I have 2 more days til the end of bow season and this is my 3rd year bowhunting without a deer. I decided I would settle for a doe. I have this big old homemade stand I hunt out of. About 8:30 a few does and a nice buck, out of range (naturally) ,come by and slip back into the timber unharmed,unspooked. About 9:15 this morning, 3 nice does come in, but only one is within range. I shoot and hit her low,probably in the brisket or that area with nothing but white fur and a very faint blood trail. We looked for an hour and a half before giving up. Will I be able to hunt this stand the remaining 2 days of season or give it a rest tomorrow and put the pressure on the last day? I haven't been skunked out of that stand yet. Oh ya, yesterday I also shot at a doe (and yes this is bad) 18 yards away and it was hurry-up now-or-never type of shot and I didn't follow through and the arrow dropped right below her. Have I worn out my welcome at this stand? I don't have much time, and taking a doe with a bow has been a little harder than I thought

Without passion.....Why bother?

I'm not an expert that's for sure but I'll comment.
During archery I missed two bucks - haven't seen either one since. From what I've heard and read the bucks are a lot smarter and seem to remember to stay away from areas where they have been spooked.
As for does, they seem to come back. Maybe not the same day but more than likely they'll return the next. Since it has been snowing a lot around here lately I see a lot of tracks. The funny thing is, I'll walk around to warm up and then I'll go back to my spot. There will be fresh tracks walking right where I walked. And I kick myself for not waiting another half hour cause they would have walked right up to me. This happens all the time. If I spook them out of their bedding areas, it doesn't bother me cause they'll be back in a day or two. I would like to stay in one spot all day but I get bored and too darned cold.
I got one doe in the fall but I don't count it as a real hunt because I got it standing at my back door. As I said, I'm no expert. This was my first year bowhunting. I haven't hung up the bow for this season yet. I'm going out every chance I get until our season ends on Jan. 11th. Already I am thinking about spring gobbler....

Don't give up your stand if you see deer there all the time.

Well I missed another one tonight, but not because of my shooting ability. The first mistake was a misjudge in distance,the second was the peep sight got a little twisted and I couldn't hardly see. I have my remaining 2 days planned out. Tomorrow morning I am resighting in my bow (I got a new string and peep tonight so I don't have the same problems I had tonight in the stand again) and hunting the evening stand I used tonight. Lots of deer and they are moving earlier because the moon isn't as full. Then the last day I use the old reliable stand and back to evening stand. Wish me luck, I'll need all I can get.

Without passion.....Why bother?

If I were a betting man I would put my money on the skunk Not trying to cut you down, I think we've all been there. I know I have anyway, and I remember how my seasons turned out when I was.
If you change your string make sure you retune your bow and practice practice practice. Even if you don't change the string, I'd still practice practice practice. I like to shoot a few arrows before I head out every evening. Obviously I can't do it in the mornings, but every afternoon that I go out I shoot at my mackenzie untill I hit the heart at least three times from various distances. I have a practice arrow with a broadhead on it that I keep in my quiver at all times. Basically if it takes me more than three or four shots to hit the heart three times then I know something is wrong and I can fix it before I hit the woods.
Good luck!

The spirit of the woods is an old good friend

Keeper,If you were a betting man you would have won tonight. I didn't see a thing tonight but 2 squirrels. Skunked at last.<img src=icon_smile_blackeye.gif border=0 align=middle>Oh well,I HAVE 1 MORE DAY! I guess if I don't get one it's no big deal,it's just 3 years now without a deer instead of 2. It's bad, right now I'm worrying what I am going to do tomorrow morning if a deer approaches from the wrong direction or if I am going to be able to pull of a shot to bring the deer. I WON'T SLEEP TONIGHT. And of course,it was windy as hell today when sighting in my bow so that didn't give me any confidence at all.

Without passion.....Why bother?

Hey DK,
just relax! Remember at the beginning of the season when you didn't have a care in the world except just hunting? Try to get that feeling back and just hunt because you can. If you get skunked you get skunked, don't sweat it. The only one it matters to is you, and theres no reason to be bummed when you have been able to hunt and see deer. Alot of people would love to be in your place. Trust me!
Good luck on your last couple days!

The spirit of the woods is an old good friend

Where I hunt there are several connecting trails...when I feel like a stand may have been compromised I move it, not far, but just enough to keep the deer off guard. It has worked for me. As long as you a near a food source the deer are using they should use the same network of trails. Shooting with bow it low impact compared to repeated misses with a loud firearm. I hunted the same small area all year by just moving 25 yards or so when I noticed the deer checking to see if I was in my stand when they came through. Just my half cent worth.

THWACK!

This morning the deer were really moving but none presented a shot I wanted to take. It was a fun morning though seeing all those deer and I have a buck that I am going after next year. The place I am hunting is only used by 2 rifles hunters and they made the stand I have been hunting out of so it seems the deer are always just out of range. Next year I will be prepared and hang my own stand and hopefully that nice buck gets a little bigger and gives me an oppurtunity. THERE'S ALWAYS NEXT YEAR!<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Without passion.....Why bother?

This is my 4th year hunting and the 1st that I haven't gotten a buck. I decided to hold out for a better deer this year, and ended up passing a spike, a 4 point, and a 6 point. Had a close encounter with one big buck but things didn't work out(like usual), and saw another good one probably 100-150 yards out. Just like you said, there is always next year. Just go back out more determined then ever and it will all come together.

Shots that are True....Pass right Through!!!