Trad Gang

I have been hunting for three years now. I can't seem to get that last 5 yards to where im comfortable shooting. Who else is waiting on their first deer? I have killed squirrel and rabbit even a diamond back but not big game.

that be me as well, i have had my chances though. missed a doe last year. should have had a coyote and a doe today but it was not to be.

Don't feel bad I've been waiting so long it's embarrassing.   :(   But i'm not going to give up. I love going to the woods with a bow. I've killed rabbit, squirrels,and one hog.

I right there with ya.  I've got my 1st miss out of the way.  I havent had another chance to get my 2nd miss yet  :bigsmyl: .  Maybe this afternoon. Wish me luck!!

I am still waiting for mine.  Getting them close is not the issue for me it just seems that the whole package doesnt come together for me.

I have harvested with a compound, but am still trying for my first Trad.   :archer:

im still waiting for my fist as well nightowl1.  hunted with a compound last year but made the transition to trad gear this summer.  havent had any deer in my comfortable range (18-20yds) yet this season, but its only week one.  maybee this year will be the year for us!!!

I'm still waiting too. Yesterday morning I had a spike at 8 yards with several shot opportunties, but I had to let him walk.  My club has a 6 point or better on bucks.  Last year was pretty much the same, several spikes within range and most of the does had spotted fawns with them.  I can't bring myself to shoot does with spotted fawns.

I'm with ya man, but I've got a good feeling about this year. (much like the one last year)

Not only waiting for my first trad but, my first period. Been hunting since I was a teen, and now at 40, I am ready for it to happen. Circumstances prevented hunting for some years (military) but, mostly I really enjoy being out there. Like Kens morning predicament, it's about the experiences of being in the woods.

I'm still trying to get my first Deer with a bow as well. Messed up on one in 2006 (my first year of bow hunting seriously) and passed on a couple shot opportunities last year I didn't feel 100% comfortable with. I was hoping this year would be the year but so far things don't look very promising. I'm happy just to spend time outdoors and see a few Deer, hopefully things will come together eventually.

Still working on my first.  Had two shots.  One hog and one cow elk this year.

Still waiting on my first trad deer or elk.  I have shot lots of squirrels, rabbits and sagerats, and missed a nice buck at 32 steps last year.  Our late season starts here in about a month, so I still have some hope for this year.

I'm hunting for my first trad buck....trying to break the 100 inch mark, which would best my compound buck that scores 97.  Have killed 3 does, and passed many little bucks the last 8 years of trad hunting, but really trying to get a good one.
Stick with it guys- the feeling of success lasts a looooong time!
Dave

:wavey:  0 for 1 shot last year in my rookie season, and, ummmmmm, gulp, 0-4 last weekend, yes, i said weekend, including one at, gulp, 10 yards.  

I'm a member too.......been hunting trad exclusively almost three years now with several misses under my belt.  Did not take one shot last season, but I have drawn back on a few this year for practice (don't think that having a deer inside 15 yds guarantees a shot), so I've got a good feeling about the next three weeks.

2 years and I`m still waiting. I have shoot a fox and groundhogs but no deer.....yet....

i'm waiting on my first as well

This is my rookie season to bowhunt. I have not drawn blood with an arrow but look forward to my first real shot opportunity. So far this season, Ive had a doe within range (she had a spotted fawn with her so whe got to walk)while armed with my bow. I had 4 at 8 yards last Saturday evening but I had my centerfire rifle with my instead of nmy bow, so they, too, got to walk off. Maybe soething good will happen this weekend...for all of us!

Here too. this is my 3rd.year hunting exclusively with Trad gear. I got my first 2 misses the first year out. Couldn't get myself to draw on a deer last year---too much self-doubt. I did kill a running 'yote at 33 paces last year, so I keep telling myself if i can do that, there is no reason to doubt i can hit a deer. only been out 4 times and haven't gotten a chance yet. Next week starts 7 days off in a row----gonna hit the woods big time!   :campfire:

Ben

Count me in. This is my first year since 1972 hunting with a trad bow. I haven't had the opportunity to loose an arrow yet. Came pretty close the other morning on having an opportunity. I was sitting on the ground and the little buck materialized out of a draw only about 20 yards away. Popping acorns in his mouth like they were hard candy. No shot chance, but a very exciting and interesting experience.

Winter Hawk

Me too, I've got hogs and a couple of jack rabbits but missed 2 does last year when my upper limb hit the blind I was shooting out of and caused both shots to go high. I came home and ordered a Recurve model double bull 360 to solve the problem, I've loaned it out 3 times now and every time somebody else has brought home meat.

Still trying to score my first trad deer and on public ground I can only hope the deer gods will come through.

Still waiting for any type of traditional harvest. Shot at a running doe last year at 10 yards but missed. I'm taking my bow out tommorow for the opening of rabbit season, so maybe my luck will change.

I'm with you also. I have taken numerous deer with my compound but this will be the first year that I have truly concentrated on taking one with my long bow. I am really looking forward to completing this challenge that I have set for myself.

Still looking for my first with Trad Gear. Been making meat for lots of years during the "other" seasons. I LOVE my Trad Gear though. Living 125 miles from my hunting area kinda puts a damper on it sometimes. Like today..... Waiting for the Power Company to send a rep to my house..... Then four (4) trips to Home Depot..... Well, you get the picture.  :(  No huntin' this weekend.

... mike ...

Missed 4 times on 3 deer in one weekend. 4" over the shoulder from a tripod at 20 yards on the same doe with 2 arrows. Miss another doe at 15 yards the next day, 4" over the shoulder. And the last day missed an 8 point from 12 yards 4" over the shoulder. Never practiced from height and didn't bend at the waste.
Had 3 does at 10 yards and couldn't twitch a muscle. And have been busted more times than I can count. That's as close as I've been.

I've killed one deer but it was out of state. I'm trying to kill my first in my home state.

This is my first season.  My 15 year old son has gotten me into it - not that it took much persuading.  I've been out 4 times, seen 5 deer but not gotten a shot.  We are going out tomorrow morning.  A good friend who has killed many deer said it took him four years.  I'm hoping for sooner!

Good luck to all of you!

I am with you guys 5 years!! 4 misses, 1 hit and not found. Out every evening , maybe should get my butt out in the morn.

I've taken a few with a barebow compound, but still huntin' for my first Trad harvest. I'm feeling good Mojo for this season though. I'll be off Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday every week of Nov, which puts me out there for all phases of the rut. Was hoping for a trip to Ohio, but can't do it this year. Good luck and safe hunts to all!

It took me 3 yrs. gun hunting (no deer). Got into trade gear 4 yrs. ago and lost one last year, but I finally connected last sun. 7 yrs fellas. But well worth the wait.

I just picked up a longbow for the first time this year.  I have started deer hunting, and am waiting on my first opportunity ever with a bow.  Killed a couple with a rifle and 1 with a traditional muzzleloader, but have never shot an arrow at a deer.

Hang in there. It took me eight years to kill my first whitetail with a bow but since then the floodgates opened. I have been successful the last 17 years in a row.

Hey Guys - I hunted with a trad bow since I was 12 (I'm 45, and I had a 3 season experiment with a compound)and I was 25 years old before I killed one with a bow. After the first, they seemed to kind of come together and go easier. Take your time, hunt your way, follow your own ethics, and have fun. NEVER get in the "gotta kill a deer" mindset. I contend that most wounded and never found deer come from bad shots taken when guys feel pressure to kill a deer.

Keep at it...have confidence in your ability...it will all come together...a stickbow is a deadly weapon. After going totally trad. in January '07, got a deer last year and a turkey and two deer, so far, this year...

david

It took four years for it to finally come together for me. Probably six clean misses, one hit in the neck and not found, but then it happened, a perfect shot on a 9 pointer on my own property two years ago, one of the greatest memories of mine in this lifetime. Then go figure, I connect again the very next night on a fork! When it rains it pours...but I think success had just as much to do with learning how to hunt, then hunting with a Selfbow. Just get in the woods as much as you possibly can is my advice. Like Grandpa always said, you can't kill a deer lying in a warm bed!

I'm still waiting for mine.Have done loads of upland bird and small game hunting. Have missed a couple of shots and seen alot but was not comfortable with the shot........ I think its coming soon though   :archer:

I have tagged out every year with a compound from 88' to 05'. I made my first all wood bow in 05' and have had them at 22yards and a quite a few at 15 and less. I am in a county that has a 13" min. inside spread, so it cuts down a little on the opportunities. I am in no rush, I am at a point in my mind set, if I see deer, I had a great hunt. Being in stand or from the ground in a blind, watching the sun come up and set is enough for me, at peace!

When it happens, it happens.

I am still waiting for my first deer with trad gear too.  Last weekend I had a perfect opportunity on a forkhorn broadside at 10 steps standing still.  I waited very patiently for just the right time and right feeling of confidence to take the shot.  Kept telling myself to pick a spot behind his shoulder.  I loosed an arrow and it hit him high and above the shoulder.  

Found very little blood and tracked him for 8 hours before giving up.  I was on hands and knees looking for sign at the end.

I was very disappointed in myself for not making such an easy shot but I am 99% sure why it happened.  In the midst of all the excitement I  don't think I concentrated enough on the spot I wanted to hit.  It happens sometimes when I target practice.... lesson learned.

Good luck out there.

You might try this knuckle up and go to Tejas for a exotic or hog hunt. Example like at Dos Plumas get in game or target rich environment and just cut loss have fun and whack em and stack um as Uncle Ted says.  This does several thing and one is the buidling of confidence w/ your bow. If you miss when you miss jump right back on the bucking horse and GID!  Practice is important as I TRY TO SHOT 3 SHOTS FROM HUNTING TYPE SIT'S.  Use only 1 arrow!!  To build or maintain muscle tone i shoot 30 rubber band shots, 50 push ups and all sorts strecthes. AM, noon & PM too.

Me .  :banghead:

Still waiting here. Maybe in the morning the wait will be over.

good to know im not the only one. I grew up ( ha grew up I'm only 24) small game hunting and mostly fishing the bayou and swamps of Texas. I moved to the Hill Country and have never seen so many deer in my life. I enjoy every minute of my hunt except for the part when they blow at me from 20 and too far yards away. How can you not love these animals.

This is my first season to hunt archery of any kind. I've got a few more chances so we'll see. So far no shots.

Still waiting for my first trad deer. this year makes three without a trad harvest but there is still time yet.

Count me in. Freshman year of hunting for me. Still very green.     :rolleyes:      
Last day of hunt- strapped the bow on the backpack and started my 2 mile mountain hike back to camp.  Walked casually about 3 hundred yards and got busted by the only deer (aprox 20yds) I saw the whole hunt.
I practiced for months at that yardage too!     :readit:

Wow, I see I'm in some pretty good company.  Second year of trad hunting, and no meat yet.  I got the feeling this is the year though.

Good luck all,
Nathan

I've read that for any bowhunter it is on an average of 6 yrs. to take a deer for the first time.

I hunted hard for five years hard with a recurve before i got my first. It was worth it, Now after 16 years of trad hunting i want a real wall hanger mabe in the 140 P&Y class.

Got my first deer last year with an older compound but still waiting for a Trad-kill. Only a squirrel so far. You are not alone as you can see.

I got my deer the first year, lol now put a bull elk in the picture and I turn into a mess lol.  I think every bowhunter has there unicorn!

So far, one grouse down, but have yet to drop the string on a deer. have to see one first! I think they are all nocturnal still, or have moved into town.

Got skunked again yesterday so the wait continues.

No trad deer for me yet.But its all good.I'll stay at it for sure.Have done the not bending at the waist 3 times  :banghead:    :banghead:    :banghead:  I'm a slow learner!
GOOD LUCK to everyone and stick with it!!!

I consider myself still waiting .I hit a doe back in the mid seventies with an old ben Pearson recurve but couldn't find her.I got a 5 pt. in '81[i think] with a wooden riser compound. [American Archery Cheetah]
2 bucks with a gun since.
i'm back to Trad. bow this year .
Maybe it's just me but staying still for long periods is tougher at 50.I must admit ,I can shoot alot better now than when I was younger .Just a matter of time til i get one.

I am looking forward to my first trad deer!

Bakes

This being my first trad season, I love it, I missed 2 Does within 2 minutes a few weeks back, 1 over the back , the next under the chest, what a rush!!! My compound may never kill a deer again because it won't see the woods again, at least in my hands!

Yep... plenty of deer taken with firearm and compound... but still after my first trad deer - with a longbow this year.  I'm currently 0 for 1... but ain't nowhere near ready to quit.

hopefully I can get my deer this season, would really like it to be with a bow

After the first deer they seem to come easier. Hang in there, it'll happen.

The journey is half the fun. Be patient and enjoy natures bounty  ;)

Been at it 10 years, missed a doe last year, hit a spike deer and coyote my first and second seasons, both poorly, and no recovery, made me sick both times.  Had plenty of other close calls, but still waiting to get one on the ground.  I'll keep at it, though eating tag soup is getting old!  I've had more fun with my bow while out in the woods than with any other weapon!  Keep at it, it'll happen!

Hang in there all it'll happen!!!
For those that are having trouble getting them close, try using doe pee and put it close to your set-up, like 5-10yds.  Back when I shot a compound, I would put that stuff out at 20+yds, but over the last 7 years of traditional hunting, I found that I have to put those attractants really close to me.  :thumbsup: