Has anyone else had a bad season... I worked my butt off this spring and summer putting out trail cams,scouting u name it and it was looking good then hunting season came along and I've only seen 6 doe and been out about 25 times... my target buck was killed and the list goes on and on... I only got about 3 more hunts this year and I'm trying to make it happen but feeling very unlikely idk what I did wrong last year I seen tons of deer I seen 3 different 140 class bucks in one hunt idk maybe u guys can help....
Last year at my favorite property, I saw all sorts of crazy good bucks. I shot a 140" 10 point, and could've shot a respectable 8 and another 10 pointer. This year I did the same thing, I did trail cameras and minerals blocks and work hard all summer and got some great pictures of deer, but I've been out there about 10 times and all I've seen is a yearling doe and a small spike. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. Best of luck though. There is always a deer at the end of that blood trail.
Ya been a pretty slow season. Only one tag so want it to be a buck. Only seen 5 or so. All little. Oh well. Just keep plugging away. Control what you can control. As long as you put in the effort, you have nothing to be ashamed of.
My Ohio season has been great opening day bow season Doe, November 4th nice buck. and November 23 doe with the old hawken.
keep your head up and keep pluggin away - this is a hard game but your patience and persistence will pay off. good luck and keep at it!!!
That would depend on what terms it would be expressed in. In success it has been a great year, my second biggest buck to date and heaviest on the property. As far as I'm concerned though it's been an alright season at best. Being away at school I have hunted one night and two mornings. I have never judged my season on success. I am out there for the enjoyment of being in the woods. To relax and get away from it all. I am forever grateful for my success but I would trade it to be in the woods on a more regular basis. Cole
It's not over until its over. Keep your head up and eye on the ball. Otherwise just start getting excited for next season and doing what you can to improve the place you hunt.
Been slow for me also. I have yet to see a mature buck from one of my treestands. Had two good mule deer hunts back in October, one of the bucks I got close to was a 160 class. Haven't seen much of the rut either, seems like deer numbers are down. But December has always been a good month for me, I just have to keep grinding it out!
My season has been the best in years. Seen tons of deer all season, had great bucks on cams all season and taken three deer with my bow. Can't ask for more. The only downer was losing my #1 to a neighbor but oh well, it happens. I still have open tags in two states and still have a lot of good deer on camera. I've yet to sit in a stand this year and not see deer. I never picked up my rifle this year, may pick up a black powder here soon but not much need as long as I have arrows. I'm already making big plans for management in 2014...big...big plans, hopefully the weather cooperates this coming year.
My season has been piss poor. Worst I've ever experienced. The bucks just aren't showing up anywhere.
Things change from spring to summer to fall! Is there a different food source? Somethings changed and you have to find out what it is. Good luck.
Mine has been fairly slow and uneventful, aside from the one single encounter with a mature buck I had this season. Luckily for me, I was able to make the best out of it and harvest that buck. Other than that one buck, my season has not been what it normally is. I'm hoping late season will pick up, and I believe my food sources should help with that.
You've ONLY seen 6 doe? I'd be happy with that, season has started really slow here in lower Alabama. Out of the sits I've done, only seen one doe and she busted me as I stood up in the stand. Hopefully things start picking up soon here.
So many different things can factor into this, but it's been hit 100% correctly above. Something changed if one year a property is stellar and next a dud. -Food could have changed or been down year for some reason (think outside mass crops...browse, acorns, thorn tree pods and such). Could you diversify food offerings yourself, even if on a micro-plot basis? Do you have cold season food as well as warm season? -Dog/Coyote/Wolf issues. I add this now because depending where you live one of these can cause major issues. I personally embrace yotes anymore over dogs allowed to run free or ones that are wild...too many just love chasing deer...and that my friends leads to no deer in the dogs area. -Cover changes. Perhaps some of the thicker areas of the woods are finally starting to get choked out by canopy and are not as desirable for bedding as they used to be. Perhaps you need to work on hinging, thickening things up...this would also bring food down to the deer's level that is usually way above their heads. -Water. Did a water hole or creek not hold water this year in comparison to last year? -Mass/Destination food sources. Crop rotation on or around your property should be tracked and deer movement recorded. You'll begin to see how the deer utilize properties depending on the mass food sources as the years go on and more and more data is collected. -The wrong kind of pressure. I walk my property with no fear that has two-tracks running through before the season. The deer are used to farmer and grandkids walking or riding them so I walk them and check cams without worry, I just always keep walking and never stop (predators stop). Just one small way to minimize the feeling of "pressure" you may create leading into the season. Another property we will really only check cams if back working or in bad weather (rain/sleet) as to leave as small of a foot print as possible. There are some properties which handle presence much better than others, figuring yours out is crucial. -Entrance/Exit routes. You may have great luck the first year, despite poor entrance and exit routes...but conditioned deer as the year's progress will begin to avoid some areas just based on survival instincts. Not because they can analyze and respond with best approach, but because just like any creature they can be conditioned...something to think about. -EHD also could have caused an impact on localized herd unbeknownst to you. -And lastly on my list, it's hunting. This happens to everyone, but not everyone will learn from it...that's a decision each person confronted with it has to choose. Some of the worst years can teach you the most.
Oh and fyi...I hunted over 200 hours last year on one property, targeting one main buck (2nd one there too) and only had if I remember right I think 4 or 5 hunts all year at that property that I saw deer period!! It happens...
