RE: How many hours in the stand with no deer (this year)??
Funny you should ask because I keep notes in a log book for every time I go out. I have kept track of my hunting stats for over 15 years now. I love looking back through my log book and re-living some of the memories when I read my notes. Anyways I just looked and added up this year:
46 1/2 hours on stand since Oct. 16th
63 deer sightings
6 passed shots (deer within 20 yards but I chose not to shoot)
2 mature buck sightings (my son shot one of them at 16 yards)
No deer yet, have not even drawn my bow on one. This year was different for me because it was my son's first year hunting and I spent the peak of the rut at our best location attempting to put my son on a deer. He was able to take a mature buck in his first year hunting so even if I go without a deer I consider this a very succesful year!