Deer per hour--your rate so far this season?

[virginiashadow]

How many deer have you seen and how many hours have you hunted so far this year? Me...I believe I am around 18 hours and seen 5 deer...or I see a deer every 3-4 hours. That being said, the last three hunts I have been on, totalling 10 hours, I have not seen a deer. I have seen two bucks (spike and a 5 pointer), both within range, and three does.

I remember going 6-7 hunts or around 20-25 hours before seeing A single deer several times last year. Reason why I am asking is because I believe the deer population is down on the military base I hunt.

[Finch]

I've been out a total of 18 hours as well. So far, I've seen a total of 14 deer. Twelve does, a BB, and a piebald doe. No big boys yet.

[virginiashadow]

Thanks Finch. My overall sightings on base have decreased the last three years significantly. I am getting about the same amount of deer within bow range, but seeing less deer overall than years past...probably 50 percent less.

[Finch]

50 percent? Thats a bit much, don't you think? What do you think is contributing to this?

[virginiashadow]

Yep--I believe it is a bit much. I have been hunting the base for 9 years now and my friend for 10-12 years I believe. He says the same thing. I believe I saw less than 20 deer last year and I hunted well over 100 hours. Not sure the exact amount of hours last year. In years past I saw alot more deer, alot more of the time. I would say I would average seeing 40-50 deer a year, then all of the sudden is started dropping two years ago. The average deer kill on the base is around 1000 deer a year, last year it was around 650. Something happened.

[TreednNC]

3 sits....7hrs total...7 deer....5 bucks (4 different, same spike twice) and2 does

[bowman15]

I've been out a total of 30 hours and seen two, and it was possibly one twice.

Stupid east-wind!

[aldo88]

Been out 14 hours and havent seen anything except squirrels, chipmunks, a hawk, a grouse and a bobcat.

[bowmanaj]

Ive been out about 25 hours total so far this season. Ive seen deer every morning except one, but Ihaven't seen any deer after 9:30am, its all from daybreak to then. Only hunted 3 eveningsand had deer come in each time, but never closer than 35-40 yards

[mudchicken1012]

i have almost 40 hrs in the stand and have seen one doe total ,45 squirrels,6 turkeys,
3 chipmunks,2 mice ,1 snake,1 bear ,thousands of bees(the bear tore up the nest)