Bucks often have much, much smaller core areas than I thought. Taking the video camera with me was not only an effort in futility but a fairly significant hindrance. (yet, I'll be taking out again.) Some people are jerks beyond belief when it comes to antlers. I'll never eat at Jimmy John's. Trust my instincts when it comes to picking a tree.
1. Don't get lazy. Stick with strict scent control, stick with the planned entry/exit routes, and don't hunt a marginal wind. 2. Don't freakin put all your eggs in one basket, or even the majority. Don't think that because it worked last year, it will this year. 3. Don't be so damn picky! I get 3 bucks/year in MO.......Next year, I'm shooting the first decent one I get a shot at, then I'll hold out for the P&Y.
I learned that I have a tough time figuring out what I learned. Seriously, I know I have the tools and knowledge, I have to get better at applying it. I've learned a lot, I just have to translate it into knowledge better.
I guess on a serious note it was something I always knew, No matter how bad a year is going getting lazy only may cost you that buck when it happens. Thank goodness being lazy and letting our guard down didn't but almost cost me my biggest buck. 21 days of bad luck and you only need 30 seconds of good luck make your whole season complete.. Walt
I learned that not being lazy and going to those places that no one wants to go because they are to far away, not easy to get in to, ect. ect. That I will see more big bucks. But lady luck wa not on my side, so close, so many times
A few points Jeff hit that were key to me: -You can hunt areas saturated with does all early season, but you're not going to see the bucks this way. -I need to concentrate on finding BUCK ONLY areas on my property, but through my post-season scouting so far, I'm having some issues -I have way too many does on my property. I need to stop being so passive with my doe hunting, and take quite a few out next season (I let way too many walk past within range this year) -I need to alter entry routes to my main plot (like Jim mentioned). I had deer all over me this season on the plot, but they had way to many entry points I could never pin them down. -I learned I'm getting better at scent control and utilizing good entry/exit stands -I need more stand locations -I learned to better read a topo, but I still have a long ways to go -I need to find additional properties to hunt. Limiting myself to one 90 acre parcel is not smart. -The Steeler's are heading toward #6 :D
1. I need to get creative on some sort of a pit blind/bow condo for a certain spot next year. 2. With the exception of a few climbing locations, I learned where I need to be hanging a few more stand locations on the property that I hunted for the first time this year. 3. Don't ever miss a day of hunting due to weather. The bucks travel in some nasty stuff. 4. Don't underestimate the value of a tree umbrella.
That I need to continue to seek out new and better places to hunt. I don't want to get to complacient with my 'current' areas....
LOL, that one made me laugh. In the land of the unexisting and unkillable at that. Nicely done. I honestly didn't learn much this year to be honest, when it comes to deer behavior. I learned the patterns on the one farm i hunted this year. I learned filming and hunting with friends greatly adds another challenge/excitement to a hunt. I learned how I prefer to hunt. I learned that I do NOT want to spend every waking moment from September-January in a deer stand. I learned I want to travel to hunt more often. I learned turkey hunting still kicks deer hunting in the teeth in the excitement category. I learned having a 160ish deer white flagging you within 1/2 mile of your stand, can give you a very strong urge to vomit. I learned pizza, tacos, chili, and pretty much food in general is NOT on the menu the night before hunts. I learned that I want to try and keep bowfishing year round next year, as I greatly miss it. I learned
