Frustrated

[eweisner]

Ok, this is season three for me. I mean my third season as a dedicated hunter. I've passed on one doe this year. Made a judgement call.

I had one half (fill in the blank here) shot at a funky 4 point on a small WMA near the house, it wasn't a good shot so I passed. Then I discover that I have at least two hunters hunting me.

I've not seen anything in two weeks. Nothing. And momma done laid down the gauntlet, bring a deer home this season.

Today felt great. Picked a great tree plenty of visibiltiy. My highest climb to date at around 25'-0". The only movement was squirrels (catman/Nimrod need ya'll to help me out here!).

Getting frustrated!

Ok I'l put my big boy britches back on now and get back to work.

mutter mutter mutter

 

[David]

I feel ya. Been my worst season in 2 years. Been passing all the small bucks... Just not seeing anything decent... And I'm on private lease! What really tees me off is I hunted hard the last 7 days and this is the week when usually it's a guarantee at least to see a good buck chasin a doe! Finally find a doe today and freaking miss. Check gun and it won't even hit paper. Headin to range tomorrow with other gun apparently scope is jacked up!!! Maybe that's a good thing.

Still a long season.. Hang in there.

 

[WMAn]

If you are hunting public land in areas of Middle TN with an early to mid november rut, then deer hunting becomes very tough as we enter December. Focus on areas that get ignored by other hunters. These areas will often be thick, hard to access, and offer no trees to climb.

 

[deerhunter10]

I give people that hunt public land major props aint no way I could go all season and only see two deer. id quit. as said before think crazy outside the box go where you think is impossible to go and don't take the easy way out you got to get where deer aren't as pressured as much.

 

[old_man]

I feel your pain. As a bow hunter I spend several years passing on shots and not filling the freezer. Plus spending endless hours on stand with no results. Hunt after hunt seeing nothing. So_ here is the deal. Forget about bagging something. Treat every trip into the woods as an educational experience. Try to learn something every time you go out. Just one thing. Today I learned how the thermals change the wind on a ridge.
Today I learned that I see things the first time in a stand and when I go back 2 or 3 times there I see nothing.
Today I learned.... Fill in the blank...
Sure sure there is luck involved but eventually you'll find you can pick your times, read your wind, understand the traffic around your spot and hunt with success spending a lot less time doing it. Especially if you are working the same area. Think about every time out as not so much how much fur you come out with but what you learned while you where out there. Okay that sounds corny but really every time I spend 3 hours in the woods it is an education.
If you see learning something as the goal it will help justify your hours spent. Hey not everyone hunts a managed trophy zone but even a zone with moderate minor quality deer can make for some enjoyable hunts.
FYI- don't pass on the next mature doe- They make some nice meals and your wife won't know the difference between that doe and a 12pt.

 

[eweisner]

I feel your pain. As a bow hunter I spend several years passing on shots and not filling the freezer...

I'm not strictly a bow hunter, just about 98% of the time. The WMA's that are closest to me are pretty much bow only. I learned about winds today. Unpredictable they are! I also learned about rattling and how it echoes through the woods.

This property contains one of the awfullest thickets I have ever seen. Not that I have seen that many, but I've yet to find a way to penetrate it. Not that I want to try. Also has a bit of a swamp. I've stayed away from those areas. That will change though.

 

[catman529]

I feel your pain. As a bow hunter I spend several years passing on shots and not filling the freezer...

I'm not strictly a bow hunter, just about 98% of the time. The WMA's that are closest to me are pretty much bow only. I learned about winds today. Unpredictable they are! I also learned about rattling and how it echoes through the woods.

This property contains one of the awfullest thickets I have ever seen. Not that I have seen that many, but I've yet to find a way to penetrate it. Not that I want to try. Also has a bit of a swamp. I've stayed away from those areas. That will change though.

the deer may live in those thickets, I'd be hunting inside the edges or very near the thickets and try to find the best deer trails coming out of the thicket.

 

[7mm08]

Frustrated. That's me. On call and working the past five days. Have passed on a doe during MZ with young' uns. Passed on 4 pt during rifle and refused to take a running 200 plus yard shot on a "in high gear" chasing buck. All this while watching some BIG bucks being posted up here! Congrats to all , but you're killing me!

 

[WRbowhunter]

Your not the only one hang in there your whole season could turn on a dime if that right buck walks your way . This has been the most uneventful seasons I have had in a long time. Deer sightings way down. Nothing but small bucks in the last 3 weeks. Maybe I will catch a break but it better happen soon

 

[eweisner]

Maybe I will catch a break but it better happen soon

I hear that.

 

[BIGB]

Hang in there. If you give up you certainly won't kill anything.

 

[stik]

nobody was more frustrated than me during bow and muzzleloader. it started picking up the last week of muzzleloader.

 

[WestTn Huntin man]

I know many hunters consider Rut time Prime time. I'll say this after things settle down and pressure is off late season can very well be a better time % wise to lay the smack down. Bucks are cruising more looking for un breed does.Food sources are more scattered. Get out on some of these super cold days and find a good Honeysuckle or Blackberry patch and sit it out. You could very well come home with a 3fer one hunt deal. I've had more triple's and double's late season than early .Shoot a doe and let her lay till a Buck comes sniffing around her.