had enough
 

i am hunting a large private lease located about 4 miles north of the NY/ quebec border. i have my stand is hung on the edge of a swamp bordered by a large hardwood stand. there are about 20 fresh scrapes in a 100 yard radius of my stand that are being worked on a regular basis but have not seen a deer except for a small button buck. i have been in my stand 10 ( all day)days since nov. 1st. i am about to give up .

RE: had enough
 

if ya give up, what are you proving. maybe hunting isnt for you. most scrape activity is at night so that could be a reason. how thick is the swamp??? dont hunt there in the wrong wind either. the bucks are there, you just need one there during daylight. keep on hunting.

RE: had enough
 

you have to remember that deer are nocturnal... they do most things at night. I would suggest maybe trying to lure them in... calling... scent... what ever. Dont get frustraited. hunting like fishing is a pacients game and you get get none for 3 years and then slaughter the deer population the 4th year.

RE: had enough
 

Don' t give-up, one of these morning you will catch one still after a doe when it comes daylight.

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RE: had enough
 

deer are not noctunal, you just might be in a area that is used at night move around a little, change stand placement

RE: had enough
 

Hang in there Jim,thats why we call it hunting.Relax, enjoy the environment,follow all the good advice,and you will be rewarded.:D

Joe

RE: had enough
 

Bingo--

RE: had enough
 

If you knew where they were bedding, you could get closer to the bedding area and catch the late comers coming home in the morning but don' t get so close to scare em.

RE: had enough
 

I agree scrapes are more night time activity signs, nice to see but not hunt. If you can try venturing back deeper or closer to beds, look for rublines and other structure that bucks like to travel in. If your area has all these and scrapes then hang in and try calling or rattling. If it is just scrapes move. Moving can also give you fresh start and can be the difference between fatigued and invigorated...just don' t give up!

RE: had enough
 

Maybe you can try a small drive and see how many & what you push out of the woods.

RE: had enough
 

10 days in a row the deer have patterened you. Give it a break at this location. I usually have 3 or 4 stands which I hunt according to wind direction, deer activity. I don' t hunt any stand more than 3 days in a row. Too much activity in an area can make them nocturnal. Nix on the stalking near your stand, too much activity.

RE: had enough
 

A quick story.....I took an Eight pointer in 1998. I didn' t take another deer until 2001. That one was a doe. In 2002, I didn' t even fire a shot. That is 2 deer in five years. I went every chance I got during those years and seen a few deer but never one that I could take home with me. I recall one week when I hunted in sleet and rain the only thing that I saw was tracks where a deer had walked in front of my truck one morning while I was freezing.

2003...I have tied that in just 3 weeks. Another 8 pointer and a doe. I may not get another one this year but I think luck is with me this year. The Lord has always been with me I was just to dumb to see it.

What' s my point? I didn' t give up. I got frustrated but I didn' t give up. Now when things are slow I just sit in the stand and thank God for all the blessing in my life. I also thank him for the oppurtunity to hunt.

Last year I took an out of state trip to hunt with a friend and still didn' t see anything to shoot.

Just don' t give up and you will be posting pics on this board too. Especially hunting in up there.

Good Hunting