Persistance? Thats what I'm going for this year. I would love for nothing more than to leave my -06 in the cabinet this year. And i dont care if i kill a buck, I just wanna learn more about the game this year. I wanna become more successful due to skill rather than luck. Im looking for more this year, more deer sightings, more shot oppertunities, more.

I already have two places in mind that I want stands in. One being extremely hard to get too, right now, I may make a path soon.

The land i hunt is also the land 2 years ago I raided with vehicles and ATV's , Ive completly ridded myself of that last year, other than to check cams and stuff, but this year, I expect the only vehicle to be on that land is the tractors that cut the hay. Until i get a white-tail on the ground, then Ill fire up the AC and go get it, return. and hopefully repeat.

The deer are'nt super deer, but there is NO pattern that i can catch on too, one day they'll be over here, then over there, then in those woods, then in that field.

Ok Here is what gets me the most! about a week or so after season opens, these deer seem to go Nocturnal. Not so much last year as in the past, but it gets tough for me.

I feel I'm trying to fix the disaster that i have created in my past. and making some progress. This year we'll see. I done thinking out loud now... what do you guys think?

While I was reading your posts, 3 things crossed my mind:

1-You make your own luck.
2-I think you did the right thing by leaving the vehicles out of the area
3-Things are about to CHANGE!

Good luck bro!

This is exactly my mindset for this fall. I love bowhunting more than gun hunting ten fold, but sometimes people dont realize just how hard it can be to leave the rifle at home..especially when everyone in the countyhas one in their hands...It seems like you are pressing an uneccesary handicap upon yourself. I mean, it's only 10 days or so here, why not take advantage?

Anyways......now Im done thinking out loud

Sounds like a plan, every time I go out I learn something, sometimes I even make myself mad with the "I shouldas"....
What you wanna do is the way to go, go learn some deer, watch em and realize that there isn't any general pattern, but there is something you can use to your advantage.
I have alot of respect for those to admit that they don't know anything about deer and hunting, that's what makes it hunting, and that's why its special.

You say more, more, more! I don't understand what leaving your -06 in the cabinet has anything to do with learning?? To me thats less time in the woods. Maybe I'm confused.... How many bucks can you shoot??? Gun or Archery??

We can hunt archery all the way through every season here.And Im tryin to gain as a Bowhunter.

Oh and 5 deer 2 of which can be bucks.

I think you have a great game plan going. Its something that some otherpeople on here should think about. Ive also followed a similar game plan this year as well. Theres been very little to no atv traffic on our property this year except when we planted corn and when we make hay. But the deer never seemed to be bothered by the tractors anyway. I want to learn from year to year and my sightings alone have increased over the years. But now we have reached a new dilema on our property this year. Too many bears. We have seen more than a 6-8 different bears on our property this year. Im not sure how this is going to effect the early stages of bow season in sept-oct. But I have plan that may just help me out since to be honest. I have a fear of bears but would love to hunt them and watch them from afar. Im setting up early season on the edges of the fields where I have a better field of view all around. Then come mid October Im moving deeper into the woods. But not too deep, maybe 40-60 yards. Ive learned over the years that no matter what time of the year, deer love edges. Wether it be for feeding, bedding, staging or chasing, they like to cruise the edges. At least on my property. I know I have missed out on some great bucks by hunting too deep. So im changing my plan this year and I know it will pay off in the end. Although Im not a trophy hunter, it would be great to get another big one on the wall.

Aaron...

What "I" would do is go ahead and cut the trails you want, NOW. Don't be surprised if the deer use your new trails as their own. I'd cut some for the deer (easy access to your stand sites) and a few for YOU (less easy access.....but easiER for you to get to stand without having to utilize the same trails THEY will be using to get to your stands).

Also....it took me a couple years to figure out that where the deer are NOW has very little to do with where they'll be come deer season. I wouldn't worry about where they are NOW. I only worry about where they'll be when I can hunt them. A well-rounded deer hunter will tell you that you should know where they are, ALWAYS. I see some merit in this approach.....but see little merit in it aiding me to kill them. I have (as you know) not had access to ANY crop fields in the past. They hit these areas, hard, until the mast crops come in. In reality....I could stay out of my best spots, until mid Oct. I haven't been disciplined enough to do that, though......and luckily it's worked out for me to hunt there, anyways (a high deer density helps, too).

NOW....I'll stay out of the best producing spots and hunt the new places I have. YOU will reap the benefits of this new approach. We may not hunt as much in my best spots....but we'll be there when we need to be there.....and I wouldn't bet against you fulfilling some of your season's goals right here in my woods.

I'm looking forward to it.

EDIT:Let me think about this more.
T

take the gun out a couple days
i know i will