RE: I've come to the conclusion that I suck.
 

This is the 2nd season I've deer hunted. Last year consisted of me buying a rifle a week before the season, then setting on a bucket in the woods for about two hours in 5 degree temp opening weekend freezing my ass off not seeing anything. I hunted three or four different days without seeing a deer. We were seeing big rubs but not knowing what to do about them. I knew there were deer in the area b/c my family had farmed the land for the last twenty years. I finally saw an 8 point going by at 100mph after he got spooked from my bro-in-law trying to still hunt through the timber.

This year I got stubborn. I was hunting the rut b/c I was _convinced_ that deer don't move when gun season rolls around come December here in Kansas. I bought a bow. I bought a tree stand and I scouted early and had it up in August. I plopped that sucker in a big fat tree on a doe trail about 25 yards up the hill from where I sat on my bucket last year. WHy? B/c it was easy and that stand was heavy. The first afternoon and morning hunts in October had me worried I was still defeated. Then one morning late in October I finally started seeing deer. They weren't on my path though, they were a little further down the hill. Interesting, I though. In the last year I've done all the reserach, read the books, practiced shoooting... everything. But it still took seeing five freaking bucks hit that licking branch, rubbing their face all over it, using the same path in and out past that tree before i realized just exactly _what_ i was seeing. That tree was RIGHT IN FONT of where my dumb @ss was plopped last rifle season. Under the absolute nexis of a crossing and communal scrape, licking branch, etc. It's really amazing. I've seen five or six different little bucks hit it.

You're on the right path. And eventually you'll get it, too. My suggestion would be to get as far away from that crowd before first light as you can to a spot you think is decent. Then find yourself a hole, crawl in it and don't move all day. I'd find the thickest, nastiest looking stuff you'd rather go back to the car than walk through. Camp out just outside it. Then when you finally see one and you're ready to make a move you've got a whole new set of problems that you'll have to overcome that I will too. I'm thinking this weekend I need to try to practice drawing on one of my little guys and see how that goes. That never occurred to me until last week. I've still got a lot ot learn too. That's why this year I'm keeping the bow in hand and i know i've got until january to find a shooter. Good luck.

RE: I've come to the conclusion that I suck.
 

Where are you hunting at? Don't give up, nobody said it would be easy. Getting that first deer out of the way is definately a challenge!

RE: I've come to the conclusion that I suck.
 

Your not alone , I've been trying for 3 yrs with the bow and have 2 near misses to show for it so far, one on a 4 the other on a large 8. I will not hesitate to take a doe.
I am still trying to find the perfect " honey hole" to put stand ; like you stated before there are only so many hours in the day, work , and family have to take priority.
Never say die.
I am persistant and I believe I WILL tag a deer with my bow............... eventually.

RE: I've come to the conclusion that I suck.
 

well i have read yur story and i have only dreamed of seeing that many bucks in one area.
i just thought that i would share a story of one of my blunders with you. I was up at my cabin a few weekends ago and i had brought my bow so that i could go walk around and see if i could make me a deer shiskabob. so it was a few hours before dark and i decided to walk down the road to the lake (mind you we have a road that is not public and it is only used by people with cabins) so i walked all the way down to the lake and decided to walk down someones driveway, whom we had permission to hunt,i then walked all the way down there winding half mile road at a slow pace just scanning the swamp and hill next to me for deer, there was a tree across the grass road and i had to walk into the woods to get around it. after i got aroung the tree and took no more than 10 steps i heard on jump out right next to the tree. then i continued down the road and then marched through the swamp and back towards the main road without seeing another deer. then it was maybe half an hour before dark and i decided to walk back up to the cabin and just as i walked by someones driveway i seen a nice doe just grazing about 40 yards or so into the driveway. (and all of these driveways i am talking about are grass and are only used a few times a year when they visit the cabin) well back to the story... i thought yes i finaly am gonna get a deer so i stopped and walked back to the side of the driveway where i walked down the side of the driveway toward the doe. i was within maybe 30 yards where i couldnt go anyfarther without stepping into the driveway where i would take the shot and just as i took the last step i forgot to look for twigs and *CHRUNCH* i heard probably THE LOUDEST twig snap of my live and that is when the stairing battle started. we just sat there stairing at eachother like we were playing that game where you lose if you blink. we sat there for what seemed an eternety when i decided that i was going to move and try and draw because if i didnt then i would never know if i could have shot her. just as i move one more inch she bolted off with that infamous white tail in the air as if she were taunting me...
well that is my story and all i can say to you is stick with it and that you sound like you are one of those hunters who does everything by the book and im not saying anything is wrong with that. all i am saying is that you should just go to a spot with activity and sit even if it is on the ground, i mean why are any of us out in the woods.. just to see the wildlife and you cant admire the beauty of nature if you are concentrating to much onone goal. if killing a deer is the only thing you are there for then you just take out all the fun of hunting

RE: I've come to the conclusion that I suck.
 

That's like the story I had in Oct. I had bow hunted for two whole days without seeing any deer. The next day I'm going back to my camp for lunch and pull in the driveway and there are two does right in the yard. I laughed about that.

But the more I read up on hunting the more I enjoy and appreciate sighting deer even in a situation like that. They are beautiful animals to watch. And I have a lot to learn about their behavior.

RE: I've come to the conclusion that I suck.
 

Nova...that last part of what you said was excellent.


"am saying is that you should just go to a spot with activity and sit even if it is on the ground, i mean why are any of us out in the woods.. just to see the wildlife and you cant admire the beauty of nature if you are concentrating to much onone goal. if killing a deer is the only thing you are there for then you just take out all the fun of hunting"


Greatpoints and writing!!!!:)