Mistakes I've Made This Year

I'm a relatively new hunter. I hunted five or six years ago and shot three doe, never a buck. I picked it back up again this year and have really gotten the bug. I LOVE it. But, I haven't shot anything.

I see deer all the time on my property and figured I'd just hang a stand and shoot something. WRONG. Anyway, here is what I think I did wrong. I'd love some feedback.

1. I started too late and wasn't prepared. I didn't start hunting until November. No cameras, no stands, no practice etc. This REALLY hurt me as it took me all of November to get situated.
2. I don't really understand the deer patterns in my area. I'm not sure where they bed, where they eat, and when they move. I guess that's what happens when you didn't scout.
3. I checked my cameras too often. Sorry, just couldn't help it. I was either hanging new cameras or checking cards every three or four days.
4. Lazy scent control. I know HOW to do it properly. Just lazy and figured "oh, it doesn't matter all that much anyway".
5. Poor stand placement ... leading to moving stands on Sunday afternoons (can't hunt Sunday in PA) and messing up the area for a while.

I'm sure there is more I did wrong. I'm learning that a successful bowhunter has to do a million little things right during (and leading up to) the hunt. If just one of those variables is off ... it's a long day of squirrel watching. The experienced guys probably do all these things on instinct ... but I'll need to focus really hard to make it happen. I have good equipment, but experience can't be bought.

I'm a little frustrated ... but also motivated to 'do it right' throughout the upcoming off-season and be fully prepared next Fall.

 

Can you post up a google or map of the property? There are several people here that have a knack for looking at top maps and finding the edge or pinch point to be on. Best part is they are willing to share their knowledge and experience.

 

I really appreciate the offer! I hunt where I live so I'm hesitant to post maps.

I did seek out a seasoned bowhunter from my church who is helping me greatly. He walked the property with me, helped spot sign, and helped me choose stand locations. It's a LOT more fun when you have someone to share the experience with.

 

Check cameras too often - I used to do this. Hard to say for sure, but I feel it really does affect the spot I'm trying to hunt.

I did not use any game cameras this year so I wouldn't be distracted and ignore all the signs in the woods and also to avoid the temptation of checking so often.

This was my first successful year to get a deer (I got 2). My key differences: using a climber stand to be more mobile and in-season scouting: i found some spots in early October which I hunted 3 weeks later to get success. Other subtle differences were I got situated very early (I think this made a difference in one hunt) and had plans to stay till at least 2 pm. Both deer were taken at like 11:30 am so I think the long sits are worth it.

I don't think you're too late. I would suggest getting a mobile stand and using your Sunday afternoon to scout with plans to hunt your scouted spots the following week. Mobile stand because it's much less disruptive to the area.

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But... you're owning up to your mistakes and downfalls, recognizing what you need to and can do better. Seriously, hunting will and does humble us all from time to time. I had a season I will forget this year.

Part of what makes bowhunting so much more fun and rewarding than gun hunting is the fact that you have to actually learn deer habits, etc. Sure you'll get luck once in a while, but by far, the biggest challenge is learning deer patterns and putting yourself into a position to be successful based on them. Its a game of inches or yards. Being off by 5 yards in tree selection, putting a stand in a tree you get busted in, hunting it in the wrong wind, etc... all of this is what makes it challenging and far more fun to hunt with a bow.

Best of luck.

 

A mentor can really help, good decision.

 

1. I've found that (for me) to be somewhat consistent on public top end buck's for my area....deer hunting has got to be a year around, 365 endeavor. I actually started in mid-Oct this year, getting ready for next year.
   Number 3. should have made short work of number 2. or at least real close on all accounts. Close enough to pin point with a few set's or quick walk through.
   This depends on what your objective is. For early or late season inventory (which is the only time it will be close to accurate), I'll check cam's every couple weeks or so. For the study of behavior or tendencies, I may check them once every 2, 4, or 6 months, depending on the scope of the study. I've often left cam's out all year without checking them. If I'm actually using the cam's to hunt. I will usually move them every 2-3 day's honing in on a buck's core, bed or pretculer doe group he has shifted to.
   At one time, I made the mistake of thinking scent control mattered...and it dose, but not in the way I originally thought. I've learnt that I can't fool the nose of a deer, but I can use my ground scent to my advantage by applying controlled pressure and forcing deer to use or not us certain areas.
   I move every time I hunt, I really hunt the same tree twice.

 

In my mind, THE single biggest mistake new (and "experienced") hunters make is not being cognizant of bedding/feeding areas and how to access their stands w/o bumping deer (this includes unintentional wind bumping.) Nothing will ruin your hunting faster than making deer feel unsafe in their beds and pantries. Even if you have choice feed available, if you are regularly bumping deer on the way in/out they will leave your property and likely only return nocturnally if ever. If your property doesn't hold deer in beds then you are at the mercy of transients who just happen to pass through.

One of the common mistakes made that leads to bedding/feeding area intrusions is hunting the same stand for both AM and PM. Generally, except in very early season and then again in late season I don't hunt directly over food because in the a.m. you will bump them getting to your stand, and a lot of times they don't come out in the open until right at or after dark. Generally speaking, you can get away with hunting closer to bedding in the morning and catch them coming back from food. Think the opposite in the evening. The thing when hunting in relation to bedding/food is to try to keep your wind running perpendicular to the gathering areas that way they aren't downwind of you coming in or downwind of you once they arrive. Easier said than done, but just general things to keep in mind. Honestly, except during the rut unless I have bedding areas that are very easily accessible I find AM hunting to often be more risk than reward.

In your post, you say that you regularly see deer so I am assuming you mean in daylight. If you are seeing deer on your property in daylight, then there are bedding areas in the immediate area. Find them and figure out how to get the deer coming and going from the beds/food without bumping them.

 

Good points! I've also found that this is very important. I kept bumping deer my first couple of years (I now know that I was walking in too close to bedding area). I simply changed my routes, started getting in earlier, and made my entry trails much quieter by prepping them beforehand (cutting select branches to make a clear 1 lane entry).

On hog hunting, now that I figured out where THEY like to bed and hang out, I also found that I was walking in on the wrong trail - probably ruined more hunts than I know.


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