This is a great thread. It really points to the psychology of the hunt. Pragmatically speaking, we can discount so many factors that focus our attention negatively on our overall anticipated hunt success. I've noticed a lot of people I have hunted with over the years and oftentimes myself included, will take data I am seeing or anticipating and then draw conclusions that in my mind seem to focus more on negative data and thinking instead of positive data and thinking. There are certainly better times to hunt than others. There are certainly better places to hunt than others. there are certainly bigger deer in certain places than others. My OCD kicks in and then I get too obsessed over the data, the factors, the considerations. I feel like I begin to do best when I listen to my inner voice. I know this sounds nuts but there have been so many times something just tells me when to hunt and where to hunt and it is usually been successful. When I push it and try to over analyze it I just seem to do worse. When I just relax and listen to my inner voice, I do great. I know that sounds weird but its true. Now mind you, this is on both private and public spots that I have had relatively good experience with but other times something will tell me to check this area out and I do and find great sign. Is it God? Is it my intuition? Is it years of experience? I would like hear more information from you others about the intuition of hunting and hunters. My wife says I have a knack for this. What gets in my way is my OCD as I want things to be a certain way, to go a certain way and result in things in a certain way and if they do not, I feel like it wasn't my plan coming to fruition. I am slowly realizing that there are so many variables that in the end and in my mind I am sorting out the data naturally and I think we need to do that more as hunters. Sorry for my rambling.