Geoff, good luck with your new endeavor. Don't be discouraged by the 12% number. That is probably based on total license sales - so it doesn't account for licensed hunters who end up not hunting or hunt very little.

Around my area in Columbia County (NY), most bowhunters who put in a decent amount of time each year have good success (2 deer every three seasons).

In early season, I rarely see bucks so I try to save my vacation and my patience for early to mid November. During the pre-rut and rut I have seen many more bucks in the morning than afternoon.

Try hunting hard, if you like it, great. I used to think I needed to be in the woods for two months straigh or I was missing out, but now I hunt only a fair amount and when I need a break, I take it.


Hunting is a right, treat it like a priviledge - respect nature