jim1966

This has been a frustrating year so far. First the deer were holding in the corn. They always seem to be in the opposite side of the areas I'm hunting over. I have had a single deer even close enough to try and get a shot at. Not even if I was using a gun.

camokenny

I know just what your feeling. I did not see one deer that i even got excited about all weekend, in fact I only saw 2 deer while on stand all weekend. A 6pt on sat. morning and a doe on sun. morning. The temp. was up in the 70's both days and the corn is still in where i have been hunting, public land. And to top that all off a couple of young kids has decided they want to hunt in that area and they walk around talking with their bows while hunting.
Yes I had a bad weekend in the woods.
I guess I will have to go to a few of my other spots now and hope that they get the corn out and the weather cools down.

I did get a call from a buddy that shot a big buck and had to go help him trail him. It ended up with 5 guys looking and I must of been the only one that could see blood. Trailed him for about a 1/2 mile and found him in standing corn. A nice heavy buck that will gross in the 160's. I will try and show some pictures if he gets me some.

Goose 11

I've had a great time in the woods, but just not seeing the deer, the only chances I've had to hunt since opening weekend have been in the rain, and with a full moon. I've set up some good new stands though. Check out these pictures I got on my trail camera! He's a brute. A nocturnal brute.

PABowhntr

Those are some beautiful pics. I have been seeing some decent bucks as well but have not had the opportunity to put everything together and get a shot. This Saturday is the last day of our regular archery season and the closest to the rut that I get to hunt for a buck. We then have a two week "doe only" hunting season in my part of the state and then our rifle season starts. I will be hunting with the bow and/or crossbow during the rifle season as I tend to see more deer in the archery only section.

If anything develops I will be sure to let you gentlemen know.

The best of luck to all of you.

Goose 11

Our bow season is coming to an end this weekend. I hate it that I haven't scored yet, but I'll keep taking the bow out till I get one. Muzzleloader starts Saturday.

Hang in there guys, it all comes together in a few seconds and the whole season - all of a sudden is worth the frustrations and disappointments.

midsouth_hunter

Well I am back from my Illinois hunting trip and I am sorry to say that I did not close the deal on the buck that I wanted. Unfortuantely I had passed on some nice deer early in the week but not what i came to Illinois for. First morning I seen a very nice 150" + deer but could not get a shot. I believed the week would get better with the rut but it actually got worse. Warm weather, standing corn and a day of rain and the deer activity pretty much came to a crawl. Very dissapointing year of bow hunting and will not have a chance for another hunt this year. It just really stinks after waiting all year for two weeks to hunt in Arkansas and Illinois and then was unble to seal the deal or even get an arrow launched at a deer. Wish everyone else still hunting the best of luck.

PABowhntr

Nothing on my end either but I am still hopeful. Sometimes I see a great deal more deer in the area that I hunt during rifle season. Lots of folks with guns pushing the deer into the archery only section.

Goose 11

I'm going back out this weekend, I'll have my bow even thought everone else will have guns. Oh well! We'll see what happens. Good luck to everyone!

PABowhntr

I have a new section of property I am hoping to hunt for the upcoming season. I am going to be re-scouting it over the Thanksgiving break. One of the guys I hunt with on occassion reported good deer numbers (and several nice bucks specifically) when we checked it out this past weekend.

camokenny

This has been the most frustrating season that I have had in 29 years of hunting with a bow. It just seems that I can't get a break no matter what I do or where I go. I have not had a shot since halloween, seeing deer but they are aither to small or to far. I am still seeing big bucks locked down with does so maybe it will all break loose this weekend again. This is going to be the last weekend before gun season opens here in Iowa so it has to happen this weekend as it gets real tough when it opens back up after gun season. late muzzleloader season opens then too and I will have to split my time between bow and muzzleloader then.

Just wanted to vent some of my stress from the butt kicking these bucks have been giving me. I am not giving up yet, their still out there.