Putting in some quality range time with your hunting rifle and load is always a good idea because it helps to make you more in tune with your rifle. Then when the situation presents itself, you have a higher probability to capitalize on the event. So yes, by all means hit the range. But you might want to reconsider your hunting strategy as well.

Plan where the deer will head to and how its is best to get a chance at one. For instance, where I hunt the first few days of season, sitting in a stand is a very good way of seeing deer. Now with the snow on the ground, it is all hard work. You have to find their trails, beds, feeding area, and do a lot of stalking. It does pay off and I have shot a lot of deer in their beds, but the point is, I changed my hunting habits to match what I hunt.

One thing I notice in your report of the shots you had the opportunity at;

3 good shots I did not pull the trigger Here you need to ask yourself, why you did not pull the trigger and what would have been necessary to make you pull the trigger with a good opportunity. Maybe they were not as good a shot as you think.


1 miss, clean (with the sks, 2 inch high) Clean misses happen. But by only two inches, you were close to your target POA. So you know the rifle shot 2 inches high now. That means range time to me.


7 unclean shots (saw nothing but there ass) I am guessing at this point you did not shoot. Because you knew the shot was bad. Good judgment there on your part.

As for your description of a bad season, it sounds like you have saw 11 deer. That to some people is a lot of animals. I have gone an entire season and never seen a deer. But I never considered the season a waste of time or as a bad season. Just unproductive. It has happened in the past and will happen again.. I never saw a buck this season. Granted there were doe I could have shot, but I did not want to. Am I upset? Not really. I had a great time wandering around out there, getting on a track and walking it out... Its why they call it hunting and not shooting I guess.

So I think you're on the right track. Check your rifle and load. Change where you're hunting. And try again. You really can't do much more then that. Good luck to you and I hope you get a chance at something you want to shoot.