Begginner and frustrated
 

Hey, ya'all. I'm patrioticfarmchick. This will be my first post on your alls fourum. I really like it and have already learned a bit. Well, I just went deer huntin' for the first time three weeks ago. I have had been wanting to go since I was nine. I'm a freshman now. A guy friend took me, but at the time it was took hot and we didn't even see any.

I have land. I know how to safely use a gun. There was no reason for me not to go hunting on my own land. So, I went to Bass Pro, bought myself a blind, unsent detergent and hunter orange and on the way home got a hunting lisense and tag. Been out a few times and haven't seen anything.

Here is a newbie questionfor ya: Is is normal tonot even see a deer?

RE: Begginner and frustrated
 

Probably depends where you are at and what you mean by being out. When I was growing up in southern Illinois there were not a lot of deer and one could easily spend the whole day in the stand and not see a deer. Now it is pretty rare to go an entire day without seeing a single deer there. However, if you are just going out for a little while, then you may not see deer even if there are lots of them.

RE: Begginner and frustrated
 

absolutely, i sometimes go without seeing anything. The key is to scout your area, look for good deer sign. Bedding areas, thickets, food sources. persistence is key

RE: Begginner and frustrated
 

Depends on where you hunt. Where I hunt, no, that is not normal, I always see deer. But, out here, I can see for miles at a time. Where you hunt, it might be an entirely different story. Don't give up yet. When you get that first one in range, you will know why we all do this.

RE: Begginner and frustrated
 

Yep. That is why its called hunitng. It took my 6 years to kill my first one.

RE: Begginner and frustrated
 

Im new too, but WELCOME 1st of all

Not seeing deer ,even though theyre probably right under your nose, is very normal unfortunately. Dont worry though, thats what makes the hunts that you do see deer, so exiting.

RE: Begginner and frustrated
 

Sorry to get off track, but, what kept ya motivatedduring those6 years? This is my third year and have yet to get one either.

RE: Begginner and frustrated
 

Hung out with a lot of good hunters that kept me encouraged, and every time I would see a deer it got me so excited it kept me going till the next time.

RE: Begginner and frustrated
 

I've gone days without seeing any. But thats where snooping around comes in. Get yourself an aerial map and laminate it. Take a dry erase marker and walk all your property. When you find trails, rubs, scrapes, beds or whatever mark it on your map. You'll be able to see where the areas of most usage may be. Then, since Christmas is right around the corner, ask for a trail camera or two. Very helpful and exciting to see whats out there. Don't give up and good luck.

RE: Begginner and frustrated
 

Hi farmchick,

As my dad used to say when I was a little boy, "thats why they call it huntin and NOT deer watchin" ...heh
I am not sure how normal it is for everyone else, but I'm a beginner too (in my 3rd season) and I've only killed a handfull of deer.. I can go a few weeks w/o seeing a thing! then days like last monday happened and it keeps me going. I saw the biggest deer I've seen while hunting (a 9 point) but it was out of range for me. So when I wake up at 4am on those COLD COLD mornings and debate getting out of my warm bed, I think about that 9 point and think "today is the day" and usually happens its NOT, but yeah, that keeps me going.

Keep learning all you can learn, and dont give up. you've only been at this a short time..it will happen for you!

Keep asking questions, keep readin, and most of all keep huntin!!

Good luck

RE: Begginner and frustrated
 

Not too unusual if you're hunting an area that doesn't allow feeders or bait. I went up to NW Minnesota to rifle hunt with my brother the weekend of the 8th, and we saw NOTHING all day Saturday (opening day), and nothing all day Sunday until 15 min before sunset a yearling doe stepped out into the clover field I was hunting on. I shot her at 125 yards. My brother, who has never gone without a deer in the 3 years since he moved to MN, got skunked the whole season. He normally fills his first tag on opening day. It happens. I've had years when I didn't get anything, and others when I shot one at first light on opening day.

My advice is to be patient and persistant. Eventually they will come.

Mike

RE: Begginner and frustrated
 

Wow! Thank ya'll for such quick responses. I am going hunting essentially all weekend. Give up? Me? Heck no! I'm going to keep at it until I do get one! I'm hooked. The aldrenaline that I get just at hearing a (stupid) squirel rustle the leaves. I actually spooked a bunch when I headed out on Wendsday morning. My heart was pounding a mile a minute. Can't wait until I make my first kill!!

RE: Begginner and frustrated
 

Yeah, just wait until that %$*# squirrel decides to sit on a limb 20 feet from your stand and bark at you all afternoon. It'll take every ounce of willpower in your body not to blast it into the next county![8D];)

Mike

RE: Begginner and frustrated
 

hHAHAHA...yeah those squirrels get me all the time...I will hear them rustling around and SWARE it's a deer..heart pounding soo hard, thinking "awwyeah here it is" and then it turns out to be a tiny squirrel..BAH..

but on the other hand a few of the deer that I have killed, I didnt even hear! they were like ninja's..not there one second, and there the next!

Hey good luck to you tomorrow!!

RE: Begginner and frustrated
 

Yeah, I've seen a bunch. None have "barked" at me. One did just come and stare at me for awhile. The first time I went hunting I can still remember what I saw; 1 possium and two squirles. [&:]
I'll be sure to keep you all updated and if I can figure out how to post a pic I'll be sure to post a picture of it once I get one.

RE: Begginner and frustrated
 

If there are good numbers of deer in your area, the reason for not seeing deer is likely that you are a beginner and not giving yourself the optimum chance due to your inexperience.

Wind direction is most critical and can change during the day. Position yourself so any human odors blow away from where you expect the deer to travel. Since you are gun hunting, do not set up very close to where sign says the deer will be, they are not too smart but have wickedly keen senses (don't fidget). It also does no good if you will have trouble getting an unobstructed shot.

Try to be very quiet. Deer have big ears but they do not have instant triangulation of sound like we do. They have to "focus" their hearing because of their swivel ears. If you make a very brief noise, it is critical that you are quiet for a time. The deer will not know which direction the noise came from and may not spook because they do not have enough info to tell them in which direction to flee. They WILL have heard the noise though and be on alert. I have seen deer look the wrong way even when they are shot at. A human does not have to focus his ears so we can judge noise direction nearly instantly. We cannot hear as well as a deer though, just judge noise direction faster.

You can get a deer any time of the day but towards first light seems best for me. They seem to be moving to or from something, feed, water, or bedding, both in the morning and at last light too. Try to get set up at least 1/2 hour before legal shooting.

Think about what your set up looks like from where the deer will be. If it stands out to you, it will likely stand out to the deer. It may help to move into a tree's shadow or next to a bush. Anything to blend in better yet still staying safe with your state's blaze orange requirement.

Time in the field is most important. I cannot shoot a deer while sitting at this terminal.

Good luck, and remember the most important requirement..................... pictures, we need picture of your successful hunt when it happens.

Bob

RE: Begginner and frustrated
 

Best of luck to you. You should be frustrated. You should not be seeing alot of deer when you are beginning! :) J/K. But when you are a beginner, things just have to work themselves out. Be patient. Hunt the wind and keep your clothes as scent free as possible. Get into your spots early and sit and wait. Make sure you feel absolutely confident in your weapons ability. And here is the most important thing of ALL...have fun! Ask away with the hunting questions to make yourself a better hunter.

RE: Begginner and frustrated
 

Down here in Bama its armidillos that fool us as well as squirrels. I have been known to blow one or two in half with my 30-30 when the tensions get a little high.

RE: Begginner and frustrated
 

Look at where your setup is and try to find a food source, bedding area, crossing, just something to where the deer will be moving around at...

RE: Begginner and frustrated
 

PFC
Deer hunting isn,t as hard as they make it seem in books and on TV. Your best bet is to scout your land that you are going to hunt and findthe deer trails and other deer sign such as old or new rubs, scrapes, tracks. find a good trail and sit on the downwind side and sooner or later a deer will mosey on by. I know this method works because I have used it for thirty some years and have taken a fair share of deer. We tend to make things harder than what they really are and hunting can be that way also. Just remember keep the trails upwind of you. Good luck.

RE: Begginner and frustrated
 

Yes, it is completely normal to not see a deer. Some people think that "hunting" is where you just go out and sit down somewhere and shoot the first thing to come by. Actual hunting takes lots of work.

You'll see something someday.

RE: Begginner and frustrated
 

haha here in WV we have soo many mountains sooo here unless your in a great spot... you prob wont see a deer that day!! just whenever they feel like coming around!!