I'm having a bad season myself, though it's not over yet.

I borrowed a bow thanksgiving weekend because I couldn't wait till rifle season and had two does just out of range. Seeing deer is encouraging, and I felt good about the rifle season--and then didn't see a deer the whole time. Others who hunt the property got their bucks, so why I had such problems is anyone's guess.

I still have a couple of weeks with the bow, and a three day doe season so hope is still there.

Thinking about it, there's been bad luck (wind shifting and days with heavy wind), mistakes (wacking a fence post with a folding chair because I didn't see it in the dark), and subpar preparation. This season has taught me I need to do more scouting and be more judicious about stand sights. I could have increased my chances, I think, by having some stands in different locations besides the one I used. I also need to pinpoint exactly where are the bedding, feeding and traveling. I was admittedly lax about this and relying more on general knowledge that deer frequent a given area. When they didn't show up as they usually do, I didn't have much to base a new strategy upon e.g. what food source they might have begun using or where they might have begun bedding.

This has been good for learning, if nothing else.