QuoteOriginally posted by Crittergetter:
For 2017 I will spend less time hunting public ground in east Texas.  
My only mistake this season was spending to much time hunting public ground in east Texas!!
FAR better hunting within 4-5 hours from home.  I'll still hunt some of my more proven spots from time to time.

Randy, please explain. Are you going to hunt other public land with 4-5 hours in Texas because East Texas did not produce or private land hunts elsewhere?

I still plan on hunting public ground, just not as much in east .
Texas.  And before any says I just need to work harder  or put in more time scouting let me say that I've scouted a ton this spring and have hunted harder than anyone I personally know. ( ask Michael Arnette, he got to listen to all my whining) lol

I'll try to explain. I sat over 240 hours on stand in many different locations and only saw 5 deer this season. Only 1 legal deer which I killed.  I've been hunting several different wma's that are between 3,000and 25,000 acres . They are mostly hardwood bottoms. Sounds good doesn't it?!?  Well the problem is when you have that many acres of nothing but the same thing for miles and miles and low deer numbers it is extremely difficult to locate deer.  There are no definitive land features ( ridges, open pastures, ect... ) that make the deer want to go any where in particular.  One area is 3500 acres that stretches for several miles and there isn't more than a 10' elevation change from one end to the other.
On the 25,000 acre place I found a "pinch point" where the fence line and a bordering creek came within 60 yards  of each other.  The only access is to walk about 3.5-4 miles one way or drive a boat up the creek. And then walk another half a mile because the creek is blocked by downed trees. Or by 4 wheeler if you are disabled.
The first day I hunted it I had a family  joy riding on atvs (which is illegal)  come by me twice. Called the game warden and nothing was done.  I found another similar spot that requir d a 2.5- 3 mile walk one way late in the season. And had 2 guys running hog dogs (which is illegal) right past me while deer hunting. And 1 was carrying a rifle (bow only wma) called game warden and nothing was done.  
Anyways..  I could go on and on with similar situations but you get the idea.  I'll be doing a lot more hunting public ground in central Texas where there are a lot better deer numbers and looking for a private lease outside of east Tx.

Not buy any more bows.

Have plenty of backups and  enough old recurves to shoot for the next few years.

Randy, totally understand. I learned that lesson the hard way too.

No regrets about 2016's hunting season here. I hunted deer hard and had, probably, my best season ever. I did hit a doe bad and lost her...I beat myself up over it enough already. But it happens...it sucks when it does...but I learned from it and am remorseful.

Only thing I plan to do different for 2017...devote more time to turkeys! I only went one time in 2016. My best friend passed away right before turkey season and I had zero drive to get up early and go hunting. Which is really unlike me. First year since I was 11 that I didn't kill a bird.

Not sure yet.
Ive thought about forgoing whitetail and focus on small game only.
For the last two years I haven't hunted like I normally would.
I just seem to have more fun exploring the woods and being in nature ...than shooting a deer.

Of course that may change in the next few months.

Think I may reduce bow weight and go back to wooden shafts also.

I will make sure I'll be on time to get to my treestand!

I'm going to be parting with my 16" Talltines riser for an 18". With my monkey arms I think a 64" bow will suit me better.  Not to mention the couple lbs of lost draw weight will only help my shooting.

Hunt with a brand new Toelke whip!

Practice shooting more and make sure the ol lady doesn't schedule her vacation during the rut.

I set out the 2016 bow season... I thought I wanted to try something different ( like bass fishing late into fall ) I'll never do that again! I love bass fishing, but that was a mistake!
#1 Scout
#2 practice
#3 prepare, stand locations, ground blinds, etc...
Traditional bowhunting has had my heart since the first time I picked up the first recurve, I will never lay it down or set out another deer season again! Did I say that already?

One more week to hunt and quite optimistic.

May be introduced to some other ideas to contemplate.