a post I made on another thread got me thinking. seems a lot of us have one, so
what is your nemesis species? you know, the one that no matter what, you have NO luck with.
for me its been whitetail deer. going even back in my wheel bow days, I cannot even guess the amount of money and time ive spent chasing em. I go to a buddies in Ohio most years, and hunt only good, private land. once with a wheel bow some years back I shot a 118 or so inch deer, but otherwise no good luck. couple years back with the ol bighorn I overshot a similar deer. hunted Kansas twice, with an outfit there. all, good, managed private land. got a shot at a bruiser both years, one I thought I drilled but was never seen again, and another a limb saved for another hunter. locally, ive spent countless hours in a tree stand mainly in South Dakota with similar results. had a nice buck hear my arrow sliding on my rug rest a couple years back. another big buck knew my stand was there, it was placed too obviously by a buddy. I could go on, but you get the picture.
this fall, in Ohio I did manage a nice buck finally, he wont make book but he would gross it. I was beyond stoked, and hope im past the curse.....
how about you?
Hands down Elk! Managed to kill 3 but probably hunted them on over a dozen different years.
So used to trying to be quiet and stealthy that it gets in the way of actually sounding like an elk. I really need to be more aggressive and not worry about making a bit of noise. Easier said than done when I'm so programmed to be elusive!
Eastern wild spring turkey, been trying since 1989 the first year I took up trad, and was19 at the time. Haven't killed one yet.
Turkey
Black bear. Every year something happens where I forget to apply for a permit, don't have the time to go, don't have the money, or don't get a permit. The few times I went the hunt was ruined by dog hunters, bears were not hitting the bait, poor weather. One time I had a bear comeing in to the bait site on a regular basis but I let my dad hunt the spot. I don't know what happened but somehow he didn't get a shot.
Elk. Seem to miss when I get a quick shot. Going back to CO this year after a 6 year hiatus.
QuoteOriginally posted by Manitoba Stickflinger:
Hands down Elk! Managed to kill 3 but probably hunted them on over a dozen different years.
So used to trying to be quiet and stealthy that it gets in the way of actually sounding like an elk. I really need to be more aggressive and not worry about making a bit of noise. Easier said than done when I'm so programmed to be elusive!
That is so true for so many.
Mine would be good Muledeer.
Wild turkey. Sooooo close so many times only to be busted.
Spring turkey with traditional archery gear.
I've been successful with other methods including flintlock but never with my longbow.
These days I will only use my bow to hunt them no matter how many pots of tag soup it takes.
God bless,Mudd
What ever I happen to be hunting on any given day. I am consistently outwitted by animals and fish that have brains the size of a pea.
wild turkey and javalina, I hate them, LOL, shaved a lot of feathers and hair but just cannot seem to kill one. Kinda strange as I have killed quail with my bow and they are a whole lot smaller, lol.
Elk. I have been "in them" many times but no kills to my credit. I have not hunted them in recent years though, I need to get back out there.
Kris
It used to be Black Bear. on my 5th Black Bear hunt, my first in the spring I finally connected on a Quebec Bruin, then took a nice Maine Boar the following Fall. Now, Its going to be the next critter I go after, I have no idea what that's going to be!
I'd have to say elk. I'm been elk hunting in Colorado twice and never saw an elk. I did hear a few bugles but that was about it.
without a doubt "TURKEY", they seem to know I am
there before I do.
Mountain goat. A mental snapshot of an 11" Billy standing broadside on an outcropping is seared into my memory and I wish I had a do-over.
Shy of winning the lottery, I can't imagine a situation of ever getting a re-do, now with 4 kids, new house and evaporating discretionary funds.
Mojostick, if it helps at all, mountain goat is my all time dream hunt. Successful or not I'm beyond jealous.
Black tail deer.
Moose for me. I have been a full draw on several bulls that were right at that legal 50" rule but I just was not sure so they walked.
A truly big black bear. I've killed one medium size bear but the pumkin heads always elude me. I've had a couple monsters within spitting distance while chasing elk but without a tag in my pocket.
Big, High Country Mule Deer, I killed a bunch of sage brush bucks over the years. I'm talking about that timber line 30" Muley.
The extremely one sided ratio of harvest to the multitudes of hunting pursuits has been awarded to the tormenting Gob.
While they are by far my favorite quarry, when I finally have an opportunity to draw, it seems to be with a fiery passionate vengeance.
Bleedin' rabbits. I have taken deer and coyote, but I can't hit Thumper to save my life. Never been too swooft with bowfishing either.
The only thing I seem to HAVE any luck with is squirrel... Outside of them everything else seems to best me.
Toss up between moose and Mt goat. 4 archery trips for moose and three for goats. Probably never hunt either again. They win!
The second woodcock. I got this one with an htm in flight, I missed the first two that day. I tried for three years to get him a companion, but it had to be in flight. Finally, I decided the first one was just luck and I gave up.
(http://i872.photobucket.com/albums/ab283/pavanldb/woodcock_zps2f6a352f.jpg) (http://s872.photobucket.com/user/pavanldb/media/woodcock_zps2f6a352f.jpg.html)
Just look to my UT elk thread :rolleyes:
I have to be different. For me it's groundhogs. I've missed outright, skimmed them under their belly, bounced a BH off of the top of their head, hit a cement block in front of their body, to name a few misses.
Without a doubt it is a truly huge black bear-have hunted Canada 3 times for that specific purpose with outfitters that assured me they had big bears and I would get an opportunity. That is all I ask but never materialized because of poor outfitter/guides. Just wrong when the hunter knows more about the quarry and how to bait them than the quides and I hate it when the outfitter is a no show after you give them the money and you are stuck with the quide and baits that don't have any bears on them and/or you have to help the guide set up new baits. Urgh!
I would love to get a mountain lion some day. I have never had one in bow range. I will try my best to get one someday.
My best friend was hunting a ground blind in South Texas and he had a lion come by broadside at 15 yards. I asked him why he did not shoot it, his reply "it never crossed my mind, I was in awe".
Elk, elk and elk. The last one I killed was about 1990. I get into them all summer; come September, I am the elk anti magnet.
Easy...TURKEY! I've killed everything I've ever hunted for with my sticks except turkey. I've hunted entire seasons without a chance at a bird, put the bow away and took the shotgun and shot the things from 10 yds. never knowing I was there!
I've had 23 Colorado bear licenses and have yet to kill one. I see them every year some times real, scary close but never in a shootable position.
Hogs for me...been on two hog hunts a now and have yet to bring home pork...it is really starting to irritate me.
There is a nutria rat that has been caddy shacking me all over a drainage system by where I live.
QuoteOriginally posted by Danny Rowan:
wild turkey and javalina, I hate them, LOL, shaved a lot of feathers and hair but just cannot seem to kill one. Kinda strange as I have killed quail with my bow and they are a whole lot smaller, lol.
THIS!!!
I've never managed a shot at Turkey, but have shaved many a Javelina belly & back. Just can't get one in the middle!
ELK! ELK! ELK! hunted elk 28 times in Colorado, Idaho, Montana and Washington. Everything that can, will go wrong. Killed one cow in Colorado and a cow in Washington.
haha i have to agree with ceme24, what ever i seem to be hunting at the moment...although i usually can come up with some kind of game to bring home to freezer when i am able to put the time i need in...normally tho i have just a few hours to hunt...so i guess my true nemesis would be time
Wild Turkey in the spring with trad bow. Shot at a bunch even emptied my quiver at the same one once.
Went for 7 or 8 years then finally shot a fall turkey and was pumped. I thought great got the first one out of the way now I know I can hit them. It has been 6 years since that and have not got a shot in the spring or have missed them again when the opportunity came. Hate to admit it but even have trouble hitting the 3D turkeys.
TURKEY!!! I've yet to take one with my recurves. I drilled one last year and a coyote got it before I recovered it. I brought home his tail fan and put it on my decoy.
Turkey for me as well! I've spent a lot of time trying but have never even launched an arrow at one! Anymore, I see it as a perfect reason to get out in the woods with my kids, turkey or no turkey..../
Elk, have been on a few hunts ,had a few chances to get a shot and every time another hunter messed me up.
Moose, I live right in the middle of great moose country and have them all around me during the season. Just can't get one in the right position for a good shot. :bigsmyl: One of these days :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: Bob
Bull elk for me. I've taken cows before, but I've never connected on a bull. A few missed shots and blown stalks, it just has never came together. I enjoyed my hunts and love the country. Came home with some great memories. I'll try again one of these days.
It is elk for me too. I've been on three DIY elk hunts without one shot opportunity.
I passed on a close, but too hard quartering away shot on a cow on the first hunt.
I have a plan, in 2015 (Colorado) to fix this.
Antelope for me. If I go antelope hunting I guarantee massive amounts of rain!!
Last three years I went I had 4 , 3 and 4 inches of rain the night I arrived in Wyoming.
deer
but thats all I hunt most of the time
Killed 1, missed 8
Stinkin' spring turkeys with trad-gear. They were easy when I was chasing them with clouds of lead, but since I've switched to trad-gear it seems like I can't even call one close enough to get a decent look!
Coyotes for sure.
I have two:
#1 - Blue Wildebeest - Been to Africa twice, shot 2 wildebeests, lost two wildebeests! That is the number one animal on my hit list if I ever get to go back over there!
#2 - ELK - Been elk hunting 4 times total, once guided, and have not even been close to drawing back on or shooting at an elk.
Bisch
I have 27 days over the last two years invested with the best mountain lion guide in the business...going back for more punishment this December!
1) Turkeys with any weapon but fall turkeys have killed me in the past few years we have been allowed to hunt them. Stupid things won't come close enough.
2) Rabbits. I lost the only one I ever actually hit. I kill squirrels but heavens forbid I hit a big and broadside rabbit in the wide open.
3) A buck bigger than a spike. I missed a 4 point last year and killed a spike this year but I haven't had a shot at a 5+ point deer ever.
There are a lot that antagonize me, the two that stand out :
A quality bulk elk, I have taken half a dozen, the largest a five point. BTW (before the wolves) I would pass on several decent bulls, small 6 pointers each year, and hope to take a cow during the late archery season. It just never came together on a really nice one. Now I am doing good to see half a dozen bulls, let alone a decent one, during the hunting season.
A quality mule deer. Took a 32" buck in the Frank Church Wilderness in Idaho with a rifle on the second day of my first ever deer hunt. I started big game hunting later than most at the age of 27. Talk about beginners luck, it was a solo, unguided hunt about 8 miles from the nearest road. Anyway, been trying to get one near that size with a bow for the last 29 years. The biggest down side of Montana, they just don't have the genetics for good mule deer.
Antelope for me! I've been chasing them critters for the last 20+ plus years and I just can't connect on one. I have a personal goal and it doesn't include a blind or a out of state hunt so it might be another 20 years but I'm ok with that if I get it done the way I want!
Steve
Out of the species Ive been lucky enough to get to hunt. Black bear have given me fits. I hope to change that in the future.
Hogs. I have only seen 6-8 hogs and it was in one group on a paved road about a mile from where I could hunt.
Elk, five empty tags so far.
All of them. LOL
It's just harder than heck to find a decent place to hunt that I can afford to hunt.
I remember when my father quit hunting about 35 years ago saying "there wasn't anyplace to hunt anymore".
I won't say there isn't anyplace to hunt but it sure isn't like it used to be.
Add me to the turkey list, Have a blast hunting them just can't kill the dang things.
Forgot about hogs-been 3 times in 3 different states and yet to even see a hog in two of them and third never even was close to getting a shot-even a long shot. Yet the friend who went along has killed hogs each time and twice killed numerous hogs.
Yelp, Turkeys, think they have eyes in the back of their head...'course haven't hunted them in a popup blind yet.
Wapiti, those white rump creatures seem to be able to stay out of bow range. I have had many at 40-80 yards, likely 20-30 a year, but still no elk in the freezer.
On one hunt I remember well I had 7 bulls (5-7 pointers) and fighting over two groups of around 12 cows each. They all were with in 100 for about 1.5 hours, none came closer that 40 yards. Ugh!!!
anything with fur, hair or a feather
Turkey - I've sliced feathers from at least two without real success.
For me it is a quality mule deer. Don't get me wrong I've taken some decent 4x4s but for the amount of monster bucks I've been on I just can't get it done.
Turkeys, moose, bear the list goes on......hogs, javelina :banghead:
Fox for me. Those little jokers are wound tight. When I do get a shot they move three feet from the shot to when the arrow gets to where they used to be.
Also have trouble with big whitetail. I just can't get them inside the comfortable shooting range. I have let some nice ones, 90-110", go to try for a bigger one or a doe. The does give plenty of chances usually though.
Chris
QuoteOriginally posted by ceme24:
What ever I happen to be hunting on any given day. I am consistently outwitted by animals and fish that have brains the size of a pea.
Me, too!!! Lol.
My "Murphy's Law" species is black bear. It seems like no matter what I do, SOMETHING goes wrong! Everything from the season ending on opening day (used to be a quota/limit here in OK), to the Jeep catching on fire when I arrived in camp :scared: and then the gov't shutdown shutting down my camping area.
My "close but no cigar" species is turkey. I've taken (and missed) several shots at them in the fall. Emptied the quiver on one flock. And all of my opportunities have come while stalking/ still hunting, never once out of a blind.
Still haven't closed the deal on white-tails with a bow yet either, after about 9 years of trying and blowing it somehow or another.
Haven't even drawn on a hog yet, though not for lack of trying.
I AM 1 for 3 on armadillos, though! :D :archer:
The Wild Turkey period. But I have obtained a new piece of property to hunt, and it looks like it have a good supply of Turkeys. And this spot is not far from my house, and I think this coming Turkey season(April,18th 2014)here in Maryland, just may be the year I break the jinx. Please wish me luck.
Tony
Turkeys until last May. I'm embarrassed to say that I hunted them since 1988 with a longbow.
Elk now - 7 hunts so far.
hands down the wild turkey with my longbow. I have no problem with other game but DANG, just CAN NOT hit one to save my hide.
TURKEY!!!!!!
Man. Well, woman actually.
In two words...."black bear". :banghead:
Those dang long nose,super spooky,after Pennsylviana gun season whitetail does.
Mt Goat ... in my earlier bowhunting years I was fortunate to have drawn 3 goats tags in Washington. I was snowed out one year, hunted 10 days another year with no shots and drew my third tag in an area void of goats. The state has since changed their draw process lumping all user groups together and your chance of getting drawn are slim to none ... they used to separate bow and fire arms hunters for the draw. I now go up and chase them with my camera .... (http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1010310.jpg) (http://s639.photobucket.com/user/elkken/media/P1010310.jpg.html)
I'm pretty lucky when it comes to finding elk but I can't seem to find a respectable archery mule deer.
Coyote
By far elk! I have gone 0 and 8 on them. I've had opportunities, once even had a 6x6 at 8 yards and couldn't get the job done :knothead: ...oh how they vex me!
Turkey... have arrowed 'em in the fall from a tree in my compound days, but never a spring turkey with a trad bow. Have killed over 50 gobblers non-archery... but the danged things are tough to get with stick and string.
I admire you guys that have done it consistently. Good on ya!
QuoteOriginally posted by rraming:
anything with fur, hair or a feather
X2
Larrydawg
Turkey hands down. Missed two my first season with a stickbow and no chances since.
Of the species that I regularly hunt, it's turkey. Just never seem to get them to respond to my calling. Of my new ventures, coyotes have been very difficult.