Deer come by my stand but by the time any of them are close enough to shoot they are all around me and I can't move. The doe come first and I know there's a nice 6 -8 point buck I've seen that might come by so I wait. There's a mature doe that is like the sentry. She's all nose and ears always jumpy. Night before last she knew something was up I saw her smelling my tracks in the snow. Tonight she came in first and I could tell she was wondering if something was up again. She was very very hestitant. Probably I should have gotten ready and shot her but I hadn't seen the nice buck for a couple days. I thought he may have taken one for the team and fallen to a muzzleloader. So I waited to see if he'd come by. Behind me I hear other deer coming then after several minutes I see big boy out of the corner of my eye. Then here he comes but no use even trying to shoot because the does are all around and if I move they all take off. Oh well, I have until Jan 18th to get it figured out.
IMO that don't suck at all. Seems that your in the right place. Keep after them and maybe you will get a shot either at Mr Big or Miss Nosey and Alert. Either way meat in the freezer is meat in the freezer. Good luck.
Hunting late in the season like this can be tough since the deer are so alert from hunting pressure. Stick with it though, and one of these days you'll be able to close the deal.
You are doing it all right or the deer would not be there. Just have to wait to dot the I. Those old does are the hardest one to get by. Wait for the shot. Good Luck!! :archer2:
You'll get it down with a month or more to go, just keep on persisting dude!!This time of year they are jumpy all over the country after thunderstick season!!
You don't suck. Positive attitude.
Practice, and don't give up. Good things will happen.
id take her out first, the buck is probobly after the younger does now.
What arrow30 said. Younger does just hitting their first heat. Old does get to be old by being really smart and alert. If you get her, you've done as well as getting an old buck, as far as hunting goes, and done much better as far as getting meat. But yeah, they are all really on pins and needles this time of year. That's partly why I like Arkansas. We have untill the last day of Feb to bow hunt. They settle down some by then, since most of the other hunters are all hunted out by Christmas. Keep plugging at em, although watch out for sitting in that same spot too much. They'll change what they do.
Nope you don't suck. It just happens that way sometimes.
That my friend is what you call hunting. It does not always work out with a dead animal, it iis however still a heck of a lot of fun. Even if a little frusterating.
Jim, No Sucking there, Thats hunting. I have spent many days on stand seeing nothing. you are in the right area. Stay with it, it will all come together.
Additionally, i wont even make it to the deer woods this year. I am deployed. So i would take a "suck day" like that anytime.
It would'nt be fun if it was always easy,I'm sure it was thrilling.
Sucking is getting excited and dropping your arrow off the bow and have it bounce and ping off a half dozen branches on the way down.........
nothing cooler than having deer all around you like that,,, I had that happen before too and what I have been doing is practicing for when this happenes agin.. getting my bow from where ever it is hanging or laying and bringing it up to pointing position and then drawing it back and then shooting accurately,,,,,, the thing is I do this so SLOW that my arms start to get heavy because I can barely even feel myself moving. it took me 3 1/2 minutes to shoot one arrow last time I tried this and I'm not sure if this would work or just a waste of time but I figure I should have a back up plan.
When the activity heats up, I put my lb tip on my boot standing straight up to hide behind. Easier to draw & shoot too.
I wish I sucked like that. LOL
Na, you are having a great hunt. No dought you are in the right place. You have done a fine job by not making any moves and spooking the deer especially big boy and alerting them that danger is near, great job. Otherwise they may stay clear of that area. Be catious on hunting the same spot and it will hopefully work out for you.
Earl
Last time out, I flushed 5 deer on the way in to the stand. I suck worse!
I wouldn't shoot that old doe, she sounds like a smart one and she will get them through the winter. You will have a hard time foolin her because she will be lookin for you.
I agree, get that doe first....
If you use a climber go in early and set it up 10 yrds left,right,or behind the tree you usually sit in.
Gotta love bowhunting. Wish you luck.
Take your time and WAIT! It will happen! Just a note, if you get the chance to shoot the old DOE, do so! I have 3 like that, they can ruin you day in a breath! Plus they also school the younger deer!!!
I love it when it happens like that. I usually keep my LB tip in the top of my Rubber boots, like said earlier, it helps eliminate alot of movement. When they have your number, ain't nuthin' you can do.
That is what makes it addictive.
God Bless,
Nathan
QuoteOriginally posted by jlbpa:
Deer come by my stand but by the time any of them are close enough to shoot they are all around me and I can't move. The doe come first and I know there's a nice 6 -8 point buck I've seen that might come by so I wait. There's a mature doe that is like the sentry. She's all nose and ears always jumpy. Night before last she knew something was up I saw her smelling my tracks in the snow. Tonight she came in first and I could tell she was wondering if something was up again. She was very very hestitant. Probably I should have gotten ready and shot her but I hadn't seen the nice buck for a couple days. I thought he may have taken one for the team and fallen to a muzzleloader. So I waited to see if he'd come by. Behind me I hear other deer coming then after several minutes I see big boy out of the corner of my eye. Then here he comes but no use even trying to shoot because the does are all around and if I move they all take off. Oh well, I have until Jan 18th to get it figured out.
I wish I could have a hunt that sucked that bad! Deer numbers are way down in my area of Ontario, I've seen six deer the whole season. I will admit I haven't hunted as much as normal but still six deer in about 120hrs of hunting. Oh and it was three together on two different occasions.
I tell ya, it makes the rewards of taking an animal very special. Bowhunting game with traditional equipment is a very challenging and rewarding experience. Keep at it.
Try moving the stand where they are not expecting you, or where you are better hidden and can get off a shot. You only suck if you think being surrounded by deer is a failure. LOL
I'd call that the best day's deer hunting I'd ever had!
Your seeing deer.....your seeing bucks, They are in range but you can't get drawn for fear of getting busted. So what's your problem ??? I wish I had your problem!!
You don't suck, the cards just ain't falling right. Be confident and hang in there. There ain't many worse obstacles around than propeller-headed does.
Good luck!!!! Ralph!
QuoteOriginally posted by jlbpa:
Deer come by my stand but by the time any of them are close enough to shoot they are all around me and I can't move. The doe come first and I know there's a nice 6 -8 point buck I've seen that might come by so I wait. There's a mature doe that is like the sentry. She's all nose and ears always jumpy. Night before last she knew something was up I saw her smelling my tracks in the snow. Tonight she came in first and I could tell she was wondering if something was up again. She was very very hestitant. Probably I should have gotten ready and shot her but I hadn't seen the nice buck for a couple days. I thought he may have taken one for the team and fallen to a muzzleloader. So I waited to see if he'd come by. Behind me I hear other deer coming then after several minutes I see big boy out of the corner of my eye. Then here he comes but no use even trying to shoot because the does are all around and if I move they all take off. Oh well, I have until Jan 18th to get it figured out.
Personally, I would consider that a great day of hunting. :)
Great title. Made me open it.
Great advice and counsel from others already.
Only one said to move your stand. That was MY first thought... better yet...let the stand you were in where it was and put an old coat in it...then move elsewhere close by in another direction. When the old gal is keeping an eye on that stand... you might get drawn on the big boy... I find big doe meat way better than big buck eatin! :)
I'd have to agree with robtattoo. and BobCo Sounds like a great hunt to me.
Good luck on the buck.
If you decide for yourself that the experience was exceptional, then you are right.
You don't suck at all! If you are getting in range of any deer at this time of year...you are doing something very right! Good luck!
Sounds like you're in the right spot...all these 'almosts' you're getting is bowhunting,bud.Keep after 'em and good luck! :thumbsup:
I've laid off the stand for a few days. It's a fixed stand built wood platform with built wood ladder. Last week when I first suspected they might be on to me I tried standing on the ground behind a big tree and some brush 15 or 20 yards from the stand but as their luck would have it this time they came in from behind me downwind and smelled me. There are some perfect trees for a climbing stand in a good postion for an ambush but I don't have a climbing stand and I have so much stuff already I'm overflowing into the yard.... a Kentucky tradition...but I'm from Pennsylvania....I can't bring myself to throwing more money at a problem. I'm wondering if I'm hoarder of sporting goods anyway...bows, arrows, fishing rods, guns all out the ying yang, and tools and lawn mowers a plenty, 2 cars, motorcycle, truck. I only get away with this because I live alone. I've been asking around to borrow a climber. I have one more person to ask. I know he has a stand he got too heavy to use safely but I don't know if it's a climber. I might get it anyway if it is a fix stand I'll build a ladder....I forgot to mention I hoard lumber too:-)
You have plenty of time to suck but this doesn't sound like one of them.
ive had 5 missed opps on deer that were that close. that didn't even know i was there until after the shot. i couldnt help but to be so excited. sounds like to me you need to take a chance once in a while. you never know. thats the defenition of luck.. when skill and opportunity meet. taking a chance is part of the equasion. best of luck to you . now go get 'em. ruddy
Even when the old doe has you marked, you might easily get an arrow into one of the others that's not so vigilant. Like my granny used to say, "You can't hit 'em iffen you don't shoot at 'em!".
I've shot deer before from a group after having been made out by one or two of the others. Survival of the fittest.
Like other have said- sounds like a great hunt - I bet your heart was pumping... Thats a good thing. You will get it ...
Best of luck...
No you dont suck I suck I take my bow out today it's secondary gun season here, sat all day accept when I came to get a bowl of spaghetti o's my blind is 50yds from the house, havent seen anything accept a few birds all day (around 20 degreesish) so finally when I couldent feel my feet anymore i thought oh I'll just walk up the path behind my stand aways and go back well on my way back I spook a deer that was right in front of my blind my anger told me to quit for the day.
Sucks is to have the bottom half of your climbing stand ticky ticky to the bottom of the tree a second before you stand to shoot.
I hunt off the ground now.
You're doing fine.
SUCK!?!?! Sounds like a damb good time to me!!!!!!
Quoteid take her out first, the buck is probobly after the younger does now.
Yep, she would be the first in the freezer.