I've come to the conclusion that I suck.
11-12-2006, 08:40 PM
#11
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 37
RE: I've come to the conclusion that I suck.
This is all sort of encouraging. I just started bow hunting this year. I've been out about six times, mostly whole weekends, and have seen only two does, with not a chance to shoot either one. Where I hunt, the deer are pretty scarce relative to other units in WI. I tried in all day today but didn't see anything. Lots of sign everywhere, but no deer. I've been learing alot. I know alot more about where to look.
how long does it take to get a deer?
how long does it take to get a deer?
11-13-2006, 06:07 AM
#12
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location:
Posts: 314
RE: I've come to the conclusion that I suck.
I was able to get a 4 point with my bow my first year out. This makes my third year out and am ending it with no bow take last year or this year. I have seen a ton of deer, just nothing close enough to shoot. I did try a 40 yard shot at a doe and shot just in front of her (not used to shooting more than 30). Despite that I am havng the time of my life. I am ending my bow season seeing the biggest buck I have ever seen chasing a doe.That was just as awesome as harvesting a deer! Learn from every trip out as I am doing and take it all in. It is a lot harder to get a deer with a bow than a gun! Good luck!
11-13-2006, 08:15 AM
#14
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: WI
Posts: 165
RE: I've come to the conclusion that I suck.
Those of you that are not getting deer for five years at a time, are you waiting for big bucks or are you willing to shoot does?(please respond to this question)
For me, I think it took me a few years to get my first deer with a bow, but now I get at least a few does each year. When it comes to bucks that is a different story. I've gotten a few, but I definately have felt the frustration, when it seems like you can't do anything right. This year I missed one and had one within five yards and couldn't get my release on the string. If I were you I'ld stick with it because when It does happen, It is so much more exciting then getting a deer with a gun. Not to mention the feeling of accomplishment you'll get because you stuck with it.
If it were easy, everyone would do it.
For me, I think it took me a few years to get my first deer with a bow, but now I get at least a few does each year. When it comes to bucks that is a different story. I've gotten a few, but I definately have felt the frustration, when it seems like you can't do anything right. This year I missed one and had one within five yards and couldn't get my release on the string. If I were you I'ld stick with it because when It does happen, It is so much more exciting then getting a deer with a gun. Not to mention the feeling of accomplishment you'll get because you stuck with it.
If it were easy, everyone would do it.
11-13-2006, 08:52 AM
#15
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Robert,La.
Posts: 14
RE: I've come to the conclusion that I suck.
Man, I feel ya! I have yet to kill one w/ my bow either(about 4 year total of bow hunt'n). I have missed one and lost one this year. Muzzleloader season opened this weekend but I didn't even take mine out the safe. I WILL kill a deer w/ my bow this year and it will be a trophy to me no matter what it is. I think that the more times you get deer into bow range the more you can learn about what they do when around you. It is alot different than rifle hunt'n. See'em shoot'em.
I wish I could afford to own my own chunk of land, it would be bow hunt only.
I wish I could afford to own my own chunk of land, it would be bow hunt only.
11-13-2006, 09:05 AM
#16
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Bandera, Texas
Posts: 1,636
RE: I've come to the conclusion that I suck.
Hey know the feeling, but then again, had nothing within range with gun either. Thought about it and realized it is about the hunt not killing. Yes, nice to harvest, but I have gained as much from being out there as actually harvesting. Eventually it has to catch up and as you gain experience it will all fall together. I have only taken two whitetail deer in 30 some years. One with shotgun in Ohio and one with bow, doe, several years ago with my bow. Still hanging in there though, and hunted with bow for turkeys and harvested two. Still waiting for that buck to come along, but eventually I figure the odds will be on my side! [8D]
11-13-2006, 09:15 AM
#17
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location:
Posts: 84
RE: I've come to the conclusion that I suck.
Sounds like it was a successful hunt to me. Seeing/stalking deer is something that not alot of hunters experience. My first elk was harvested last year after 3 unsuccessful years of hunting them. It only makes the ones you get that much more special.
Regards,
BWjohnny
Regards,
BWjohnny
11-13-2006, 09:20 AM
#18
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Bandera, Texas
Posts: 1,636
RE: I've come to the conclusion that I suck.
I would shoot does anytime. Trouble is this year when I had the bow, no does within range. Now they are coming in range but it is buck only...... does work just fine for me. As I always thought, can't eat antlers! 
[8D]
[8D]
11-13-2006, 11:30 AM
#19
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 165
RE: I've come to the conclusion that I suck.
First off, thank you all for sharing your personal frustrations. It makes me feel less sorry for myself. There were many questions and I will try to answer as many as I can in one post.........
I hunt on Illinois Public Land. It is described as 5000 acres of "Scrub Timber and Wetlands." In other words, a fancy name for a swamp! There is a few acres of good forest with great trees for a climber. However, this is the area that gets the most populated. I have had people slop their way under me just about every time this year.
This property is 1.5 hours away, so ant hunting is a serious time commitment. I always hunt all day to get the most of my investment in time. There are other public lands closer, but population (hunters) is a huge problem and they are very restrictive about hunting times and locations, etc. This is the best bang for the "buck" if you will.
After my last time out, where the doe walked behind me up wind, I was on my way back when I discovered a fresh scrape. There are allot of mock scrapes out there from the other hunters, but this one had the tell-tale broken limb and smelled awful! It's right at the edge of a shallow creek and from what I can gather, this is the shallowest part and also a natural funnel. There are no decent trees to put a stand in within 100 yards. I poled around for a while and made myself a two nice natural ground blinds by utilizing dead falls and some trimming. One on either side to play the wind.
I was prepared to hunt that scrape all day and all I needed was my pack chair. I over slept and by the time I got there too late. I entered the woods and there were people lined up on the creek. I can see them moving around, drinking starbucks coffee and even herd them talking 100 yards away. I had to improvise and get away from the crowd.
I moved deeper in the woods where I found another good looking scrape. I hunted that for a while, but another hunter moved in about an hour after sunrise, banged around his tree stand, then started messing around with Velcro for 15 minutes. Whatever he was doing, I have no idea. I figured this spot was a bust, so I went exploring.
The area where the bucks were and where my whole story took place is open grassland / prairie. There are some shrubs that are about 6' tall and a handful of solitary oaks, but they are not suitable for a climber. Maybe a good strap on that can adjust to crooked trees. A ground blind might work, or it might stick out like a sore thumb. I also find it hard to shoot in there unless I have all the windows wide open and no screens. I was wearing my "Wetlands" camo that I use for goose hunting to blend in with the tall grass and sitting on a low-boy pack chair. My head was still a good 12" lower than the grass.
I would definitely shoot a doe. I like the meat and I have a tag for one. I also believe in proper management. I would let a yearling and a small buck go, but does are fair game for me. In this particular area, there were very few does. It seemed like the meeting ground for all of the bucks. I wasn't targeting bucks, I just got lucky enough to find them. Every buck I saw yesterday had at least 8 points. They were all wide, lots of mass, but not very tall tines. Must be the genetics in the area. I didn't see any small bucks.
Also, callingand rattling did very little. I able to stop that one buck, but other than that, they all seemed indifferent to calling. I guess every other hunter is doing the same so they probably have it all figured out.
Other than that, it WAS a great experience stalking that buck and getting away with everything that I did. I can't believe how noisy I was and still got that close. Had I not been walking upright, I probably could have walked right up on him!
Thanks again on sharing all of your experiences. The truth is, after I woke up this morning, I felt a little better about it. May father in law, who has a nicely decorated (with his trophies) basement told me that he has never been that close to a buck, let alone even care to attempt it. But sitting there all day, day after day, and not even SEEING anything is disheartening. I start thinking about the wife nagging about my hunting. Now I have to go home and tell her that I have not SEEN any deer again. She uses that as her ammo to protest my next outing. Then I start thinking about the half finished basement, 18 boxes of Pergo in the garage that is supposed to be laid down in the living room. The house needs painting. I need to winterize the bike. The cars need oil changes, The dryer needs a new belt, the weather stripping is falling off the back door. Also, this was the last weekend before firearm season and the rut so I figured this was my last chance. After those guys go through there blasting everything in sight, the deer will get REAL spooky.
I’m going to stick with it, but I think I might take a break for a while and go out thanksgiving weekend. Do some of the crap around the house and sleep in next weekend for a change. I have my big South Dakota muzzle loader trip all set up for December. That hunt always produces and I might get one archery tag just for fun.
I hunt on Illinois Public Land. It is described as 5000 acres of "Scrub Timber and Wetlands." In other words, a fancy name for a swamp! There is a few acres of good forest with great trees for a climber. However, this is the area that gets the most populated. I have had people slop their way under me just about every time this year.
This property is 1.5 hours away, so ant hunting is a serious time commitment. I always hunt all day to get the most of my investment in time. There are other public lands closer, but population (hunters) is a huge problem and they are very restrictive about hunting times and locations, etc. This is the best bang for the "buck" if you will.
After my last time out, where the doe walked behind me up wind, I was on my way back when I discovered a fresh scrape. There are allot of mock scrapes out there from the other hunters, but this one had the tell-tale broken limb and smelled awful! It's right at the edge of a shallow creek and from what I can gather, this is the shallowest part and also a natural funnel. There are no decent trees to put a stand in within 100 yards. I poled around for a while and made myself a two nice natural ground blinds by utilizing dead falls and some trimming. One on either side to play the wind.
I was prepared to hunt that scrape all day and all I needed was my pack chair. I over slept and by the time I got there too late. I entered the woods and there were people lined up on the creek. I can see them moving around, drinking starbucks coffee and even herd them talking 100 yards away. I had to improvise and get away from the crowd.
I moved deeper in the woods where I found another good looking scrape. I hunted that for a while, but another hunter moved in about an hour after sunrise, banged around his tree stand, then started messing around with Velcro for 15 minutes. Whatever he was doing, I have no idea. I figured this spot was a bust, so I went exploring.
The area where the bucks were and where my whole story took place is open grassland / prairie. There are some shrubs that are about 6' tall and a handful of solitary oaks, but they are not suitable for a climber. Maybe a good strap on that can adjust to crooked trees. A ground blind might work, or it might stick out like a sore thumb. I also find it hard to shoot in there unless I have all the windows wide open and no screens. I was wearing my "Wetlands" camo that I use for goose hunting to blend in with the tall grass and sitting on a low-boy pack chair. My head was still a good 12" lower than the grass.
I would definitely shoot a doe. I like the meat and I have a tag for one. I also believe in proper management. I would let a yearling and a small buck go, but does are fair game for me. In this particular area, there were very few does. It seemed like the meeting ground for all of the bucks. I wasn't targeting bucks, I just got lucky enough to find them. Every buck I saw yesterday had at least 8 points. They were all wide, lots of mass, but not very tall tines. Must be the genetics in the area. I didn't see any small bucks.
Also, callingand rattling did very little. I able to stop that one buck, but other than that, they all seemed indifferent to calling. I guess every other hunter is doing the same so they probably have it all figured out.
Other than that, it WAS a great experience stalking that buck and getting away with everything that I did. I can't believe how noisy I was and still got that close. Had I not been walking upright, I probably could have walked right up on him!
Thanks again on sharing all of your experiences. The truth is, after I woke up this morning, I felt a little better about it. May father in law, who has a nicely decorated (with his trophies) basement told me that he has never been that close to a buck, let alone even care to attempt it. But sitting there all day, day after day, and not even SEEING anything is disheartening. I start thinking about the wife nagging about my hunting. Now I have to go home and tell her that I have not SEEN any deer again. She uses that as her ammo to protest my next outing. Then I start thinking about the half finished basement, 18 boxes of Pergo in the garage that is supposed to be laid down in the living room. The house needs painting. I need to winterize the bike. The cars need oil changes, The dryer needs a new belt, the weather stripping is falling off the back door. Also, this was the last weekend before firearm season and the rut so I figured this was my last chance. After those guys go through there blasting everything in sight, the deer will get REAL spooky.
I’m going to stick with it, but I think I might take a break for a while and go out thanksgiving weekend. Do some of the crap around the house and sleep in next weekend for a change. I have my big South Dakota muzzle loader trip all set up for December. That hunt always produces and I might get one archery tag just for fun.
11-13-2006, 11:38 AM
#20
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 165
RE: I've come to the conclusion that I suck.
ORIGINAL: 270sniper
BJ, you may think your a bad hunter, but I enjoyed your story, did you have considered to be writer for a hunting magizine?
BJ, you may think your a bad hunter, but I enjoyed your story, did you have considered to be writer for a hunting magizine?
To be honest I have thought about it, but not seriously. I thought it would be a fun hobby / side job, but I have never looked into what it takes to do that. I’m sure I don’t have the knowledge or experience for others to learn from. I’m no Charles Alsheimer., or Lamar Underwood, but if people want to read about my blunders and learning experiences in an “Evolution of a beginner bow hunter” sort of way, or how I fell into the lake on Saturday while trying to net a salmon, I can probably accommodate them.