Usually I have this reflection at the end of the season, but since I'm sitting tonights sit out here at home with a swine flu/sinus infection monster virus (just kidding about the swine flu...I think), I got to thinking. I'm having about the same start to the season as last year. Good deer sightings, actually seeing small 1.5yr olds before Nov. (something I couldn't do last year), blew a shot opp on a nice doe last week, but have had several close encounters almost everytime out, etc. However, I just don't feel confident for the rest of the season. Maybe it's the pressure I'm putting on myself since it's been 6 seasons since my last archery buck (granted I did pass two legal 1.5s this year and last several times, but still), I don't know. I think I do have a good handle on the deer movement on the property, and I even tried hunting the bucks only this early part of the season (kind of has paid off in I have one or two spots where I'm seeing more bucks than does, but they're dinks), but I really do see this potentially ending like the last 6 seasons. Reading posts on here on location sometimes has thinking about my particular spot. I do limit myself to my 90 acres here, and a lot of post-season scouting the past two years shows very little of what I NEED to be finding (bucks bedding, sign, consistant doe bedding, etc), and my hunting seasons are a reflection of that. Last year I had ONE shooter buck in sight all season, never saw another one (and I hunted almost every day of the week). I'm not one to make excuses (believe me, I'm the first to admit I suck at deer hunting), but is it my property that's just an oddball that doesn't allow for decent bucks to call home (possibly bedding on other properties and crossing only during seeking/breeding)? Or is it possible it's just me? Overhunting? Not reading the woods right? I suppose what I'm getting at, have any of you had properties where it was either hot for only certain times of the year, or not hot at all in terms of consistant good buck sightings? I don't see how it could be with this particular piece of ground, but you never know. Thoughts?
Matt, keep your head up and try not to over pressure yourself. I've been reading your posts for acouple of years, now. . and I know that you're no rookie It's a frustrating sport/way of life. . whatever you'd call it. Personally, I have access to more than my fair share of land (and consider myself very lucky/blessed for it) but I choose to hunt only 3 places. And quite honestly, only two of those get my real attention. I've seen GregH and many other successful hunters preach the same thing; location, location, location. I've only been bowhunting for 5 season. I've killed deer every year and have 2 bucks under my belt (both dinks), but now I pass on deer because I've acquired access to the kind of land that makes dreams come true. I've seen what's possible with the right location. Give some other areas a try.
Yes. I do not believe every 90 acre property has the ability to produce the type of buck you are looking for on a consistent basis. Especially in a state with pressure like PA. My camp is one of the better hunting properties I've seen in PA (over a period of 13 seasons, and many counties). With that said, I only see 2.5+ y/o bucks on a consistent basis through the seeking/chase phase. Every once in a while I'll see one or two before then, I think I'm lucky this year and have 2x of them that might be 3.5, and another pair that I believe to be 2.5, but this is VERY rare for my place. On average, I only see maybe one 2.5 year old buck a year, and maybe one 3.5 year old buck a year personally. And this is only after several years of AR's, limited rifle hunting (literally 3x hunts I can remember over 6 or so years), tons of habitat improvement, and lots of food plots. Unless you happen to have one of those select few properties, and lots of time to put in on it......I'd be looking at other places if killing good representative bucks is what you want to do.
Couple thoughts, first off, sounds like your being a bit tough on yourself. I don't believe 90 acres is big enough to hold many shooter bucks. I'm not a deer biologist but I bet 90 acres probably supports somewhere between 8 to 13 deer efficiently. Lets even round it up and say 15 deer. If half of those are bucks your down to 7 or 8 bucks to hunt, of those 7 or 8 I think you would be hardpressed to find more than one buck that is 3.5 yrs old or older. The odds are stacked against you if you want to kill a big bruiser there year after year. Maybe your one encounter last year with a shooter is the only shooter on the place. From what you describe it sounds like your seeing your fair share of deer on that piece of ground, maybe your expectations are just too high unless you venture out to more properties. Regarding your feeling of having the season end again without a big deer down, it may or it may not. Something that helps me and might help you is an analogy I heard Bill Winke say a few years ago. He explained hunting as like an hourglass that is full and slowly the sand falls to the bottom, when all the sand slips to the bottom, it is your time and you will harvest a buck. Sounds dorky but this analogy for me as installed more confidence. It's not a question of if anymore, it's just a question of when. Put in my time and I will kill a big one. I think it will be this year, but it may not. This bowhunting for big bucks is a tough game and your going to eat your tag some years but you will kill a big one, it's just a matter of when. Sitting around bummed out about your 90 acres won't get it done. Go mix it up with some other land. I can guarantee one thing, you will learn something and be a better hunter for it. Good luck!
It just seems as if the land I'm hunting holds does (I know of ~16-18 different deer on the property, three of which are scrub bucks), but the past two seasons I've been able to really put time in on the property, even hunting what I consider a bit smart (lots of stand rotation, planning entry/exit routes accordingly, etc), I still manage only one good buck sighting a season. It can be frustrating. It's enough to make you question your abilities, that's for sure. I think locating lands might be a good idea next year. If anything, it might be a change of pace, and like you said Josh, it will teach me a bit more rather than sticking with the same piece of ground.
It's VERY possible that you have a rut corridor property (if thats when your sightings are). I don't need anyone to verify what I have found, nor should you, my favorite property SUCKS outside of the rut. It offers zero food. At all. The deer simply have no reason what so ever to utilize it during the early and late season (when IMO they are bedding very near the food sources). What it does have though is a central location between MANY great locations, lending it to be a perfect travel corridor for bucks traveling between the areas searching for does. YOU know how your farm is better than anyone. I'd say re evaluate what you are looking for out of it, the times you are hunting it, or look for somewhere else to hunt along with this piece.
I agree with what everyone else said. Also, sounds like maybe you're overhunting the area? You eluded to having a lot of time to hunt the last 2 years. Does that mean everyday morning and evening? IMO you can only mix up your stand locations so much on 90 acres. You still have to get in and out. Sounds to me like you may be burning out what could be a good spot before the good time gets here. You may want to find someplace else to play around during the early season and save your current location for prime time. Doesn't take much to piss off a mature buck. Just a thought.
yeah i agree..i have this stretch of woods..not to big at all..i have only been in there once this year....it has a large crick bottom..lots of brush...i have 2 stands there...the only time i have been out there this year was to check wind a couple of times..and to check for deer sign and trail camera.... its a great great place for the rut, they use this crick bottom, run does in and out of this place like its their job..... I wont touch it until corn comes down and the rut starts to kick in....other then that ....I just dont see alot of deer in their other then some does during the early and late season..
If you're seeing lots of does then the bucks will be there in the pre-rut and rut looking for those does. you may very well be over-hunting it w/o knowing it. Pretty soon they all have you patterned.
I hunt almost every evening of the season, and only Saturday mornings. I try to rotate as much as possible. I see plenty of does, but I continue to see them on their regular patterns through the entire season (assuming I don't really mess up an area with hunting the wrong wind, entering/exiting wrong, etc). Normally I would think I'm overhunting, but you would think I would stop seeing the same groups of does? It does seem like an awful small piece of ground to hunt as much as I do (even though I do rotate very often).
I bet you have stand sights on those 90 acres that you feel confident in seeing deer. I bet you frequent those areas expecting something to change. What are you over looking? Sometimes you have to forego conventional thinking and just try out a spot. Pick an area you have neglected. Maybe it's to thick or no good trees to climb. What's kept you from hunting "that" area?? Now it's true that that sometimes we set our sights on bucks that just don't live where we hunt. That's the trap! I've been guilty. Find them, they are within your reach, it may take the off season to find them, but you can... Good luck!
I think if you hunt the wind right, that 90 acres offers one hunter enough options to keep places fresh from hunt to hunt. I don't see how one person could totally jack up 90 acres if they controlled their odor, entrance/exit routes, and played the wind right. Also, this time of the year can be tough on the buck sightings. Don't lose your mental dexterity before the good hunting explodes here in 2 weeks or so. Hang in there MGH, you are going to make it happen. Be confident.
