no bucks

[nhbuck1]

im really trying this year, i never killed a big mature bucks just does and small bucks for meat, im looking for a mature buck and having a very hard time, im 30 now and hunted deer since i was 12 never nothing big.

[Birdbow]

Kyle,
 While there are lots of nuts, I've yet to find concentrated sign. Right now it seems they can eat where they bed, bed where they eat without much movement.
 Second what David wrote - got to do the homework and keep the line in the water. I particularly agree with Dave's emphasis on only hunting a spot when the wind/conditions are right. It's a struggle to be patient waiting for the situation.
                Todd

[kbetts]

If you've been doing this for 18 years, you should be able to answer your own questions.  Not trying to be smart, but if what you're doing isn't working maybe you need to make a change.  Wind, entrance and exit routes are key.

Not the easiest time of year to kill a big buck first of all.  If you mess up on a local buck this early, you're pretty much done.

[Bill Carlsen]

The real secret in NH is to hunt undisturbed deer. Often that is  done best in suburban settings where hunting pressure is low. Biggest problem is getting permission. We had a chance to buy 24 acres of landlocked land and jumped on it. Posted it and my wife, Todd and I are the only ones that can hunt it. Most of the land around it is posted so  hunting pressure on it and around it is minimal. If you  hunt big woods your sightings of any deer diminish greatly, or so it seems. Deer like edges and thick cover. NH is just plain difficult for bowhunting. You need to put the time in and don't hesitate to shoot any legal deer if filling the freezer is in your game plan. In the meantime enjoy every minute you have in the woods.

[Seth Stevens]

I have been able to kill quite a few good bucks (all with bow), in NH, over my lifetime. I have not killed a single, mature buck, before November 1st. I hunt the early season to keep tabs on movement patterns, doe groups and general surveillance.

In late October, I will usually start to see an increase in daylight activity of bucks. When I start to see that, I hunt as much as I possibly can.

My most productive window is between November 9-14. Even thought the gun season is in full swing, thats when I have killed the most bucks.

Like David said, hunt remote, overlooked and unpressured areas. I try and be a ghost. Scout like I am hunting. Check cameras like I'm hunting. Find access that will not take you through deer movement. And, only hunt on the correct wind.

Good luck!
Seth

[PeteA]

Bill Carlsen nailed it. Last year was a banner acorn crop hear in NY. It through very thing off in our area. We barely saw any deer the entire season never mind a buck.

[nhbuck1]

its just frustrating seeing all these guys get all these bucks bow season that havent even hunted as long as me, maybe i have to find some new ground to hunt, my land was real good that bordered the water company now they opened that to hunting 5 years ago and it seems things arent the same, why would i be done on a local buck this early if i screw it up?

[LC]

I've got one trail cam in a place I can usually catch pics of ALL the bucks within semi close proximity to where I hunt. I can usually get a pic of every single buck within miles on this one trail cam! This year I've got NOTHING! I get a incredible amount of doe pics and two small spikes! Weirdest year every for trail cam pics for me. I know there are other bucks as I occasionally  see them at my house but they sure haven't showed up on any of my trail cam pics which normally produce.

[swamper]

in nj early season have to shoot doe first,have 11 different bucks comming in. I am waiting till  first deer can be buck.