NH 2015 Struggles... New sets

Kopper1013 · October 06, 2015, 10:05:00 AM

For me, I really didn't have to "change" anything, I never shot a deer with compound farther than I can shoot with my recurve. The mental part is what needs to change. I went a few years before taking my first, for me the satisfaction I was searching for was my drive. We eat a lot of venison, but I know if I don't succeed during archery there is always the bang sticks to put food on my table. You just have to ok with going home empty handed. Ron from NY has been looking for his first for over ten years I believe. It's that closeness with the out doors that I feel with stick and string that I love, meat is a bonus. You need to evaluate what's most important to YOU, is it the kill? The meat? That feeling you get while sitting there waiting? Everyone is different, I thinks lots of guys here probably switch back a forth, but I tell you what, when you finally do take a deer that feeling is pretty amazing. Good luck with you soul searching, hope to see a success post from you down the road.

pumatrax · October 06, 2015, 10:18:00 AM

As far as I know archery success rates here in Colorado are around 7% to 10% ...so I guess it's not the most "productive" way to harvest an animal; in my opinion it is the most rewarding way though...rifle success rates are as high as 30% in some areas here. It's a hard game for sure to hunt with traditional equipment !! By the way ; this is the first year in 28 years of bow hunting here in Colorado that I didn't even buy a license...maybe next year...

9 Shocks · October 06, 2015, 10:26:00 AM

Everyone here has said it perfectly! I quit using my compound 4 seasons ago. I changed the way I hunted. I started setting up my stands lower and in trees with more cover. I started "hunting where the sign was" and paid much more attention to where the deer moved when. Morning trail vs evening trail, primary food sources, how they moved through the typography and why. Like TJ said. SCOUT SCOUT SCOUT. Also...Using the ground and downed logs to my advantage. Sometimes the best area is the one you cant hang a treestand in. In 4 years of hunting with my sticks I've taken 4 deer so far. I used to take 4 a year at least with a compound! I have missed what would've been my biggest bucks and honestly I was not as upset because misses happen and you learn from your mistakes. Traditional gear has made me a better hunter, woodsman, and brought more enjoyment to my life than I can explain. Stickbows are personal and become a part of who you are. Everyone shoots them differently and everyone finds success in their own way. Keep at it!

highlow · October 06, 2015, 10:55:00 AM

You could get a non-resident license for New Jersey. Seems as though quite a few of your fellow New Hampshirites (sic) have done so. If NH is anything like VT, I can appreciate your concerns.

October 06, 2015, 11:32:00 AM

I have been hunting 100% traditional for more than 25 years. I hunted with a compound for 3-4 years before that. Now, this year, due to a weak post-surgery bow arm, I am back to a compound bow with a Draw Lock. I just hate it, but I have to get out there. It is heavy, clumsy and limiting not to mention ugly.

I recently bought a metal ILF riser from Bob Morrison in the hope that I can put the draw lock on that and preserve at least a little bit of my sanity. He doesn't think it is safe, but I have shot it and it works. Now I need a LOT of practice as I haven't shot much since the shoulder surgery in May of 2014. I will start my season with the compound and hopefully finish it with the ILF. Splitting hairs maybe, but those are my choices. Also haven't given up on shoulder strengthening. This has been a really tough one to lose, for me.

bowhntineverythingnh03743 · October 06, 2015, 12:39:00 PM

Thanks guys for all the kind words of advice and compliments along the way. I am going to try and sum up on everyone's post.

1. I hunt around 1000 acres of private land. Only 7 of us have permission to hunt it so access is not an issue.

2. Your right that I need to get more mentally tough. I need to stop getting down on myself if the deer are just out of range. This year has been a bumper crop of acorns, hickory nuts, and beech nuts. So right now I have not been able to figure out how the deer are moving because there is no pattern. They are either there or not there.

3. The land was logged two years ago so the oaks are all that are standing and that makes getting the deer in tough. Usually I will hang in a hemlock around 15 feet high but no more than 20 feet. I need to find tighter cover where the deer are moving through better than hanging directly in the middle of 20 oaks or on the edge of them so that the deer stay out around 30 yards.

4. As far as scouting that is not an issue. I have been putting on average 15-20 miles a week scouting and covering ground. I think that I just haven't found that spot or a spot where I am within range.

I didn't grow up hunting and only been after it for around 9 years now. I don't look at hunting as I need to harvest a deer but to all of us that is a bonus and/or our goal isn't it.

Here is my latest spot that I found. It is a flat piece of a ridge. Directly behind me is a small meadow that has some sort of tamerac pines or such trees that have trails all around it. In front of me is the small flat of hickory trees. Just above it is a U shape ridge that is pretty steep with ledge and what not so I don't believe the deer would move across that stuff. Here area few pictures of the spot.

bowhntineverythingnh03743 · October 06, 2015, 12:44:00 PM

I hung about 10 yards to the left of my camera in a straight hemlock but no low hanging limbs... Behind me though it is thick and I don't believe that I will stand out. I'm going out this weekend and I will try this spot at night to see how it is.

VA Elite · October 06, 2015, 12:45:00 PM

scent control and the wind are 90% in my opinion. if you don't start with that in your favor, you will struggle every time out.

bowhntineverythingnh03743 · October 06, 2015, 12:46:00 PM

The deer in the picture is only 12 yards or so away from my stand which is a plus!!!

Here is another pic of them moving through in the

Forgot to note that I also have been attempting to self film my hunts as well. I'm not sure if I'm bitting off more than I can chew as well.

October 06, 2015, 01:00:00 PM

Self-filming is a lot of work! You WILL miss shot opportunities while messing with a video camera. I tried it for a few years, and finally gave up on it. While it is nice to have video evidence of shot placement, I just don't have the patience for it.

Bisch

VA Elite · October 06, 2015, 01:13:00 PM

yeh I have had people film me and got some kills on film but even with two people it's more work than I am willing to do.

KentuckyTJ · October 06, 2015, 01:20:00 PM

Beautiful place Justin. 1000 private acres, it won't be long until we see your hero shot!

If I were going to hunt here this is where I would hang my stand (which side would depend on wind direction of course). I have two stands set in several places that way I can hunt there on several wind directions. Remember to stick to the shadows, those shadows will mask your movement when its time to draw the bow. Wear dark clothing and they would never see you in there. No need to get up high. 10-12' is plenty as long as its dark with good background. Shooting angle to be able to hit both lungs are much better when you are lower.

Always carry pruners and a saw. Have to have shooting options. Also if cutting off branches if I touch them at all I always try and not send them to the ground. Thats just more scent that will work against you when a deer wonders by.

bowhntineverythingnh03743 · October 06, 2015, 05:04:00 PM

Thanks KentuckyTJ I never thought about hanging low in those trees. My feeling on hanging low would be they would either wind me or see my movement but I understand hanging in the shadows. I will start looking for different areas on my hunting grounds such as those... I'm learning quite a lot from you folks about hanging stands geared towards traditional hunting.

My thought was always hang as high as I could so that the deer would not see me but I think that has it's issues because the angle at which I would be shooting is greater making it more of a difficult shot.

bowhntineverythingnh03743 · October 06, 2015, 05:09:00 PM

I think tomorrow morning I will quickly run up to this area and hang a stand in one of those two spots... probably the one on the left of the picture for this weekend. Normally there is some sort of wind out of the north which would work in that location. If we have a south blowing wind the one on the right would work. I never thought about having two stand set up in spots so that I could change due to wind directions. I always just stay away if the wind isn't where I need it to be blowing to.

I am big about scent control. Always showering, spraying my clothing and using scent eliminating suits as well. I also use those dirt wafers and cover cent such as Conquest as I walk in.

bowhntineverythingnh03743 · October 07, 2015, 12:37:00 PM

Did some practicing today from a treestand... 18 yard group

Hoping soon I can bring one into range

VA Elite · October 07, 2015, 12:41:00 PM

looking good!!!

Ryan Sanpei · October 07, 2015, 12:44:00 PM

Nice shooting!!! Best of luck!!!

October 07, 2015, 12:57:00 PM

Looking good!

Good luck next time out!

Bisch

Sam McMichael · October 07, 2015, 02:15:00 PM

I have never been conflicted between compounds and trad bows, because I never have owned wheels. I agree that some of your issue is mental. You have got to accept that taking a deer with trad equipment is more difficult and hang in there.

That difficulty is not that the trad gear isn't up to the task. The big thing, at least in my mind, is woodmanship. Your scouting has to be very thorough, and you must pattern the deer to put yourself 15 - 20 yards from them as opposed to 40-45 yards with the compound. Hunting technique must be refined - be still and play the wind.

Many of us have had to overcome some mental hassle trying to make that first successful hunt. I hunted 7 years before killing a deer, including using a rifle, so I understand your frustration. (By the way, when it finally paid off, my first deer was a 10 point buck taken with a 45# recurve.) But working through it will make you a better hunter, whatever you ultimately hunt with. Stay with it, and success will come.

John146 · October 07, 2015, 02:19:00 PM

I can't wait till you make a shot with a trad bow that you know you could not make with a compound bow. That changed everything for me early on when I would struggle with my "limitation."

In fact this past weekend it happened again. A doe comes out from under branches walking and I have a 5 yard window to shoot her before she is past me and without thinking I just look and shoot. She was so close I think if I would have bleated at her she would have bolted. 50 yards later she is down and I am again amazed at this weapon in my hand called a traditional bow.