How would you rate this deer season?
#21
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh PA
I've had a very weird season. Took me forever to get a doe in bow range. The weather/moon phases/logging all played havoc with my deer sightings, yet I managed to see a boatload of bucks, and passed on the smaller ones that were in range. I eventually took a pretty nice buck with my bow.
Gun season I hunted public land and didn't see a deer. The following saturday back in my normal spot I got a doe pretty early.
Gun season I hunted public land and didn't see a deer. The following saturday back in my normal spot I got a doe pretty early.
#23
Fork Horn
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 356
Likes: 0
From: Cary, IL
I would say I had a decent season. Not my best, but certainly not my worst.
I had a lot of deer sightings and plenty of deer within shooting range most of the season. I passed up numerous shots at yearling does, button bucks, and small bucks. Even a few mature does early in the season. Had a bunch of good buck sightings by not only myself, but the hunting partners as well. Got close to a few, but no shooting. Had a shot at a decent 2 1/2 year old 8 pt, but missed him. Doh!
Unfortunately the late season is shaping up pretty poorly for me. Hit and lost a doe this past weekend. It was a marginal hit, a little low and back, but right after I shot her it started snowing like crazy and any hopes of a blood trail I had were lost. Looked for 3 hours that night and 5 hours the next day and came up empty handed.
Hopefully I get a chance to redeem myself in the next month or so before the season ends.
I had a lot of deer sightings and plenty of deer within shooting range most of the season. I passed up numerous shots at yearling does, button bucks, and small bucks. Even a few mature does early in the season. Had a bunch of good buck sightings by not only myself, but the hunting partners as well. Got close to a few, but no shooting. Had a shot at a decent 2 1/2 year old 8 pt, but missed him. Doh!
Unfortunately the late season is shaping up pretty poorly for me. Hit and lost a doe this past weekend. It was a marginal hit, a little low and back, but right after I shot her it started snowing like crazy and any hopes of a blood trail I had were lost. Looked for 3 hours that night and 5 hours the next day and came up empty handed.

Hopefully I get a chance to redeem myself in the next month or so before the season ends.
#24
MY BEST EVER! all it takes is like 30 seconds to turn your season around. I shot my biggest buck ever, a nice 9 point and a doe( first time i have killed 2 two with my bow in one season) didn't see that many deer but every year i hunt i learn a little more and this year i learned a lot. hope everyones season went as well as mine did!
#25
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
From: Southeast PA
I would have to say that this was the worst season I've seen since I started bowhunting in the late 70's. I too wonder if all the bad windstorms we had in Sep. - Nov. had anything to do with it. One thing though, doe numbers are WAYYYY down. Only saw 8 mature doe (combined) in 6 weeks of archery and three days of rifle hunting. Saw 8 different bucks as well, but no real nice ones. That is pretty poor for me also. A lot of other guys in my area are complaining about a bad year too.
#26
I have a couple different ways to look at this situation. First off, any season that I get to spend a substantial amount of time in the woods is a good one for me. I did not get to spend as much time out there as last year because of my little guy but somehow I just don't seem to mind...
Second, I agree with Olink.....as for deer numbers in general, in my area they are way down. I saw significantly less deer this year than last year and last year was worse than the year before. Though I did see a few nice bucks the buck sightings have also gone down significantly.
I still have high hopes for the late season though...

Second, I agree with Olink.....as for deer numbers in general, in my area they are way down. I saw significantly less deer this year than last year and last year was worse than the year before. Though I did see a few nice bucks the buck sightings have also gone down significantly.
I still have high hopes for the late season though...
#27
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: sterling ks
I had a good year. I killed three deer, two does and a button buck. I pasted up several small six pointers, and a small eight. I saw quit a few deer. I really enjoyed this year.
#28
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 532
Likes: 0
From: Sweet Valley Pa. USA
I rate it as one of the best I have ever had. I shot an 18 1/2" heavy rack 8 point with my bow. Then I shot a 195 LB bear in the bear season. Then I filled both my doe tags in the rifle season. But more importantly I was able to take alot of time off work and was able to get out into the woods alot. The only problem is the upcoming taxidermy bill!!
#29
so-so season so far, shot a doe right away passed up a few small bucks and a
basket rack 7pt early. Later in the season spine shot a nice 6pt [never do that
again] couldnt find him, found him during gun season no good. couple nights ago had a 6 and a nice 8 pt come in, drew on the 8 the 6 blew at me and I
released before set. Missssssed. learned some important lessons so far. I still
have 2 weeks left and I know were the big 8 lives
basket rack 7pt early. Later in the season spine shot a nice 6pt [never do that
again] couldnt find him, found him during gun season no good. couple nights ago had a 6 and a nice 8 pt come in, drew on the 8 the 6 blew at me and I
released before set. Missssssed. learned some important lessons so far. I still
have 2 weeks left and I know were the big 8 lives



