I have kept a journal for over 20 years, and I go hunting, between 11-20 trips, before I usually get a shot on deer, and usually make it connect. The average for compound, and now the last 8 years trad, is nearly identical, with fewer misses with trad, mainly because I will only take very good shots. Too fill 4 tags on year, went hunting 82 times in our season, Sept-mid Jan. Looking at that I feel like I have really earned my venision, not to mention the turkeys I have taken. A lot of local guys say I am lucky, or hunting deer that arent that wild, but very few of them have killed deer hunting the same area I do, annually. I fell like knowing your area, the more you hunt the better the feel you get for it, and putting in time in the woods is where it is at. Wife says I work it like a second job. How often do you go before you get a shot?
Most years I get a shot by the 5th hunt or so. This year two shots, two dead deer by the 7th hunt. It was a bit less with a compound before 2010 because I had another 6-7 yards to play with.
I don't continue hunting past two deer very often, I just can't use them.
There have been times in the past where I've let my hunting season get a little too much like work -- feeling guilty when I don't hunt, neglecting family, etc. It is very easy to fall into that pattern and I try to do better.
This year, for some reason I didn't have the want to as much as nearly every year. I only hunted about every 10th day or so until I filled the buck tag. In fact, I only hunted one stand and left another 4 that I had hung go unhunted.
Where I hunt most, I usually have an opportunity every several days or so. I often pass up shots. Can only shoot one buck per season so I hold out for a mature deer. Can shoot does where I hunt, but there aren't many deer in the management unit so I don't shoot does there. I do sometimes shoot a doe where they are more plentiful.
I'm in Vermont, so its rough here. I haven't gotten out a ton, Sense I started in 06' I have had 2 opportunities. I'll personally say that only 3 of the 7 years should really count due to I didn't go out a lot until about 3 years ago in 2009. 2009 was also was the last time I had an opportunity at a deer.
Going to college in Ohio next year so hopefully I'll get out a bit there.
The biggest lesson that I have learned though is that if you want opportunities, then you have to get out there and make it so there is at least a chance to have one.
Schafer
Usually within the first three times out I have deer in to twenty yards or so but let them pass unless a nice comes in,thats from a tree stand,on the ground things get alot more interesting when it comes to getting a shot off.
It depends on how our other hunters hunt the area but I normally manage a shot within two to three hunts
Forever sometimes...depends what I decide is worthy...meat or antlers? Gimme shots are hard to pass on.
Kris
I mainly hunt by the POH scoring system. How many Pounds of Hamburger will a deer make, is it enought to use up a tag! Wife and I depend on venison, our main meat that we use all year, with some chicken and pork added, we raise cattle but dont butcher them anymore, beef does not agree with either of us, or we have gotten so use to deer the last 30 years, just prefer it way more.
I'd say on average I have 1-2 opportunities per week, if I hunt my usual 4-5 times per week. Most of my hunts end up being only about three hours after I get off work. I pass up the majority of these shots, I mostly shoot them with my Nikon camera, I always have it when I go in the woods. I consider a perfect hunt to be one where I can see some deer and watch them, and get out without spooking anything.
I hope some of you guys realize how extremely fortunate you are to hunt where there is a good population of deer.
Our deer herd has been drastically reduced through excessive doe permits being issued. I've had all of three shots in the last seven years. Two of them ducked so hard all I got was hair. The third I aimed very low and it didn't duck, just got white hairs on that one.
It all depends on where you live here in PA. Some areas have too many deer, some have few. Last year I saw all of 14 deer in bow and gun season combined. This year I think I saw around 20 different deer. The closest one was 30yd, way too far to shoot.
I enjoy deer hunting but it has been getting pretty boring in recent years. Back in the mid 80's, when I started, it was common to get several deer in range and maybe a shot during one season.
I don't keep a journal, so I don't know exactly, but I have tons of opportunities. I will only shoot a good buck until about January, unless I need some meat. They are not free or easy opportunities, lots of scouting and planning.
I started hunting with traditional gear exclusively in 2007, and I got my first shot last year around Thanksgiving. I didn't think I would ever get a shot off, but it eventually happened.
I don't get to hunt very often, but I expect to have some close encounters every time I go out. The Solana trip kind of lowered my average a bit, it seemed like I was shooting every hour or so for a while there! :biglaugh:
Varies greatly. Some years I have an opportunity on opening day. Other years I have gone three weeks, maybe 36 hours of hunting, and no shot opportunities. I'd say it averages 24 hours of effort to take a deer, or at least have a shot opportunity I may or may not take.
I always knock over a doe as soon as I can, then wait for the biggest guy in the woods. I typically would pass up maybe 5 -10 immature deer and its probably every 3rd or 4th season when I connect with something decent.
You guys make me jealous. Some of us just don't have a lot of deer on the land we can hunt. I got a shot in 2008, and one in 2011. I usually get to hunt about 4-5 days per month, October 1 - November 30.
I can remember 5-6 years ago when you could get a shot on almost every trip out. Those were the good old days. The last couple of years I feel pretty lucky just to get a shot. It's hard to shoot deer that just aren't there. With the season here almost over looks like I'll be haveing some tag soup. I've hunted all season. Maybe I'm just getting worse at this stuff. :dunno:
We have a ton of deer. I hunt 5-6 days a month from Sept-Jan. I get about 2-3 opportunities per year. I gotta work on my skills!
If I had to guess, its about every 4 years.
I'd say every couple of days I'll have a shot. This year I passed about 20 shots on does while hunting for a good buck. I passed about 15 different your bucks on over 30 occasions. I missed one big buck with my longbow and took another decent one and took a few with wheels. I am in a county hunting program and a town program. Both have little pressure and I have access to about 7000 acres through that on top of the few hundred acres of private I hunt with sole permission. Our county also has no gun season. I have great spots but many. many guys hunt the same places with much less success. I spend hundreds of hours scouting and don't mind packing all my gear a few miles to get away from everyone.
Where i live here in the mountains of NC, opening day is pretty much a garauntee if you'l do your part.
I had about 8 good shot opportunities this past season, took three shots killed two deer, missed one. I have no idea how many trips or hours it took? plenty though!
I will keep track this coming season. I only had one chance this season at a muture buck, he busted me when I drew on him!
,
I'm from Pennsylvania, I currently don't get to go hunting often enough, but I'll get more time in the near future. I don't have a decent local spot right now so I hunt in the north central mountains at the camp. It used to be tough, but you could find some deer and kill one. Now, the deer population is so low that you can't even find enough sign to have a strategy. In 7 full days of hunting I saw 2 deer, a nice buck following a doe went right under my stand...in bear season! The doe harvest permit number has actually been increased? This seems to be the trend in deer management. Let me tell you, it sucks! I'm really not concerned at all what size a bucks rack is, I'd just like to get a shot at any buck. I go to Wyoming whitetail hunting now. PA should take a lesson on deer management from them. I'll find some local private property when I have more time to use it.
Wisconsin has inherited the deer management "expert" that was run out of PA. Those hunters will guilted into thinking it's a good idea to kill all the does they see for a few years...then reality sets in.
In the area of Wyoming I go to, you could probably get a shot once per day. Depending on how fussy you are. Last time I went for a 6 day hunt but had a nice buck on the ground within 5 minutes of first light on the first day.
If I go to my lease in S TX and don't get a shot at a deer or pig (pigs more times that deer) in a couple days I am thinking something is wrong!
Bisch
i don't normally not get a shot opportunity when hunting or at least pass on deer for bad angle or avoid deflection. I expect to see deer, hogs, turkeys, bears every time I hunt in range or nearly so. But I don't "hunt" unless conditions are perfect and I have scouted thoroughly - I scout a lot - at least 3 days to one day hunting. Kills are around one for each 3 days of hunting - I have seen no difference public land or private. I have always been only a bowhunter and only traditional - but didn't get this consistent at talking game till about 22 years ago - the first 15 years I think I scouted as I hunted which is just a mess for me.
6 deer this past fall - approx 18 days hunted
I sat approximately 200 hours this season July 31st till January 6th and took 4 deer with 4 shots. Had 3 in the freezer by the third week in August. Could have taken several more but just didn't need that much meat and I was holding out for a big 8 that kept showing up on my game cameras.
I realize I am very fortunate to live on the land that I hunt in an area that has a really good deer herd.
Two or three days, where I hunt. It is a good thing because that is often just about all the time I get.
Usuall takes e about an hour in the tree for the first shot
This year 9 days hunting, saw 11 deer and one good shot opportunity. No shots last year, same amount of hunting. Public land only
I had an outstanding season, I was out 24 times and had deer around me 18 times, yesterday was my last hunt and I had 17 deer come around all does and blew it. My stand was such that when the wind switched alittle I kept getting busted. My buddy who was hunting about 200 yards down from me had 23 deer around him at the same time of which he shot an 8 point. Even though I did not connect it was a great season, would have been fantastic if I took a deer. Can't wait til next year, and oh by the way I hunt public land.
I deer hunt about 30x's during our 3 month season and I would say on average I get 2 or 3 good shooting opportunities per season. I consider a good shooting opportunity one with a calm deer 20yrds or less.
Some of you make me feel a little guilty, the past few years on whitetails I average a shot opportunity 3 out of 4 days, When hunting above average sized bucks that ratio drops significantly. On elk, my opportunities have dropped from one every weekend to once every three or for years, at best. My opportunities on elk show a reverse correlation with the number of wolves, as the wolf population increased shot opportunities decreased, as did the elk population.
The best advice I ever read was by Gene and Barry Wensel: Where you hunt is a lot more important than how you hunt. We spent many years, and still continue, making and cultivating relationships with land owners to increase our hunting options.
elk it is one in every 80 days
mule deer one in every 30 days
white tail one in every 10 days.
In all I could do a lot more shooting but with experience I found it is way better to wait for the ideal shot opportunities and get kill shots. (quality not quantity)
In NJ(southern) you can go a season and get a goose egg when deer hunting with a bow. It all depends on new housing construction and the other guys who hunt in mass quantities of people.
We used to have great success 1-2 a week in some places, now guys dont look for deer sign they look for hunter sign as a way to find deer.
in NY I get a deer in Bow range once every 30-40 sits. Hunting the weekends and one week during season makes these encounters seem like one or less per year.
Last year in WI, I had a deer in bow range every sit except one, that's when I missed the coyote.
I agree with the
QuoteThe best advice I ever read was by Gene and Barry Wensel: Where you hunt is a lot more important than how you hunt.
100%. I know I could drive 1.5 hours south and see deer practically every time I enter the woods.
Varies on the property I'm hunting. In Northern MI on a doe hunt, usually 1-2 times out before I get a shot.
Southern part of the state I'm much more selective...went out about a dozen times and never took a shot. Passed up 5-6 "decent" bucks, but never shot.
Maybe every 6-10 stands Then I miss about half the shots I take. This year I been real lucky.
I have the opportunity for a shot at a deer about 90 to 95% of the time. Mostly small bucks 1 1/2 years old. This year was slow not hardly any does.LCH
I never understood why people would not hunt different land if they are not seeing deer. I would rather not hunt than hunt land with no deer.
I average passing up between 30 and 40 bucks a year inside of 25 yards in Ohio. I expect to have deer within 25 yards on every sit, sometimes that does not happen but I did at least see deer every day that I hunted this year which was 46 different hunts.
QuoteOriginally posted by Steve in Canton:
I never understood why people would not hunt different land if they are not seeing deer. I would rather not hunt than hunt land with no deer.
I average passing up between 30 and 40 bucks a year inside of 25 yards in Ohio. I expect to have deer within 25 yards on every sit, sometimes that does not happen but I did at least see deer every day that I hunted this year which was 46 different hunts.
Sometimes its not as easy as it seems. Some guys do not know how lucky they are to have areas with good game numbers. I know of people that hunt in areas where they are fortunate to see one or two deer a year, that does not include in bow range.
Uprooting a family and a home for the sole purpose of pursuing whitetails is not always an option. Neither is not being able to hunt, therefore some guys make the best of what they have, and not take things for granted.
QuoteOriginally posted by Steve in Canton:
I never understood why people would not hunt different land if they are not seeing deer. I would rather not hunt than hunt land with no deer.
I average passing up between 30 and 40 bucks a year inside of 25 yards in Ohio. I expect to have deer within 25 yards on every sit, sometimes that does not happen but I did at least see deer every day that I hunted this year which was 46 different hunts.
I live in the house I grew up in and own the ground it sits on, nothing more. I rely on public land or the invites of friends who have a bit of huntable land. The deer herd has been terribly shot off due to misguided people in control of such things. I have quickie hunts after work and Saturdays (no Sunday hunting in PA). So, basically, I hunt where and when I can. There's just not a whole heck of a lot I can do about it. I'm not made of money and can't buy a place to grow a deer herd.
I have been in the same situation of hunting areas that had few deer, I then started knocking on doors and getting permission to hunt better areas. Anyone who live in the eastern US is probably within 50 miles of good deer hunting if they are willing to knock on doors and ask. I own no land, never had but have access in a state that is heavily leased to over 1000 acres of private land just by asking for permission, it can be done.
After reading many of these posts, I feel fortunate! I see deer almost every time I go out. I have not kept track, but would guess a shot opportunity about 50% of the time. In a typical year I will hunt for a mature buck until last week in Dec. then try to take a doe or two the last week during my Christmas break. This year ehd hit and numbers were down - still saw deer. Did not shoot a buck, but shot a doe the last week. Last year a nice buck in late Oct. - two does late season. Can not remember the last season I did not shoot a deer.
Now if we only had elk! :D
It varies from year to year and on the property I am hunting. I had one season it took 27 hunts to get a shot. This year it took 6. This year I killed two does on the sixth hunt. I passed on 19 shot opportunities this season, shot 5 times, 4 perfect hits and one miss I can only explain as being excited on what would have been my biggest buck.
I do feel fortunate to have plenty of deer to hunt both public and private land. While big bucks are very hard to come by I still hold out. Can't kill a big one if they die young. I don't have a problem with a guy shooting whatever is legal but we have 6 deer tags and plenty of deer so I just shoot some nice eating does and let the bucks walk unless they are pretty nice. As a result I haven't killed a buck in 7 years. I get as much meat from a adult doe as a little buck and our lease has an 8-1 doe to buck ratio which is average for our area.
Chris
About 80 man hrs. if I'm meat hunting. If it's for horns it could be all season or never even happen. We don't have a high population of deer where I hunt. Come on turkey season!
It can vary greatly depending on the year, weather, species, unit, and if I can have more than one day in a row to hunt. Mule deer on a good year could be everyday on young bucks and on a bad year it maybe 20 days or more. Elk on a good spike/cow unit it may take 10 days on a good year and never see one on a bad year. On the any bull unit that I hunt you can be a good hunter and know the unit well and may never get a shot. On my Mt. goat hunt this year I had the whole hunt off and tag out opening day.
20 years ago I would say 1 out of 4 hunts I would have a shot opp. Now prob 1 out of 10 at best. I would see more deer in a weekend then than I see a whole season now. Same area just less deer.
In North West New Jersey, I expect to get a shot oppritunity everytime out,shoot a couple bucks and does this season. As I get older rather watch them then shoot them.
I have said this before on other posts, first shot I had was in 1971 with my recurve [I missed]. Killed a deer with my compound in 1993, Have not had a shot with my recurve or long bow since. Spend about 60-100 hours each year. Saw more deer this year than I have in a long time 19, 6 of them bucks....no shots!
QuoteOriginally posted by Steve in Canton:
I never understood why people would not hunt different land if they are not seeing deer. I would rather not hunt than hunt land with no deer.
I average passing up between 30 and 40 bucks a year inside of 25 yards in Ohio. I expect to have deer within 25 yards on every sit, sometimes that does not happen but I did at least see deer every day that I hunted this year which was 46 different hunts.
I used to live in Massillon, and hunted in Navarre and Beach City. I thought that hunting in IL would be similar, but it is not. I saw more deer in a week in Navarre (the first week I ever hunted whitetails in my life), than I have seen in 9 years hunting in this part of Illinois.
I have found that landowners are usually not interested in allowing strangers to hunt their land, and the only place I can hunt, the deer population is very thin. With my community involvement, I know an unusually large number of people around here, but still have only one place to hunt.
Why do I still go? I like to get out, and that's the only place I have. I focus on deer, but keep one eye out for anything else that's in season. Shoot lots of stumps, too.
QuoteOriginally posted by ddauler:
20 years ago I would say 1 out of 4 hunts I would have a shot opp. Now prob 1 out of 10 at best. I would see more deer in a weekend then than I see a whole season now. Same area just less deer.
Everybody in Ga is saying the same thing. That's what a ten doe limit will do over several years, particularly on public land. :knothead:
I sure feel for some of you fellows.
Way back in 1970-1974 when I started bowhunting in Indiana as a 16-year old, one bow range opportunity per year was my experience. I killed a deer every three years for the first 9 years I hunted. I had to travel 120 miles one way and hunted nearly every weekend through 1977 -- even when attending Purdue. I never quit hunting just to go to college.
I have a buddy I hunt with in Indiana these days (but not enough). When I hunt with him I have multiple deer in bow range nearly every time I hunt (beans and corn surrounded by forest). I've passed many nice bucks in easy bow range on that farm over the years but have only taken one shot (killed the buck). That tag costs $150 for a NR like me. I was never willing to fill the tag on anything less than PY potential.
He usually sees dozens every time he hunts. The farm was just bought for $1.5 million by someone from Chicago. Looks we're done hunting there.
With a six week bow season, I get out on the average 6 Mondays, 6 Saturdays, and maybe 3-4 evening hunts. If I'm lucky I may have 1-3 shot optunities during that time period and if very lucky harvest one. Once opening day of shotgun season is over you may only have 1 chance of harvesting a deer during the 5 weeks of shotgun/ML seasons. During the gun seasons the deer tend to go in the nastiest spots or backyards. I have two buck tags and usually two anterless tags per year. There is no Sunday hunting in this state. I'd be thrilled if I could see animals every 2-3 sitting in the woods. I have managed to fill one tag per year somehow.
QuoteOriginally posted by ddauler:
20 years ago I would say 1 out of 4 hunts I would have a shot opp. Now prob 1 out of 10 at best. I would see more deer in a weekend then than I see a whole season now. Same area just less deer.
Same thing here in Wis. Unlimited doe tags makes public hunting tough. About 8 years ago I went 16 times in a row without seeing a deer. :dunno:
regardless of weapon I normally fill my tag the first week whether deer or about 70% of the time. Then probably 20% the last week of the season and the rest in the middle. My seasons depending on area and weapon vary from 4 days to almost 3 months. Overall throughout my hunting career I'm at about a 90% success rate for deer and 70% for elk but again that's combining trad archery, modern archery, rifle and handgun kills. I normally decide what I feel like hunting with at the beginning of the year and go from there since we pretty much can only take one deer and one elk.
I see deer probably 1/3 of the times I climb.On years when things go good I get shots about every 5 climbs if I want them. On not so good years1 in 10.
About 15 years ago I killed either a deer or a hog every week of the season. Thats from around Sept 15- January 10 back then.Exceptional times.Year before last I had 14 shots. Killed 11 deer and two pigs.This year 6 shots ,killed 3 deer and two pigs. I hunted better sign this year than I ever have. Can`t explain it...even took more baths..lol. I think I climbed maybe 28-35 times this year.RC
I forgot to add.....Cory said a mouthfull about scouting. Some people sit the same spots time after time and year after year and complain. You got to be more aggressive. I refuse to climb a tree unless I know a deer is gonna come by. They don`t always do it but Iv`e scouted enough I`m that confident.If your not that confident you got no business sitting you should be covering ground looking for a good spot.
I know guys that go out and hang public land stands early season and sit them all year.Our food changes so often down here there is no way you can hope for success like that.A quick read of Mr. Warren Womacks hunting tips would benifit most folks. Learning to find and hunt feed trees for a meat hunter in the south is the key to success.I hunt 90% public land.RC
Almost impossible to pattern. I pass up so many more deer than I used to. I could probably shoot at a deer every 4 or 5 sits. Sometimes more than one op per sit. Never shot last year. Could have had 6 or 8 decent shots in about 30 or so sit's.
I have a shot every time I go out!I can't believe all you guys are such lousy hunters. :biglaugh:
Seriously, I don't know the average, but shoot at least one Buck every year. It's been one Buck the last 4 yrs. as I'm trying to increase my Doe numbers.I haven't shot a Doe in a few years, not that I haven't had opportunities.
Been hunting trad for 5 years still have not gotna shot at a deer. I hunt abiut 30 to 40 times a year . So...... hang in there
hunted seven years before I got my first shot, then in two weeks killed three deer..... :dunno: .... most years I only have one or two real ,takeable shots.....