer and I meant little since I was getting within 10-12 yards many times.

When I stopped wounding deer was when I stopped hunting with a light bow, bulked up and then went back with a heavy bow. No more losses here. That's the biggest difference between now and back then.