Who else got skunked this year?
 

This was my first year hunting. I have been lurking and asking questions here since about August and have gleaned a ton of knowledge from the august group here. But, it did not pay off for me this year. 1 pristine, unused tag card to go into the scrapbook this year!

I had to hunt public land all but 2 days. I never saw a legal deer, so it was not an issue of not being close enough, missing or being picky. Maybe they busted me before I saw them (possible with the unpredictable wind and hilly terrain). I heard plenty of them before first light or after dark on my way out.

I can't say it was a total waste, I spent 10 beautiful days afield, saw a ton of wildlife, had a hawk perch on a branch above my shoulder (3' away), saw a great horned owl and had a chickadee pick fur from my glove while siting on the rib of my shotgun. So, I DID get close to wildlife, just nothing with antlers and white tails.

Resolved: Next year I will learn to shoot black powder so I can get out earlier, and I will spend more full days in the woods. I will learn to be stealthier and read the sign better. I will get some better clothes so I can keep concentrating on the task at hand. I will spend more time scouting before the season so I know where they are and where they aren't. This year I spent all of my time in one part of the gamelands, preferring to know all about a particular piece of land (about 50 acres) than try to scout all 5000 acres.

Well, better luck and more skill next year!

RE: Who else got skunked this year?
 

This is my third year with no tags to tear off. To make a LOOONG story, missed my one shot, 70 yds at a doe. last day of the season.
1. Black powder IS the way to go-get out before the masses, and get more oppertunities west of the blue ridge. Takes a good deal of dedication on your part-working up an acccurate load takes range time. I started with my first flintlock.
Something i learned-late season might not be so bad after all. Shure the game's been gone through, and they're spooked on public land, but the pressure' off after Christmas. I've been hunting Quantico, and the mid-week pressure is almost nil after New Years.
Learning to spot terrain to use to your advantage is something i learned this year (along with buying WARM clothing). The two best honey holes i've ever seen were valeys between steep hills opening onto food or water areas. Natural funnels the animals used as routes. ound some areas like that the last days of the season. Going back there next year.
P.S. Sports Authority and Wal Mart (maby Galyans?) seem to be running good sales roght now. good time to invest for next year.
Good luck. Email me if you might want help with the Black Powder thing.

RE: Who else got skunked this year?
 

Been a pretty good year, and as we are starting to manage for shooting only good bucks on our lease the future is very good. I could have shot a deer almost every day I have hunted, but have only shot 2 8-points.

RE: Who else got skunked this year?
 

Hang in there fellows your time will come.I know fellows that hunted most of their lives and never took a deer,and some that hunted for years and finally gave up.They say that there is more deer now than there ever was so I am pretty sure you will do good in the future.
Many,many,years ago (iam in my 60's now)I took three bucks with a bow before I ever saw a buck with a rifle,since then I have taken probably 200 deer,35 with a bow thats the ones I really counted and made notches.One to three every yr that our state has had a black powder season except 1991,took one with a bow but didn't get to hunt the black powder and gun because of sickness.And the rest during the reg gun season.
My biggest secret is that I shoot all year,bow and guns,and that I hunt all year,I hunt the off season with my eyes and ears,no weapons,searching for places that the deer will be when every body else gets in the woods.If you want to take deer,you either have to be very lucky or you have to do some home work,get in the woods as often as you can,look,listen and learn and remember what you learn.
Good luck to you both next year.

RE: Who else got skunked this year?
 

Brother chub,
I prayed for ya and hoped all would happen well for ya.
I've been doin this for many years and hung up all my tags more than once.
keep your head up and in the off season, take up fishing if you have not already.
Stay focused!
Also, in most states, there is an open season on pigs. This will help hone your skills for the next season.

RE: Who else got skunked this year?
 

Keep at it. I lost the only deer I shot this year to 'yotes. I guess that counts as sorta skunked. Last spring I got skunked during my first turkey hunt, but still had a blast. Can't wait til March 1st to try it again.

RE: Who else got skunked this year?
 

Yep I came home empty handed again this year. I won't lie though, it is mostly my fault. Even though this was an extremely poor hunting season for East Tx, I could have killed a deer. I have just become very picky, trying to kill mature deer only. Actually I started hunting exclusivly with my bow 3 yrs ago.........and let see I haven't killed a deer in 3 yrs. Yep that is 0-3.lol

I shouldn't gripe, I have passed some nice deer but I know there are some big boys out there and I'm trying to pass on anything under about 130 P&Y. I am trying to practice QDM on our place and letting the little bucks walk is part of it, even if I come home empty handed. I was wanting to kill a couple does with my bow this yr but I couldn't even get one close enough.(that is until 2 days after doe season, when I couldn't shoot her!)<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> Oh well, there is always next yr!

--------------------------------------------
Hunting the Piney Woods of Deep East Texas.

RE: Who else got skunked this year?
 

Don't feel bad, I've been hunting for 15yrs now and have been skunked for the past two years in row. Every year but the first year I started hunting I have taken 3 or more deer. I'm just in a slump...I hope. And I hope that my slump has ended too.

RE: Who else got skunked this year?
 

My last hunt was the week between Christmas and New Years.

Marble Falls, Tx. on the George Brown Ranch.

5 Guns and a total of 7 hunts. Not a deer to be had. Im not saying there were none good enough to take, im saying there were none to be seen.

I guess they were enjoying romantic Full moonlit dinners every night.

Oh well, Maybe next time. Its good just to get out sometimes.

RE: Who else got skunked this year?
 

been there too many times. I do know of two guys that paid $1600.00 each, used all the vacation,and came home empty handed. OUCHHH!

RE: Who else got skunked this year?
 

I didn't have the best season. I shot only one 6 point the last day of black powder season.I missed a couple more during modern gun but I don't want to talk about it.LOL.I can't blame anybody but myself. I reshot the rifle. I was off a little but not enough to miss like I did.The season is closed now in S GA.I have awhile to regroup and try it again .Ruger Redhawk

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RE: Who else got skunked this year?
 

Hang in there Chubber! I hunted for about five years before I killed my first deer. After that I have not been skunked in over ten straight years, so it will get better!
This year was a really slow year in East Texas, I was able to get 2 does on the last day of doe season, so there is meat in the freezer! As far as the bucks go, I only saw one spike the whole season! The buck/doe ratio is really out of wack in my area. Also, I talked to a guy that has hunted this area for years and he told me he has not seen a really good buck in all these years. The gene pool must not be too good here, so I am going to give this place one more season and if it doesn't get better I'm going to look else where! Good luck next year guys!

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RE: Who else got skunked this year?
 

Well I only got a chance to hunt 2 weekends this year. First weekend I didn't see anything. Second weekend, which happened to be the last weekend of rifle season, I saw a huge bodied buck and a doe. The doe came right in to the doe bleat I had and stared at me for about 5 minutes straight. The problem was I forgot to turn my scope down so I couldn't pick her up....doesn't that beat all? Oh well, that just gives me a reason to go everyweekend next season.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

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RE: Who else got skunked this year?
 

my eleven year old got one ,doe. i got two so far.does though . the bucks i have had shots at not good enough. saw a couple of good bucks but they did not cooperate. first year in 12 years no antlered buck. im not really upset, i look at it like this next year those little bucks will be bigger but wiser . i would rather have a no antler year to kill a couple of real good ones next year. i am still going out with my bow i need two more to fill my freezer. we waste no venison ,love it.

RE: Who else got skunked this year?
 

I know how you feel. I've yet to take a deer with a bow. Rifle season was good this year. I took seven, my dad got six and my brother shoot two. Two were giving to us by someone who did'nt feel like cleaning them or something like that. Plenty of meat in the freezer. I just wish one was from bow season.

RE: Who else got skunked this year?
 

Shut out this year. Only one sighting of horns. A little spike that came up from my left as I was on a creek crossing. I kept hopping he would take the fork to the creek. No such luck he just kept coming my way. At about 15 yards he looked off down towards the creek so I tried for a shot and got busted by my movement. I pretty much knew this was going to be the score as I was on the ground. I saw plenty of does but the land I hunt only gets 4 doe days. Which bites considering it is in a full doe season county. Naturaly I didn't see any does during those four days. I did see a ton of people in the woods over those days. Its like they came out for the doe days then went back to whence they came.

RE: Who else got skunked this year?
 

i havent taken a deer in 3 yrs. but not alls bad