No success on opening day. Again!

UnlistMe
Inventry
Tennessee Deer Sporting & Deer Hunting Community Forum

Help Support TNDeer | Tennessee Deer:

D

dsa5455

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2010
Messages
1,246
City & State/Province
LEBANON TN
I went Saturday morning for the archery opener. It is the first time I have been able to go the first Saturday in 3-4 years. I saw one deer but was not comfortable making the shot. I got to thinking, in all my years of hunting the archery opener I have never harvested a deer on opening morning. That kill may be two or three weeks into that segment or perhaps not at all but never on that excitement filled morning. I was curious how many of you find success opening day on a regular basis?
 
I guess Im lucky :) Well this year I took a kid on his first hunt and he got a 6 point so I technically didn't shoot one this year, but have the last 3 out of 4.
 
I'm the past 4 seasons I have killed on 2 opening morning. Including taking a doe in the morn and a buck that same eve. I've been lucky.
 
in the dog house! said:
I guess Im lucky :) Well this year I took a kid on his first hunt and he got a 6 point so I technically didn't shoot one this year, but have the last 3 out of 4.
Click to expand...

Yep even better. I'd say that counts!
 
Weber Hickory Wood Chunks Outdoor Cooking Fuel, 4 lb – Premium BBQ Smoking & Grilling Chips for Rich, Subtly Sweet Flavor – Ideal for Beef, Lamb, Poultry & Pork – Long Lasting
See price on Amazon
Weber Hickory Wood Chunks Outdoor Cooking Fuel, 4 lb – Premium BBQ Smoking & Grilling Chips for Rich, Subtly Sweet Flavor – Ideal for Beef, Lamb, Poultry & Pork – Long Lasting
Old Potters Smoker Wood Chunks 13-16 lbs for Grilling, Smoking, and Wood Fire Cooking ~ 2 x 3 Inches, (Hickory, 790 Cu in.)
See price on Amazon
Old Potters Smoker Wood Chunks 13-16 lbs for Grilling, Smoking, and Wood Fire Cooking ~ 2 x 3 Inches, (Hickory, 790 Cu in.)
Hickory Pizza Oven Wood 6 Inch, 15 lbs Box – Kiln Dried & Bark-Free Firewood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ Smoking & Grilling – Premium Hickory Wood Logs for Ooni, Gozney, Solo Stove, Bertello
See price on Amazon
Hickory Pizza Oven Wood 6 Inch, 15 lbs Box – Kiln Dried & Bark-Free Firewood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ Smoking & Grilling – Premium Hickory Wood Logs for Ooni, Gozney, Solo Stove, Bertello
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 8” Splits (Approx 39.5 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
See price on Amazon
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 8” Splits (Approx 39.5 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 6” Splits (Approx. 42 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
See price on Amazon
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 6” Splits (Approx. 42 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
Inkbird ITC-308 Digital Temperature Controller 2-Stage Outlet Thermostat Heating and Cooling Mode Carboy Homebrew Fermenter Greenhouse Terrarium 110V 10A 1100W
See price on Amazon
Inkbird ITC-308 Digital Temperature Controller 2-Stage Outlet Thermostat Heating and Cooling Mode Carboy Homebrew Fermenter Greenhouse Terrarium 110V 10A 1100W
Greenworks 24V 6in BL Pruning Saw w/Auto Oiler, Tool Only
See price on Amazon
Greenworks 24V 6in BL Pruning Saw w/Auto Oiler, Tool Only
Old Potters Kiln Dried Firewood - Cherry, 1100 Cu. in, 16-18 Logs ~ 8" x 2.5" Logs. Solo Stove and Cooking Wood for Grilling, Smoking, and Firepits, Cherry.
See price on Amazon
Old Potters Kiln Dried Firewood - Cherry, 1100 Cu. in, 16-18 Logs ~ 8" x 2.5" Logs. Solo Stove and Cooking Wood for Grilling, Smoking, and Firepits, Cherry.
Heritage Smoke Wood Hickory Pizza Oven Wood with Fire Starter - Kiln Dried Firewood 6" Hardwood Logs for Brick Fire Pizza Ovens & Grills, 6 lb, Low Smoke, High Heat, Competition-Grade Clean Burn
See price on Amazon
Heritage Smoke Wood Hickory Pizza Oven Wood with Fire Starter - Kiln Dried Firewood 6" Hardwood Logs for Brick Fire Pizza Ovens & Grills, 6 lb, Low Smoke, High Heat, Competition-Grade Clean Burn
39" Fire Pits with Wood Storage for Outside, Large Wood Burning Outdoor Fireplace with Chimney, Mesh Spark Screen & Fire Poker, Idea for Backyard, Patio, Party, Camping, Picnic
See price on Amazon
39" Fire Pits with Wood Storage for Outside, Large Wood Burning Outdoor Fireplace with Chimney, Mesh Spark Screen & Fire Poker, Idea for Backyard, Patio, Party, Camping, Picnic
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.
I hunted three years before killing my first deer - another four before getting my first bow kill. Patience and trust in your skills and insticts are my words of wisdom for what it's worth
 
Beats what I did. Went Saturday and Sunday and saw 0...

At least you saw one.

I guess to answer your question I hunted for years and started seriously bow hunting in 2003. it took me 5 years (I missed a couple of times) before i got my first bow kill. I killed my first opening day deer in 2011. got one in 2012 too. Last year it was the 2nd day of season. You can read above what happened this year. I still had a good time. Beats working that's for sure.
 
I have never killed one on opening weekend. I had an opportunity last year but passed waiting on a buck that I was hunting. I have killed a quite a few the second weekend though.
 
I had never killed one on archery opener until this year. I've been hunting 4 years (3 actually hunting hard) and 2 years bowhunting (this is my 3rd bow season) and in the past 2 seasons I didn't kill right away. 2012 my first archery kill was october 5. Last year it was sept 30. This year was my first opening morning kill. Scouting and finding a hot oak tree was my key to success this year.
 
I have passed on a number of doe on opening day/weekend.

A had a group of 5 bucks this year at 70 yds on opening morning. I sure wish they had closed the distance. But, wonderful morning in the woods.
 
I've been bow hunting for 7 years now. Until this season I've only seen one deer on opening day, but killed one turkey on it. This year I saw 12 deer on opening day, and killed one.
 
I've been lucky. Killed a doe opening morning last year and a spike opening morning this year. Out of the same tree no less.
My wife killed her first archery opening day last year as well.
It sounds easy but its not. I live in the Eastern part of the state and deer are few.
I just hope my luck continues for next year.
 
I have bow hunted for around 16 or 17 years. Ever since I was able to shoot a bow with 50lbs draw weight or more and I have only killed 1 doe on opening day and that was in the Cherokee national forest. I haven't even bought my archery permit yet this year tho.
 
After seeing deer almost every day for the last month; opening morning NOTHING! That afternoon NOTHING! I pulled the card of the camera I usually walk by on the way to the stand. There was nothing on it. I think the heavy fall of acorns near where I hunt has pulled them away from my stand. I'm going to put another camera on the other side of the property and see what is over there.
 
No not opening day. It's always on into October when it gets good on the property I hunt. It's amazing the difference in areas to hear all these posts about raining acorns and they are still green in the trees here.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top