This is without a doughtTHE WORST archery season I have EVER experienced in my hunting life!! Period!![:'(]The rut in my area (5-D) never happened as far as I'm concerned. I have been hunting since Oct 16th most days. Actually I've hunted 25 days with a total of 209 hours on stand and seen 11 deer. That's sad. Of those 25 days, I sat dark to dark 12 of them!! I have not seen a single buck chasing a doe. Not once!![&o]
I willsay that I let a few (4) small yet legal bucks go. They we NOT in a rutting mode!I drew on this one at 10yrds (notice the date)but didn't get the clear shot that I wanted, and didn't shoot. He walked past my trail camwhile leaving. I am now regretting not shooting him. It was just a real small bush right next to his body that I would have gone right through. I try and go the ethical route.
I really have no explanation for whathas taken place (or not)this year. Some say late rut because of the second full (rutting) moon coming late which I say BS to because I've hunted since the full moon on the 13th. Some say warm temps, which I also say BS to because I saw plenty of rutting activity last year at the same timewith similar temps. Some say it's going on at night, which some of it might be. But you should still see daytime activity. What, a buck hooks up with an almost ready doeat night and she wants to feed a bit during the morning and he lets her go because it's light out? I hardly think so!! So once again I say BS to this theory too. Now what? Lets hear from the rut guru's.
I guess I'll just have to get a buck in Alberta next week. Good luck with the rest of your season guys.