This deer season has been the strangest and nearly the worst I've had in a decade. I did score on a nice doe and I'm SO thankful for that.
I haven't laid eyes on a deer in a month and sightings before that were very marginal. The rut was non existent but I did manage to lay eyes on one mature beast.
Yet.... I still go out as often as I can, knowing in the back of my mind that it's probably going to be a bust. I continue to fill my gas tank and burn up the fuel in search of seeing "something" and come out of the woods empty handed.
I par take in the ritual of the hunt, showering, checking weather conditions and going over the mental map in my head, still knowing in the back of my mind that the deer have more than likely vanished.
I know the odds are/were severely against me this season. Some unexplained phenomenon has caused the critters to go completely nocturnal before November even hit. Coupled with EHD, it's been tough.
So.....why do we do this to ourselves??!! I cannot explain the reason or motive, it's like an addiction. I HAVE to hunt, even if the animals aren't there.
The time on stand and fuel burned isn't adding up to the space unfilled in my freezer, yet I still go without any reason other than "I have to".
I am a nut...hopelessly sitting in a vacant woods hoping to see something other than trees, LOL!
Exactly what happened up here in Canada too. Oct had many deer moving and about come Nov. all deer went noctural and the big bucks even disappeared from the night camera. Most unsuccessful year for me, but hunting and being out is still better than working. I put over 140 hours in the tree stands (passed up a few and then no opertunities and no freezer filler.
Happened here two seasons ago. Due to a surgery I havnt been out yet but I will do the ritual as well and enjoy it kill or no kill, thats hunting and we love it.
Hunting is a medicine. It can be expensive but you need it regardless.
I am sick with it too.
Yep, me too...I experience hypo-thermia at least once every season. Kinda like my younger years when I used to run road races. Why h*** am I doing this? I dont regret any of it...jmho.
I know just what you mean! I have sat more hours with less deer sightings this year than I probably ever have. You know the old saying "you can't kill a deer if you are in camp".
Bisch
I have been out 3 times this season and only saw deer (3 does/30 yds or so) one time, the other 2 times I heard deer nearby (bucks). All 3 times was some of the most excitement I've had all year...just the adrenaline buzz of hearing critters close to you, having all 5 senses totally hard at work for any indication of game...the high usually lasted many hours after the hunt. No kill yet, no shot yet actually, but man still a rush and still going to keep going out. Watching the sun rise in the forest and hearing all of the critters wake up and start the day is more church for me than stepping foot in any man-made building.
You are having the season that I had last year. I saw one deer and thankfully it was a very nice buck and I made the shot. This year, I have had over 50 deer sightings while hunting. Many of those I could have had shots at. I filled the freezer and now I am just hunting for something big.
Hang in there and I hope next year will be better!
It has been a terrible season for me too. I haven't even had a good shot opportunity this year. I'm pretty much done this year.
Same here. The weather has really just been against me this year. I've had loads of fun and passed a few shots, in hindsight, that I should have taken. But there is always that hope that the perfect shot opportunity will be just over the rise or around that bush. I just can't help myself either. Lol. You're right, it is a sickness. And one to which I hope I never find the cure! Still got a little more time, maybe tomarrow will be the day.
"So.....why do we do this to ourselves??!!"
I remember asking myself that question many yrs ago while driving home from another "didn't see anything hunt" one night to get a couple hrs sleep before doing it again. Don't remember answering it.
I do remember fixing the main problem though. I bought a tent and moved to the campsite and lived there for the season.
It worked so well I did it again to eliminate a 13hr drive. Moved into a National Forest.
Arwin i don't know what part of Michigan you are from but that has been my season here in the Tip of the Mitt, warm in October and most of November saw most of my deer at the end of October right up until gun season (Nov 15) then it seemed every thing stopped, movement all at night for the most part! December we got a little snow things were looking better, then it melted and got warm again! Saw my first deer in Dec last Sunday in the PM, decent buck, at dark in the fog temps about 50 degrees no shot! Then its back in the 40s again, then we get slammed with 2 inches of rain then a 12in of wet snow! No sign anywhere now, unless the week of New years is decent weather its like the Detroit Lions football season "better luck next year"
--21 days and I saw one ELK.
--8 days in the white tail woods and had only one in bow range (got him)
--did not even draw a mule deer tag....
but it's only 8 months, 3 weeks and 6 days until it starts over...
I know this sickness you speak of. This is one disease I do not have to take medicine out of a bottle for, and for that I am thankful.
Last year my 14 year old son shot a nice bull elk with his bow and then a couple months later shot his first buck with his bow. I managed to shot nothing but logged many hours in the woods for therapy for this sickness.
This season I have had a few opportunities that I missed but was able to harvest one mature doe with my longbow which was a first for me. My now 15 year old son has not shot anything this year.
Seems the best we can hope for is more time a field with family and friends and as we fill our lungs with fresh air and hear the wildlife around us without knowing or caring we are a part of it that is the kind of cure I am happy to take!
Merry Christmas everyone! May God bless you and your families during this holiday season.
K.C.
Had the sickness for many years.......I do believe it's terminal.....LOL! No shots.....you at least got a doe, which is a fine trophy and a temporary cure for this awful sickness we have.
I did not get a deer with my bow this year and with just a week left it looks doubtful.
However I missed a doe and passed on a stupid young beautiful 8 point that liked feeding right in front of my stand. So I have had a good season and put a doe in the freezer with a hawken style rifle.
I have also spent many great mornings sitting in a stand with a recurve or longbow in my lap and waiting like a kid at Christmas for the sound of hooves in the leaves and watching the sun come up.
I have been hunting with a Traditional bow for over 30 years and I hope the excitement never goes away.
Whats the old saying? A bad day fishing is better than any good day at work. Same goes for hunting with a bow and even more so when its your passion.
But,,, I've asked this question to myself a time or two. Always get the same answer, what else is there to do? I'd much rather be in the woods watching the trees grow then sitting at home working thats for sure.
8 months and 8 days and I'll get to do it again... I can hardly wait. ;)