For me its all in the experience. I love getting one but if I dont, I never look at it as a failure, or money lost, or time wasted. I also like to learn, I never have gone hunting when i didnt learn something new. Life is full of shoulda's, woulda's, and coulda's and so is hunting. I just take the experience and file it away for the next time I am in that situation.
I have helped my brother get more good animals than i myself have gotten. I love it though, he trully gleams when he gets a good one and that to me makes it all worth it. For a long time he didnt understand what it was all about and put tremendous pressure on himself to get one. ruind his hunts year after year but he is starting to understand now. My Mom does not get it. She looks at it purely from a money point of view. This year due to injuries and the like we didnt hit the Elk hunt as hard as usual, I loved the hunt period, but she was nothing but pissed off at us. For me its the time with family and freinds for sure. Soon I hope it is with a significant other, most dont want their wives of GF's there but I love it!