Turning into a LONG season.....

Rossco7002 · November 17, 2011, 07:11:00 PM

Well season's been open here since the 1st of October and I haven't seen a whitetail in 6 weeks. Man is that demoralizing. I've got good fresh sign all over the place and my set-ups are all on active trail convergences but seems like most of the activity is nocturnal (or just when I'm not in the woods). My partner tagged out last Wednesday so from here on in I'm going it alone. Soon the temperatures will plummet and sitting in the stand will become an endurance test.

I'm hunting the big woods miles from any farmland so the deer are spread pretty thin and don't seem to have much of a pattern to them so it's just a case of perseverance I suppose.

No need for me to take a deer for it to be a successful season but at least seeing some candidates for an arrow would sure be nice. Anybody else having the same woes?

Thanks to all you guys posting stories of your successes, seeing those pics is what keeps getting me up a 5am to head out and try it all again.

Cyclic-Rivers · November 17, 2011, 07:27:00 PM

Stick with it Ross. Good Luck!

maybe the cold will get them moving a little more?

Earl Jeff · November 17, 2011, 07:34:00 PM

MAN I thought I had it bad! Hang in there.

ripforce56 · November 17, 2011, 07:36:00 PM

I know the feeling area I hunt is the same way, scrapes, rubs everywhere no other hunters other than me, which is nice but there is no pattern to the deer movement! Hang in there the weather is changing up here we have some snow in the air and the full moon phase is about over! Saw my first buck today, nice 4 point and he was in full rut never sat still, looked like he was on a mission! got my fires rekindled!

Izzy · November 17, 2011, 07:38:00 PM

Just think of how sweet it will be when you do connect.

Hatrick · November 17, 2011, 07:40:00 PM

I usually have 2-3 in the freezer by now but I've yet to bring one home. I haven't been out as much as I'd like (work gets in the way) and it seems that some other hunters have discovered one of my honey holes on some public ground.

On the private piece I hunt I've been looking for a nice fat doe. Last weekend I saw 6 deer, all bucks, and all just moving easy, browsing, and generally minding their own business. I've yet to see any chasing or even see a buck tending a doe. The ones that were close enough to shoot were spikes. I would really rather shoot a doe than a spike or basket rack. Before long and if they're still hanging around, they'll be fair game as well. Weird year.

insanedeerhunter · November 17, 2011, 07:41:00 PM

buck didn't start moving till last weekend really good but are moving everywhere no stay in there and God will bless you

Rossco7002 · November 17, 2011, 09:01:00 PM

Buck, doe - I'll take anything!!1 ;-)

This is my 3rd season hunting with a longbow (or archery tackle period) and I'm really looking forward to that one moment when it all comes together.

With 3 kids at home time out in the woods is a real privilege right now - if only the deer would come out to play.....

Altiman94 · November 18, 2011, 07:29:00 AM

I know how you feel Ross. Up until last week I hadn't seen a deer on public land since Oct 1. I stuck with it and finally tagged a doe on 12 Nov.

KentuckyTJ · November 18, 2011, 08:46:00 AM

Instead of sitting in the cold wondering why you are doing it have you thought about beating the streets and knocking on some doors trying to find a better place to hunt?

ron w · November 18, 2011, 08:57:00 AM

Welcome to my world......I hunt in an area that has a low deer population also. I have over 70 hours in so far and have seen 2 deer....I saw both of them this past week. Folks say to find a better place to hunt , that is not all that easy or even possible some times. I tough it out and complaine but I still go, so what can I say. I hope you keep at it and try to make the best of it .....try to have fun with what you have!

Stumpkiller · November 18, 2011, 09:17:00 AM

Keep at it.

The first thing - not being a smart arse here - is to put in your time where the deer are. I lost my long-time spot that was in a farming area and food (alfalfa, corn, soy) was standing all around the wooded hill I hunted. Now I hunt my own land and it's all woods and very little nearby farming (hay for meat/dairy cattle & horses two miles off). BIG difference in the number of deer I can expect to see in a day.

Find the travel routes the deer use between beds and food.

tuscarawasbowman · November 18, 2011, 04:32:00 PM

Our season started in september. I saw 2 deer in 2 months and hunted every single day. Hunting new property and it has been a challenge. Seeing more deer now though. Keep at 'er!

November 18, 2011, 07:51:00 PM

I feel your pain. I have been seeing a few deer this season but nothing that great since i shot my does. I went last weekend without seeing a single critter for 3 out of 4 sits.

Good luck to you!

Bisch

DennyK · November 18, 2011, 08:37:00 PM

Look at it this way: you can go from not seeing any deer to deer on the ground in a matter of seconds. Ya just never know. Good Luck.

Rossco7002 · November 19, 2011, 01:06:00 PM

Well dragged myself outta bed again this morning and hit the stand. Didn't see a thing til 0930 when I turned my head and had a doe 7-8 yards down wind of me. She knew something was up and backed off into the thick stuff giving me a shot at 20 yards - unfortunately a twig deflection saved her for another day. 10 mintues past that and another deer crept through just inside a cedar line not giving me a shot.

Some guys would be down hearted at the miss. Me, I'm just happy to have seen some deer, had some excitement and to have taken my first shot at a whitetail with my longbow. Miss or not is was exciting and it's got my energies back up again!

Thanks for all the 'positive vibes' guys.