Well, my week off has yielded absolutely nothing. There is 6 more days to hunt here in PA and I could still get another 10 sits in but I am really not sure if I even want to. While sitting on stand this evening, listening to a neighboring land-owners herd of little yippy dogs bark all night... I thought of how many sits I have put in this year so far. Tonights sit put my total at 39, I figure that I have put in roughly 120-125 hours so far... probablly the most/hardest that I have ever hunted and it has been by far the worst season for me. I have saw a total of 5 bucks, four were 1-1/2 yo and the other was a large 2-1/2 yo 6 point. I honestly couldn't begin to count how many stand sets that I hung, but I can say that I have got really good at getting my Muddy Stand and Sticks up quickly/quietly. I managed to shoot 1 groundhog, and missed a gobbler this morning, misjudged the distance... aimed for 35 and he was actually at 43. Yesterday was the perfect example of how my season went... at 4:15 p.m. I hear something walk up the valley behind me, and I turn around to see two guys squirrel hunting with 12 gauges, I wistle at them (not even sure if they had permission or not), they wave and then proceed to walk back into the major bedding area and let off a few rounds at some squirrels. Today while leaving after the morning hunt, I took a different exit route and found a nice suprise... a Cabelas arrow with a 3-blade Rage b-head. The b-head had some hair on it and even though there was no blood left on the arrow, you could tell that it had been shot through a deer. This was lovely considering I know that I'm the only one allowed to archery hunt this property. Sorry, rant over... I don't think that I have ever said this before but here goes... I can't wait for archery season to end and rifle season to begin
Buck..You have 10 more sits..Hang tough. The off season lasts a long time, it can all change with one hot doe. Good Luck..these type off seasons are the most rewarding when you are successful!
BM, Hang in there, you have that many sits, whats 10 more? It could absolutly happen any time. Im pullin for you bud!!
Thanks guys, I am sure that I will be out as much as I can this last week, but man this has been one tough season. I spent more time and effort into scouting and stand selection than ever before. I actually saved a topo map of the property and mark major travel routes/rub lines/scraping areas from previous years and then selected stand sites accordingly. The sad part is while walking out today I actually found 3 somewhat fresh scrapes and a nice rub on the edge of a steephillside. I have never saw much sign in this area, but it looks like they are cruising this area, so I'm gonna give that spot a shot Tuesday morning.
I know how you feel BM. I'm there too but I can promise you, I will be in the tree for the next 12 sits or less depending if it's dark to dark. Diesel77 emailed me and in a couple correspondences said the same thing, it can happen in seconds. I did see one hell of a Rob buck this morning that I should have shot but then again, I have 12 more sits. If he happens by again, he'll light up the forums. :p He's a heck of a 4 x 2 !
sometimes its best to take a short break to recharge your batteries. An afternoon watching football may be all you need.
I hear ya Rob, Wed. morning was the last day that I have saw deer, I had a big 6 point coming in and was trying to decide if I would shoot him or not. He was 16-17 inches wide, nice G-2's probablly 7+ inches and good brows.. probablly 5 inches with thick mass. Well, I never got the chance to make that decision as he hung up out of range and then decided to walk back the way he came from. I gave a doe bleat and rather than atleast stopping to investigate, the buck bounded off to a little over 100 yards away and then snorted a couple times What buck would be scared by the sound of a doe bleat in early November?
if yah wanna drive the three hours to hunt with me after the seasons over, your more than welcome!!! it only takes a few seconds to close the deal, hang in there
You can not quit BM. You still have season left. Now get your decrepid old butt out there and gig one.:D
I'm 26:D:p I'll tell ya though, putting in this many hours with seeing as little action as I have.... I feel old and decrepid!! :D
It sucks beating your brains out and putting in endless hours just hoping to see a decent basket rack...........save your money dude and go on a trip, you will enoy yourself more in one week then you can in 5 years on the east coast. Just got a call from my brothers who hunted dark to dark the last 2 days without me........saw a single doe yesterday afternoon. My oldest brother has yet to see a single deer in 11 sits of 2009. You think PA sucks now??..........wait until you get a taste of what deer hunting is supposed to be like. Good luck man, I'm right there with you.
In 2007 I saw 15 deer from stand. I averaged seing a single deer once every 3 sits. Sometimes I would go weeks without seeing a deer. But of those 15 I spotted, I killed 2 bucks and a doe with my bow. I get frustrated at times, but I am too stubborn to quit, and dang it I love it!
I hear ya atlas... reading about your trip was depressing! Sometime in the next several years I plan on setting up a trip to either Buffalo County, Wisconsin or possibly the Milk River in Montana... my only problem is that I won't want to come back to PA :p
Tough business this bowhunting game is. I'm right there with you (probably worse). But I'm heading out in about 15 minutes to probably see (not see) the same stuff. But you simply never know. Tough time of year to call it quits. One hot doe brings that bruiser your way and it's a season to remember.
Dude at least you seen some bucks from a stand. But hell ive enjoyed myself pretty damn good especially with a couple squirrels that I am driving nuts because I am sitting right next to one of their dens on a stand. I admit I got down a bit myself but chit if this is all I have to complain about life is good compared to so many others. Keep your head up dude and think positive! My brother shot a 160+ yesterday a little far back and I am hoping so bad he finds him this morning. He said it all happen so fast and he was so bored up to that morning when all hell broke out with several bucks after a doe. PATIENCE!
BM, I can relate to that feeling and oh so more. 6yrs. 6yrs it took for me to finally get another buck down during archery season. You want to talk about frustration and a lack of confidence in one's abilities, that was me to a T. Granted, I wasn't hunting as much during those times, but still, I pretty much assumed I was a pretty bad hunter (in fact, even though I did put a good one down this year, a lot of that was luck). You have to remember you got it done last season during the late season...in PA. Talk about getting it done under tough circumstances. You never know when it may happen, bud. Keep at it!
