This was my first year hunting. I have been lurking and asking questions here since about August and have gleaned a ton of knowledge from the august group here. But, it did not pay off for me this year. 1 pristine, unused tag card to go into the scrapbook this year!

I had to hunt public land all but 2 days. I never saw a legal deer, so it was not an issue of not being close enough, missing or being picky. Maybe they busted me before I saw them (possible with the unpredictable wind and hilly terrain). I heard plenty of them before first light or after dark on my way out.

I can't say it was a total waste, I spent 10 beautiful days afield, saw a ton of wildlife, had a hawk perch on a branch above my shoulder (3' away), saw a great horned owl and had a chickadee pick fur from my glove while siting on the rib of my shotgun. So, I DID get close to wildlife, just nothing with antlers and white tails.

Resolved: Next year I will learn to shoot black powder so I can get out earlier, and I will spend more full days in the woods. I will learn to be stealthier and read the sign better. I will get some better clothes so I can keep concentrating on the task at hand. I will spend more time scouting before the season so I know where they are and where they aren't. This year I spent all of my time in one part of the gamelands, preferring to know all about a particular piece of land (about 50 acres) than try to scout all 5000 acres.

Well, better luck and more skill next year!