I was feeling down myself not connecting this year and really not seeing much this season. But I was still excited to get in an afternoon hunt on Saturday which will be my last for the season which ends on the 31st. It was just really nice being in the woods without a lot of other hunters around.

I hear ya brother. EHD took its toll on my lease... I only found out through the neighboring farmer/hunters AFTER purchasing my lease. 17 days left in our season and I am throwing in the towel. Wife and I made a pact to not shoot any does, which have given me opportunities. Saw three decent 3.5 year old bucks back in Oct. Haven't seen a single young buck all season except for the same spike. No shootable bucks since Oct. Hunted 2 weeks daylight till dark during the rut... no bucks, even when having does in heat feeding in front of me for over an hour. The guy that used to hunt it informed me tbey found a truckload of dead ehd deer last year, including several really large bucks and many younger bucks. Looks like it will take a few years to recover.
I hope next year is better for you.
My imposed standard is I try to shoot at least a 135 inch deer a year. This will be my first year in 13 I have been skunked... and probably my worst season in nearly 2 decades.
I am really looking forward to 3d season and turkey season now!

I hear ya brother. EHD took its toll on my lease... I only found out through the neighboring farmer/hunters AFTER purchasing my lease. 17 days left in our season and I am throwing in the towel. Wife and I made a pact to not shoot any does, which have given me opportunities. Saw three decent 3.5 year old bucks back in Oct. Haven't seen a single young buck all season except for the same spike. No shootable bucks since Oct. Hunted 2 weeks daylight till dark during the rut... no bucks, even when having does in heat feeding in front of me for over an hour. The guy that used to hunt it informed me tbey found a truckload of dead ehd deer last year, including several really large bucks and many younger bucks. Looks like it will take a few years to recover.
I hope next year is better for you.
My imposed standard is I try to shoot at least a 135 inch deer a year. This will be my first year in 13 I have been skunked... and probably my worst season in nearly 2 decades.
I am really looking forward to 3d season and turkey season now!

I might as well be burnt out, I'm about used up. It's been one thing after the other since Sept. My 7th stent in heart, bout two wks later appendix had to be removed, two mild heart attacks, two mild strokes a stent in my carotid artery and just for good luck blew a hernia about 3 days ago and have to see the surgeon Jan. 7th to decide when to have it operated on.

But, I'm still going way back in and climbing trees..just don't know if I can pack one out now or not. It takes everything I got to stand up when I get the pack loaded with meat..don't think that will work now.

However..the worst is the cold..I don't care what I do I just can't keep my hands from freezing and fingers going numb..(blood thinners)still trying things though.

Just got back from moving a loc on and climber..but hernia was giving me fits so came on back in..will try again in the morning.

Killed one decent 8pt and already ate it..so need to get serious quick.

It is not over till it's over!

And finally, going for a walk and bring your BOW

Never forget, it only takes a minute to shoot a deer!  Give what you can to the three days, and know you did all you could for the season.

What Hawkeye said. I understand being discouraged but if you want to succeed, you have to get out there.

If you can find someone to go with, it may help. For me, if I don't hunt the whole season, I regret it the rest of the year. Good luck.

John

I've had probably to worst season of my life. Although I don't know if I can really say that I've had a lot of opportunities at deer and just could not connect. All my fault  but that what makes it so frustrating almost gave up trad all together but the tradgangers are a great group of people and helped me through it. Anyway today's the last day of the season and it -26 degrees right now as I write this. Too cold for me. So my seasons was pretty much over......of course the mailman is out in this.............?

I always say if you make yourself go when your heart is not in it then you might as well be going to work.

Stay home, enjoy sleeping in and the family and shoot your bow just for fun. By the time next season rolls around you will be on fire to get back out there with a renewed spirit.

Good Luck!

Season ended here(MN) tonight. Missed a doe with a few minutes to go. Plenty of possible excuses, minus 20 degrees, skipped my normal warmup shots, she had me worked into a frazzle before giving me a shot but the fact is I blew it. So now I go from "one shot-one kill" on a doe earlier to "I suck and can't hit the broadside of a barn" until next season. Oh well, there's always spring Turkey.