Gun season ended about 2 weeks ago andI haven't seen a deer since.

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My GOD! If I saw deer every 20-30 minutes on average I don't think I'd ever leave the woods. I'm happy to see a deer period when I hunt. During the rut this year, I saw at least one deer on four consecutive days and I thought I died and went to heaven!

My total for the season was 11 deer sightings. I saw 3 bucks this year. That's about 80 hours in the woods. I managed to kill 3 deer with my bow, so I can't complain too much. One was a nice 15" 6 pt, one doe, and a button.

I sat 5 sits this year without a sighting. I'm gonna guess that was well over 16 hours on stand without seeing a deer.

3 times on stand by 05:15 out by 18:00 ish,19:00ishand 17:00ishBow
4 times on stand by 06:00 out by 17:00. Gun

4 hours is your "worst" day???



The days when I see nothing outnumber the days I see deer by at least 5:1 and most sightings are just a couple or a single passing through. I have sat 13 hour days many times over the years and saw nothing as well as at least a week straight. My brother was off the entire archery season this year and hunted 5 days a week of full days (8-9 hours)..........he saw 10 deer all year with 5 in one day. Gotta be patient around here.

In the past I have hunted from sunrise to sunset without seeing a deer, it happens. You walk away at the end of the day doubting your hunting abilities, but really it just comes down to the deer being fickle and unpredictable at times. IE why do deer decide to be in one hollow one day, and another day it is barren? (rhetorical question) Or, last night was a nice 25 degrees in later october, man the bucks should be rutting now, and go out in the morning, don't see a dam thing, and freeze on top of it. 2 days before and the temp is 50 degrees at 7am, and see deer. Nowadays Ihave too manyother things going on to hunt all day (ie family and own business),so Ihunt a lot of2 hour blocks.

Going out and not seeing deer can really get you down and frustrated. Believe me I have been there, it's only human. Just remember though that in the end, like anything else in life, how hard you work at something usually indicates how successful you are, and if you really wanta deer, it's a simple matter of putting in the hours. As long as you are seeing deer sign in the area you are hunting in, keep at it. Maybe move a stand in case they have patterned you.

Now getback out there!

I went most of the 80's without seeing deer, almost gave up hunting deer all together. Did not have good hunting spots and couldn't sit still.

Lately I have gone all day without seeing deer just a couple of times, and they were gale force wind days. Any more I am a fair weather hunter. If it is extremely windy I stay at home and work on the "honey do" list or take in some football.

Off topic: When do I lose my fawn status (how many posts?) the spots are starting to itch and make me a little self conscious.

Tom

5-6 hours

I think you become a "spike" when your post count reaches 50or 100... I'm not sure. I hated being a fawn...[:'(]