Frustrated newbie

Discussion in 'Intro to Bowhunting & Archery' started by Henny, Oct 22, 2013.

  1. Henny

    Henny Newb

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    Location:
    Sauk Prairie WI
    Been out 4 full days, haven't seen a thing. Hunting sauk county Wisconsin. Heavy woods in the 7000 acre nature conservancy. Using a blind, practicing scent control and all I do is read, read, read.

    Each time I have been in the blind at least one hour before sunrise. I swear I have heard some deer, yet to even see one.

    Is this normal?
     
  2. boonerbumper

    boonerbumper Newb

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    i dont know about wisconsin but im in tennessee and ive only saw 4 deer all season never within range and i didnt kill one last year either
     
  3. Slugger

    Slugger Grizzled Veteran

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    No one said hunting is easy. Ever more with a bow
     
  4. SWitchBacKXT

    SWitchBacKXT Grizzled Veteran

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    ^^^X2....Just keep your head up, best hunting is still ahead of us!
     
  5. alexjoelslaydon

    alexjoelslaydon Weekend Warrior

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    been bowhunting 2 years and I haven't killed anything yet
     
  6. ntjohnnson

    ntjohnnson Newb

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    Just stick with it. Do your homework, scouting and such. The thing that has helped me hunting public ground is looking at satellite maps and finding pinch points for when hunting pressure gets tough. We're coming off of a full moon cycle and the temps are starting to drop. It can only get better.
     
  7. Henny

    Henny Newb

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    Awesome, thanks for the all the advice. I thought maybe I was the only one. NtJohnson, can you elaborate on finding pinch points? Are these valleys that come together?
     
  8. Podobed45

    Podobed45 Weekend Warrior

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    ^henry, I'm in the same boat man. I hunt public land in nj, and this is my 2nd year bow hunting. I haven't shot a deer yet, and haven't seen a deer this year, but I'll be going out early this morning. keep grinding. don't let not seeing deer discourage you, because if you aren't out there you will never know.

    thankfully they just planted some beans on some fields, and will be cutting the corn. you always want to learn something when you go out, even if you don't see deer. look for rubs, scrapes. leave a little early and do some scouting. i learned where a family of turkeys is, so i should be able to harvest and fill my fall turkey permit. had i not been out there, i probably wouldn't see them.
     
  9. fishingdude93

    fishingdude93 Weekend Warrior

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    What is the terrain like around your blind? Also is there food near? Any sign of deer?
     
  10. ElderEphany

    ElderEphany Newb

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    HI,

    I am also new here to share my experience with you and to know something from you.
    Thanks...
     
  11. Lt.smoke

    Lt.smoke Weekend Warrior

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    I missed my 1st buck with my bow so dont feel to bad
     
  12. outdoorsman24/7

    outdoorsman24/7 Newb

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    My advice would be to hang some cameras you may find that the deer are coming through your area at night. A trick I have used in the past and his really paid off is I hang about 4 cameras in july all around the property and from this I start to pattern the deer if one camera gets a buck worth chasing I see the general area he was coming from when he walked by my camera. Then from there ill move my camera about a hundred yard in that direction. From there ill keep doing this until I catch that buck during daylight hours. That's one way that has really paid off. Another for hunting the pre rut and the rut is find the does. If you find an area with high doe activity you can use this to your advantage. Usually by this time the bucks aren't on there normal patterns and will go far outside there normal areas to find the does. When the rut comes using some doe estrus lure can really increase your odds. Or if you don't have the ability to hang cameras you could always try moving to the areas where you are hearing the movement coming from. You need to be able to adjust to the deer. I have ben bow hunting for 7 years now and I have always put a tag on a nice buck and several does. When I hunt I hunt hard if one things not working I change it up. As you said there is 7000 acres of land. You cant always only have one location to hunt from and expect success. Some areas are better for early season and others for late season. My advice would be to change it up try moving towards where you have herd some activity until you start seeing them and then from there you adjust to them if they constantly keep walking 60 yards to your left try moving 30/40 yards closer. You can learn a lot from cameras I have got 9 different bucks all using the same corridor and from this I have ben able to pick and choose what bucks I want to take and what bucks need another year or two.
     
  13. KjKlump

    KjKlump Weekend Warrior

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    I'm new to deer hunting as well.
    Couple things a well seasoned hunter told me earlier when I decided to give it a go.
    1. It's called hunting not shopping.
    2. Enjoy the hunt, the meat will taste better when you do get one.
    3. When your not hunting them , squirrels sound like they weigh 800lbs.

    When I do finally get one I'm sure I won't forget it.
    Stay positive and enjoy the outdoors, and maybe stick a deer if you get the chance.
     
  14. sycamoretwitch

    sycamoretwitch Die Hard Bowhunter

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    I personally don't think it as easy as reading or just hanging a few cameras. I have been bow hunting for 3 years now and I see more deer every year - that doesn't happen by chance!

    It's awfully difficult to see deer at ground level, just because you aint seeing deer doesn't mean they are not their. I think it takes some time to train your eyes to find deer moving in the woods.

    It's a long process - every piece of property is different, the deer are different and they don't hunt the same.

    Keep digging and best of luck! Once the leaves fall it gets a lot easier to see, remember though if you can see better so can the deer!!
     

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