Thanks for all the words.  You guys are the best and really put some perspective on things for me.  Its tough sometimes when everyone else you know hasnt given up their training wheels and are having success.  Not that it would have mattered this year even if I had a bazooka. LOL.  Shot my bow yesterday and sharpened my heads.  Helps me get my mind right for stuff.

C

I don't associate the type of bow (wheel vs stick) with success and never will. When hunting with a bow, any bow, it all boils down to the hunter. I feel that hunting with a stickbow is a huge advantage on many different levels.

True story.

Couple years back, I showed up to hunting camp with my curve ready to get it on when I found out that particular weekend was the MD early muzzleloader season. Two other guys were hunting the property that weekend and were perplexed when I showed up with my bow. One fella had a back up rifle and offered it for my use but I declined. Guess who drug a deer out of the woods that weekend? Yep, me. While back in camp, the other two guys were intrigued by my Border TD and asked "how do you shoot that thing without sights???" So, I proceeded to produce 4" groups on the backstop. I remember one guy remarked, "No doubt you can kill deer with that bow, nice shooting...". While I didn't get a monster buck that weekend, that 100 lbs deer helped keep my kids in deer burgers and to me, that's what it's all about.

Sometimes the best laid plans can go to pot over a small over looked detail. It happens to all of us at times. If I shoot over a deer or drill a tree, ect, I just look at it as the deer won out that particular day but there will be more days to come when I'm restocking the freezer.

I will tell you this, if you draw back and question that you will miss the mark, more then likely, you will miss as you have already talked yourself out of the shot.

Stay focused.

Regards!

Keep the faith.

I missed the first half of the season recovering from surgery. Then I missed a shot at a deer yesterday -- perhaps because I am still a little weak from the surgery, but maybe because I just blew the shot. That doesn't matter because it is in the past now.

I made a vow to "keep the faith" that I have in my shooting and that I have in my hunting, and not get down on myself. I will be even quieter in the woods, concentrate harder, make my shot sequence even more solid, etc.

The worst thing to do is to be impatient and question your confidence. When the going gets tough...... be tougher.

Good luck.

I've been out several times with my bows and with my Encore 209x50 and I've only seen a wise old doe with two yearlings still in tow.    Oklahoma has been hot and dry and the deer aren't moving well.    I just blame it on the weather and until it gets cold with a bit of moisture in the air, I don't expect to see much.

Your just in a slump. Happens to everyone, even top athletes. Go out with a positive attitude and enjoy yourself and things will fall into place. As far as your treestand getting stolen, all I can say is "what a creep". That person will get thiers. It was stolen in front of God and he wont let it go.

Just hunt every chance you get. If the deer are not coming to you, then go for them. Hit the ground and go for it. I missed lots of shots last year. This year I'm 2 for 3. Just hunt. As for Nov gun season. Get in the middle of the thickest place you can find and make a set up. The big boys run to hide when the guns go oFf.

You've just discovered why the body can go for weeks without food.

As for missing.... The fact is every miss ends with a hit!  You need perspective not encouragement.  

I once went 4 years with out a deer down.  (Oh, that probably doesn't help, does it.)  Bamm then my luck changed. It would not have changed, had I QUIT.  Hang in there and remember bow hunting is meant to be fun.
Joe

You can come to Maine if you want to feel blessed with deer where you are.  I have bow hunted Maine for 21 years now.  I have had four deer in range in that time.  I scout and set up in feed areas and on trails, but still get very few opportunities.  I have close to 40 hours so far this season with no sightings, but plan to be in the stand tonight for the last night of bow season.  Don't give up

Dude, chill out, at the very least you get to go and try your best. Hunting is not a guaranteed event. Some of us are bogged down in serious times, and wish we could go out more. Every time I start to sniffle about my lack of hunting luck, I think hard of every Man and Woman wearing our colors across the sea. It's enough to snap me out of it. Just think the Deer are trying there best to survive, give them some credit for being better at it than most of us.

I know what you feel... 2 years ago, I pass more that 30 days in the bush and nothing... And every body and there dog were taking moose around me... So I guess there is year like that. And it is not for the lack of moose, there is about 70,000 up here!! Keep the faith and get back in the bush!!