Anybody else off to a bad start?
 

So far my bow season hasn't gone quite as planned. I have missed two deer so far (One hit a branch, the other my arm got caught in my saftey belt) and I just found out I have to work all week after school and then go to my dads this weekend. I couldn't make it out this weekend so that means I won't be able to hunt for two whole weeks:( O well at least I got out a couple of times and saw some deer.

Anybody else having trouble getting the season started?

RE: Anybody else off to a bad start?
 

I'd take a bad start right now!!!!...LOL... - Still have till wait until 10/15 before our Bow season opens. At least you have been hunting!

Look at it this way, It can only get better....Right?

Good Luck, I'm sure you'll find the groove soon.

RE: Anybody else off to a bad start?
 

I can see why you might be a little frusterated but I guess I look at it diffrently then you. I just love being in the woods. Sitting in a tree freezing my you know what's off makes it worth while to me. Bagging a deer or good buck is just iceing on the cake.

You're seeing deer and that's 50% of the challenge. You've got some shot opportunities and that's also part of the game. I'm willing to bet that the third time will be the charm for you. I'm expecting to see pics with a story very soon!:)

RE: Anybody else off to a bad start?
 

6 hunts = 0 deer sightings............Yeah, I would call that a bad start.....:(:(

RE: Anybody else off to a bad start?
 

Thanks adams! I love being in the woods just as much as you, trust me. If I don't get a deer I still have fun and I love just watching them. Just when I get that opportunity and blow it, I get frustrated. Thanks for the Optimisim though!

RE: Anybody else off to a bad start?
 

Hmmm.....

3 hunts. 1 deer sighting. I'm off to a slow start, but hey, at least I saw something (a tiny yearling doe - I should have taken her, but decided not to).

Butch A.

RE: Anybody else off to a bad start?
 

I'm sorry to hear about that, but like the others said, just getting out there is good enough.

I can't complain though, this year has started hot. I have had 7 encounters with bucks, bagged a doe, and saw more deer than my entire archery season last year and the season is only a little over a week old! I still got 4-1/2 weeks left!

Keep your chin up, right now the action is starting to slow down a bit, dang October Lull! At the end of the month, everything will kick into over-drive!

RE: Anybody else off to a bad start?
 

I've been three times. Busted by a couple does the first time, absolutely nothing the second and a four pointer and a couple does the third.

It's fun but after a while you really start getting anxious to do more than watch birds and squirrels!

RE: Anybody else off to a bad start?
 

I got off to a slow start, past up a few deer the first couple days, then went 14 days in the stand without seeing a single deer. That was a tough stretch, and took some patience. In the last week I have seen deer every night out and have arrowed a doe and a 7pt.

Your gonna have ups and downs, the times you cant get in the woods, make getting back in the stand that much more exciting. A couple misses make that the one you hit that much more rewarding. If you hunted every day and everything went perfect all the time and you always got a deer, I would think hunting might get boring. When I went 2 weeks without seeing a deer, the first deer I saw was a little button buck, but he got me all worked up and excited.....cant beat that feeling. Hang in there man things will come around for ya.

RE: Anybody else off to a bad start?
 

You want to hear a Bad start?? so far NO time hunting and possibly none this year. I injured my elbow at work last week and my be out this season. This was the year I bought a brand new Bowtech also. If I owned a crossbow I could still go out but I'm not a crossbow owner. We'll see how it goes. Good luck Jim

RE: Anybody else off to a bad start?
 

I can't complain a bit. Opening weekend it was hot and windy I only went out two mornings and had 3 does within bow range but standing on a farm road. Last week I hunted Moose and was succsesfull in filling my tag. Sunday night I passed on around a 100" eight point. That was tough to do considering my biggest scores around 80". But I know theres a few nicer bucks in my area so I'm going to wait.

RE: Anybody else off to a bad start?
 

Same deal... crops were late coming off(in fact they're still not off). Been seeing lots of does and passed a couple small bucks. Usually by this time of year I have 3 or 4 deer down including 2 or 3 bucks. I'm not really concerned. If it happens fine. If it doesn't fine. I don't really care as long as I put one in the freezer. I figure it's everyone elses deer I'm not shooting right now.:D

RE: Anybody else off to a bad start?
 

Lefty26:

Congrats. You are right. The five times in the woods seeing nothing makes getting your first of the year all that much better. You know what "they" say, if you got something every time you went out they wouldn't call it "hunting," they'd call it "killin."

RE: Anybody else off to a bad start?
 

WEATHER WAS BAD FOR OPENING DAY VERY WINDY, DIDNT SEE NO DEER, WOODS WERE KIND OF THICK WHERE I HUNT BEING THIS WAS THE FIRST YEAR BOWHUNTING THIS AREA,JUST SHOTGUN AND BLACKPOWDER THERE,DIDNT GET A CHANCE TO GO OUT TODAY WIFES GOT AJOB AND WE ONLY HAVE ONE VECHILE, THE AREA I BOW HUNT THEY LOG IT PAVED IT AND ARE GOING TO BUILD ON IT, WHAT A BUMMER BECAUSE ITS 114 ACERS RIGHT OUTSIDE MY DOOR WERE I SPENT ALL5YEARS PATTERN THESE DEER AND ITS RUIN, CAUSE SOME RICH DEVELOPER WANTS IT, THE ONLY DAY I CAN GET OUT NOW IS SATURDAY, :([:'(][:@]:([:'(][:@]

RE: Anybody else off to a bad start?
 

I haven't bagged any either. Opening weekend I missed twice. However, those were just bad aiming. I had a shot at one another time, but was busted lifting the bow. I saw plenty of deer, though. Heck, I climbed in the stand last sat. morning and got sick once I was settled. yep, spilled my beans all around my stand. 20 mins. later I heard something walk by in front of my. however, it was still dark.

RE: Anybody else off to a bad start?
 

yea its been slow for me, atleast my friend eric got a small doe, last sunday. The fields have not been picked yet...................i dunno why?? The deer are not really in the woods in my area, they are more in the fields and back to bedding area, which i avoid till the rut. My buddy eric shot this doe on the ground from his stool with his bow, and i was dressed like i am and was sitting on a bucket with some red man select chew!;)

RE: Anybody else off to a bad start?
 

Same thing here. Got 6 hours in on opening day. I'll get myself out there yet.

RE: Anybody else off to a bad start?
 

I seen some monsters around but can't hunt right now.My father is in the hospital,in Intensive care.Between work and the hospital there is no time to get out.

RE: Anybody else off to a bad start?
 

LOL...another Ny'er waiting until 10/15 before I can get out. How about this to start the season...I planned to take Friday off from work to go to camp with my 15 year old son and my buddy. THEN I got a call today for a job interview Friday at 3:30. The nerve of this guy scheduling an interview on a Friday afternoon, PLUS opening day of bow! I'm praying for the job, then the deer!

RE: Anybody else off to a bad start?
 

Mines not going quite how I pictured it. So far I haven't seen buck! I've been out 8 times and had 3 shot opportunities on does (decided to take one). Hopefully it will START RAINING BUCKS SOON!

Good Luck!

RE: Anybody else off to a bad start?
 

I'v seen alot of does but no bucks & most of the does were small. Had 2 come in opening day & didnt shoot cuz they were small & the bigger of the two ended up busting me. I think she told all the other deer too because nuthings coming by that stand anymore. I'v been out probably 10 afternoons now & didnt get one till last thursday even though I see them almost evey time out. I tricked one last week with the climber so got meat anyway. I'm going to try taking a week off from that spot. Hell I got till Jan 30.
Still stinks tho if my previous hotspots shot for the season. That stands on the edge of a swamp with a ledge running along it only 8 to 10 feet away. The deer were coming thru there like it was a highway before. Now they seem to be gong around the house & coming in from the other side.
It is great just to be out there tho & seeing all these does I think things will start hopping in a few weeks or so.
Gotta be patient. ;)

RE: Anybody else off to a bad start?
 

I've only been out four times(usually by now it's more like fifteen or so), but every time I've seen deer, only one little one in range. This year is different for me as I'm a first time dad(son Caden is four mos). I wouldn't call it bad as I spend most of my free time with him, it's just really weird for me not to be hunting morning and night. I guess that's where these forums come in handy, if you can't be out for a couple of hours, at least you can jump in for ten minutes and talk about it with others!!

RE: Anybody else off to a bad start?
 

I haven't been able to hunt near as much as I would like to cause I got a wedding Im standing in a month away. I am going to be the main guy up front so if I dont do anything to help I hear all about it. Go ahead and say it.... get used to it hahahha

RE: Anybody else off to a bad start?
 

Have been out ten times and have seen deer about half the time. Have let two smaller bucks walk. Corn is still up in both farms I hunt...plus it's been a bit warm (in the evenings) in Central IL. But we are getting some weather coming in and one of the farms should have the corn out by the weekend...we'll see. My buddy who usually has one down by now has seen only two yearlings about 100 yards out. So yeah, I would say it's been a bit slow, but I know others around here are killing deer, so it's only a matter of time I guess. It's just nice to get out.