head for another deerless year
 

well this is my fourth year hunting i missed last year

and i have yet to get a kill i thought i would get it done this year. got on some nice private bow only land. came close and missed twice seen 10x more deer this year then any other.

but i will only be able to get out maybe once more this month. and maybe three times next month if i am lucky.but i expect this will be another deerless year. i am lucky in one area the guy who lets me hunt his land is going to try and get me at least one doe.so hopefully i will have some meat but one wont last me more then a few months

i would not call this year a failure more like a learning experience .

i seen two deer my second year and did not hunt last year. so the 45 to 60 deer i have seen this year all with in 100 yards made it a good year i got hunt the early season which was a first. i got a good look at how they act during the rut .
and i learnt even wearing sweat pants a pair of thin active wear pants and blue jeans do not take the place of good thermal hunting closes i froze my butt off a few time. wont do that next year

and i meet a new friend in the landowner.
well i hope alot of you get the job done. i hope i do i really thought this was my year. but with weighing 375 pounds and not falling out of my tree stand i feel lucky lol

stay safe guys

RE: head for another deerless year
 

oh and if i had been hunting with a gun i could have taged out weeks ago or even all four today

god this bow hunting is hard but i love it

RE: head for another deerless year
 

I'm glad you're getting a learning experience.....but I have to question why you're going out if you have such a bleak outlook?

If I didn't think I was going to put myself in a good position on my next trip out......I'd stay in the bed.;)

RE: head for another deerless year
 

well after my first nov hunt i was thinking i would tag out but for some reason i can not get them to come out of the dang field and into the edge of the woods i o not think it is scent. I have had four deer walk across and or down my trail i use to get in three differnt times had a few down wind never got wind of me

but for some reason i guest they do not wont to come in the edge of the woods and ther are 8 trail within 20 yards of my stand i will be happy if i do not get one i thought about moving my stand but with it being o late in the year i thought i would do more harm then good

and if i do not go out there and try i learn nothing and killing nothing

last wensday i got up at four and said ah i will go tomorrow and my dog woke me up and i said welli amup so i went and got a shot on a big doe and missed

RE: head for another deerless year
 

I TOTALLY understand your position. It's frustrating, the pressure builds, and it's tough NOT to become discouraged. I like your attitude though, you view it as a successful year, and you should! It sounds like you've had a great year and hey......It ain't over yet bud....hang in there.

RE: head for another deerless year
 

Don't give up yet big time. Keep trying to do the right things and the rest will take care of itself. Good luck bud.

RE: head for another deerless year
 

Hang in there kiddo! I like what you said in your post (i would not call this year a failure more like a learning experience) You hit the nail on the head with that one! When a guy quits learning in the woods its time to give it up! GMMAT, a day out in the woods is better then anytime spent in the house weather you feel good or not about seeing deer! You can look at it this way too, you made yourself a good buddy! You seem like a great guy,good things come to people like yourself!

RE: head for another deerless year
 

i feel like i get kicked in the guts everytime i coem home did you get one yet why not didyou hear about the guys at the store that got two i told everyone not to ask or saying anyting about hunting unless i got one hanging out my truck lol
i am just glad i have not shot one and not found it or it did not die

RE: head for another deerless year
 

Lot of pressure, isn't it? BELIEVE me I know!! A couple weeks into this season, the pressure was so great it was ALMOST difficult to actually have fun....The pressure was all self imposed, but man.....when that guy hit the turf........I actually started breathing again, and being in the woods is incredibly fun!!

It's hard, I know....but try not to get too down about it, and really try not to put any undue pressure on yourself. When you start trying TOO hard, you actually make it more difficult than it is.

Hang in there man....you can do it!

RE: head for another deer less year
 

[hr]
thanks guys i need a pick me up


when i get my first Deer i will dedicate it to all you guys on here to many to name that has helped

RE: head for another deerless year
 

All I can say is ...I feel ya!! It has been 6 years since I killed a deer with a bow, and 2 since I killed one with a riffle. I dont know whats up with my luck, I used to harvest deer every year and now I rarely see a deer in the woods no matter what property I hunt. I am frustrated beyond all means, but I keep going. The sun even shines on a dogs @ss some days!

RE: head for another deerless year
 

Hang in there man, I have went seasons without deer. There never a failure, it's no pressure. Pressure is paying bills, or getting shot at on convoys. It's an absolute privilidge to harvest deer, it should be looked at as nothing else. If you don't mind me asking where are you hunting at?

RE: head for another deerless year
 

Keep in there and dont give up. I think I have gone a few times with a year or two stretch of no deer. Just go into the woods with the task of harvesting a deer in your head. and you will succeed. I only usually get to go out for a coupla hours in the afternoon, but have scouted areas well and know what to expect. I dont think that you can successfully hunt without having the right mindset. Next time you hit the tree, just be positive, and relaxed, and I bet success will walk through your shooting lane.
And when it does....just relax and shoot like you have hundreds of times in your backyard or range. How many times have you missed the target block? :) If one steps in front of you, you'll get it.
Good luck, congrats in advance, and see you in the woods!

RE: head for another deerless year
 

hello,i think i would move the stand to get closer,it takes the same amount of time for a productive hunt or a non productive hunt,and make sure your high in the tree line,with trees losing leaves low stands arent favorable..............good luck...........

RE: head for another deerless year
 

It's never too late to move your stand! As you said, you're learning every time you go out. Being adaptable is one of the hardest lessons to learn sometimes. For us it's agame. For the deer, it's their survival. Small wonder that they're better at it than us mostof the time. Keep learning and correcting mistakes and one day a deer will make that fatal mistake!

HANG IN THERE!!

RE: head for another deer less year
 

Don't sweat the small stuff BigTim. I'm in my 3rd year bow hunting and bagged my first this year (86lb Doe). At first, I didn't know if I should shoot her or put a coller on her!!! LOL

Keep a stiff upper lip and keep trying. Good luck.

RE: head for another deerless year
 

sullivan indiana southwest of indy about 100 miles by terre haute

RE: head for another deerless year
 

Hang in there big tim. At least you are seeing animals. That in itself is a great hunt! I can't wait to hear the story of when you finally get that buck or one of those pretty girls on the dirt! You can do it man. This is the greatest part and the most frustrating part of the sport we all hold so close to us! Good luck brother!

RE: head for another deer less year
 

bigtim----Move your stand. It is not too late. Just wait for a windy and/or rainy day to move it. Put yourself into a position to kill deer (go for broke). You are correct about this year not being a failure, for it hasn't been...you have seen more deer and have almost connected. Think about how sweet it will be when you do connect! Find out where they are eating, sneak in there and ambush them! I know you will close again...best of luck.

ps...I guarantee you would take one deer worth of meat over none! :) GO get em!

shadow

RE: head for another deer less year
 

There correct about moving your stand.I seldom hunt the same tree twice.There are exceptions.Some are just in the right spot to work year after year.Yours must not be.If you see deer using another area regularly move over there.The best chance you have at killing a deer is the first time you hunt a stand.Sure it's alot of work,but being able to adjust to changes is what will put meat in your freezer and a rack on your wall.Sometimes hunters make things to hard.Deer hunting in general is not that hard.Deer need three things,food water and cover.If you see lots of tracks going into thick cover they are doing it for a reason.It provides food and bedding.They can bed there during the day,move around and browse and not wonder to far away from there cover.Do be afraid to move back in away from that field.The deer are there someplace.Just think of the thickest,nastiest place they could go,and then looks for lots of tracks going in and comming out.And always hunt the wind,and try to avoid walking on the deer trails.Good luck.

RE: head for another deer less year
 

deffinatly move man! especially if you have a climber. even if you just set a groundblind up. I am new but I have been hunting for a long time. These guys are smart and are giving you great advice. listen to the combined centuried of bow hunting experiance and put your own twist in and you are in like flint
!!