Why do I never learn my lesson?
 

I have walked in on deer several times over my years of hunting as I am sure most of you have too. For some reason, I never see them until it is too late. Last night was no exception. I went to my stand down in a hollow but didn't get in it. I didn't really expect to see deer as it was really windy and I haven't been seeing any there in a long time.

So I decide I would walk to the bottom of the hollow and check the creek crossing to see if any deer have been through. I walk along staring at the creek banks but can't tell that anything has crossed lately. I head back up hill and don't get far when I hear something behind me. A doe had either been bedded down or standing right across the creek! She ran into the brush only about 40 yards away. I just didn't have a shot so I didn't try to force it. She slowly walked off and all I could do was watch.

I have to shoot a doe in my county before I can shoot a second buck so I really need to get one soon before I see a good buck. I just never learn my lesson to look all around me when going through the woods.

I missed out years ago on the best buck I have ever seen while hunting. He was standing in wide open timber not far away but I was looking to my right instead of to the left. By the time I saw him, he had whirled around and took a few leaps over the side of the ridge. Why do I never learn my lesson?

that is why its called hunting and not shooting.. Keep at it and it will all happen sooner or later. Good luck to you.

Exactly lol!

ADVWannabee

Kinda wish I had some of your problems here... One tag - one shot - one deer - season over...

I would suggest an idea an old bow hunter showed me many years a go.
Take 5 very slow quite steps and stand there and look at everything before you move again. It takes some patience when you start out but after you get a few deer that way it grows on you.

A close friend of mine who happens to be quite a bit older gave me the best advice i have ever gotten when deer hunting.Slow down,slow down,slow down,glass ahead even in thick forest.slow down again,glass some more and the deer always seem to be where you least expect them lol..2 years ago i had scouted a small canyon and kept seeing huge tracks i knew were a bucks mixed in with doe and younger deer tracks.this is before i bought a trail cam.i was hunting out of my jeep for 5 days and actually had several places that looked promising. I hadn't spoke to my wife in 3 days due to lack of cell signal and wanted to inform her i was changing locations to where i had seen the big tracks.i snuck in before daylight and sat in a area of that small canyon that funneled the deer through it. sat down leaned my rifle against a dead tree next to me and since i had a signal on the cell, proceeded to text her about the change in areas.finished texting and put my cell into my pack.got up to stretch,didn't check my surroundings as my old friend had always done lol! heard this faint sound of hoof on rock and was in a mexican standoff at 40 yds, with i would say was a 24" wide 200 lb plus, number of points couldn't tell you muley. which for the southern part of california where i live is equivalent to a 28-30 inch rocky mountain mule deer.a real trophy.staring at this idiot stretching(me) lol.idiot stares at buck stares over at rifle leaning on tree back at the buck. reached for the rifle and he hopped to the right between 2 pinion pines before i could get the rifle up for a shot.

Just always be ready, you have to be ready 100% of the time. Always assume that a Deer is near and look for them. Every Second your Hunting your One Second closer to seeing a Deer.
The Trick to this game is to see the Deer befor he see's you.
(BP)

I got one for you!
 

Here's something to make you feel better. One time while hunting in thick brush (so thick you could lean against it) I came to a blowdown and took a rest with my left foot up on the trunk about 2 to 2 1/2 feet up on the trunk. Something felt wrong but i ignored it. Big mistake! I jumped up and over the blowdown and in doing so jumped clean over a bedded 6 point laying there with his nose on the ground. He pushed me back with his rump when he took off, and scared the daylights out of me. It still haunts me so don't feel bad. And that sir is tunnel vision. I bump alot of deer still hunting but every once in a while......:D

I know where your coming from adv, I let the only decent buck slip by me this year cause I wasnt paying enough attention. Most years it wouldn't bother me all that much, but this has been a tough year not seeing any bucks at all.

We all do it so don't feel bad. The most probable cause is our hectic life style - always in a hurry to get things done. But when you're in the woods, you have to slow down. Waaaay down. This hit home a long time ago. I realized that I saw more deer while tracking one I or a buddy hit with an arrow. Why? Because we were moving like snails looking for blood. In fact, I took a very nice 8 pt years ago while Iwas on my hands and knees looking for sign from a deer my cousin shot earlier. I heard him coming and he walked past me at 15 yds. Watch deer as they move thru the woods. They take a step or two, feed a little, look around, take another couple steps, etc.
Remember, every step you take gives you a new view. Its probably the hardest thing to do. I think that's why its called still hunting. You spend more time standing still, looking around than walking.