OK this is my first year with a trad. bow.  i have never hunted more or harder in my whole life. ive got 2 days to put meat in the fridge and it does look promiseing.  i know it is just my first year but i am still a little disapointed that i have not even seen a shooter buck that is leagle.  just need some uplifting words.

Don't give up beav!  Hunt till the last minute , sometimes things can happen in an instant.  I live in PA, and we also have antler restrictions so I know what your going through.  I didn't harvest a legal buck for 4 years.  I didn't give up though,  I kept going and finally this season put one down.  Can you harvest does? or perhaps a wild hog in your area?  Good luck, and aim small.

Shoot some pigs. They eat better anyway.

only in early bo season we can harvest does, and its about 90degrees then and then 4 days during thnksgiving,  hogs are every where so that is always an option.

don't worry...be happy...most of us would love to have hogs to hunt!
Bob

I don`t remember where, but I have heard, that the hunt is more important than the kill. But the person who said that already had meat in the freezer.

One day it will all come together for you, it just that sometimes the spirit of the hunt just requires you to pay some dues.

Keep at it.  

I feel your pain!!!!!!! Good luck!!

it only takes five minutes to change your season :0) Don't put too much pressure on your self , it only makes it harder to relax and let it happen :0)

This isn't gonna make you feel any better I'm sure but this was my first year to go all primitive (Snakey Osage bow, Cane arrows and, trade points) and I didn't see enough Deer to spit at. Only got one shot, and missed that 'un clean. To make myself feel better, I say, "I didn't wound and not recover a single Deer at all this year." (Always a big plus!) Also it makes me feel good about my chances next year (I can't imagine the big guy upstairs is gonna let me check out on a bum season like this one was - LOL) Hang in there my friend. I didn't get any my first year at trad either but I did the next two years in a row. Better year next year!

I always look at it as, hey Ive still got a tag and a reason to hunt again.The really great part about hunting is HUNTING.Best of luck to ya!

Don't get discouraged,I didn't get a shot until my fourth year deer hunting and never saw a deer out of a stand until my second year.When I started in the 70's there were not very many deer in Kansas like there is today.Just keep practicing so when the shot comes you'll be ready.I shot an awful lot of small game before I got my shot at a deer,but I was ready when it happened.Putting meat in the freezer is not near as important as hunting with good ethics and being proud of how you get it done.  Ben

Don't you have the 2 week doe and spike season after this weekend in your county?

Be patient friend, it will happen eventually.  It took me two years after switching from compounds to get a deer. Very frustrating when you are used to having a full freezer and some horns to show off. But when it does happen, It is five hundred times more exciting with trad gear. good luck

I'm going to repeat what someone told me.

If you are a regular reader on this message board you can easily get the impression that everyone is getting deer with traditional gear on a regular basis and if you aren't then you must be doing something wrong. Not true. Getting that first deer or any deer with a trad bow is tough but the rewards are greater than just the meat in the freezer or the horns on the wall.

If you absolutely must kill a deer every year, I would suggest using a gun.

Keep yer head up and keep at it.

Not sure if it will make ya feel any better but it took me 14 years to kill a deer with a bow.  So far I am skunked for 2 with trad equpiment.  I hope it won't be another 12 before I get one with my stick bow.  But I love bow hunting and would not give it up for anything.