When to quit?

[Jpsmith1]

I am a 49 year old man. I have missed one year of hunting since I was 12 and that was due to an injury that laid me flat for the season.

I have invested thousands of hours in scouting, map study, hanging and checking cameras and, of course hunting. Bow, gun, muzzleloader you name it, I'll use it.

In those years, I've taken 10 deer, one of which was a buck. I've spent so many hours on stand with nothing but a few squirrels to break up the boredom. I've wounded and lost a few and missed more than I care to talk about. The wounding and missing, IMO, dovetail with rarely seeing game hence a lack of experience, leading to a lack of confidence which leads to a bad mental state and more difficulty staying 'in the hunt'


Every year, the thought occurs to me to just walk away. Just leave a big pile of high dollar gear at the bottom of a tree as a gift to the next guy and quit.

As if to add insult to injury as I'm composing this, 3 doe came trotting in, clearly spooked by another hunter, hit some invisible line and SCATTERED. They winded me, obviously, even though I'm down wind, the wind is shifty and probably blew that way for a split second. Which is the story of my life.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Hunt somewhere else?

 

[Jason Snyder]

If you don’t feel like you enjoy it, the answer is easy. Only you can decide if the juice is worth the squeeze.

 

[pacoalcracker]

The hunting shows on tv make it look easy..it isn't. Keep on hunting. What else would you do with your time anyways.....whitetails in Pa are one of the toughest animals to hunt since most of the time it's in close quarters.....not like shooting a muley or elk at 500 yards across a canyon or grain field.

 

[Jpsmith1]

If you don’t feel like you enjoy it, the answer is easy. Only you can decide if the juice is worth the squeeze.

I love being in the woods. I'd just like to SEE something, ya know.

 

[Jpsmith1]

The hunting shows on tv make it look easy..it isn't. Keep on hunting. What else would you do with your time anyways.....whitetails in Pa are one of the toughest animals to hunt since most of the time it's in close quarters.....not like shooting a muley or elk at 500 yards across a canyon or grain field.

Most of my hunting friends make it look like the TV shows.

I sit their spots (with permission) and I see a little spike, maybe...

 

[hiker270]

I'm 71 been hunting since I was 12 guess I've been a little more successful than you (my friends call me Lucky, my response is I know there are better hunters than me but I never met one. LOL). I have no plans on quitting especially now since grandson is 12 and where I go he goes. Just got in from the morning hunt with him only saw one doe and quit cause he was a bit cold. Going back out this afternoon. He's hunting with a crossbow now but I'm getting him a decent compound for Christmas. Passing down the hunting tradition will keep me in the woods.

 

[Jason Snyder]

I love being in the woods. I'd just like to SEE something, ya know.

Then go somewhere else?

 

[loganwayne]

Most of my hunting friends make it look like the TV shows.

I sit their spots (with permission) and I see a little spike, maybe...

I'd start asking what they are doing that your not

 

[Jpsmith1]

I'd start asking what they are doing that your not

I have.

"It's just luck"

That's what I get

Absolutely useless advice.

 

[HbDane]

My good friend hasn’t shot a deer in almost 20 years. he’s legally deaf but refuses to get hearing aids I have seen deer well within his range every year, he just can’t hear them, and when he finally sees them, they’re out of range or he has no shot.

He lives, loves, loves, being out in the woods, preparing, and everything involved. What I’m saying is, sometimes the kill isn’t the best part of this hobby, sometimes it’s just getting out there and away from everything.

 

[Jpsmith1]

Then go somewhere else?

This season (archery) , I have hunted 10 different sites for like 12 sits.

The 3 deer this morning make for a total of 15. Only 4 were close to within bow range.

Of the 12 sits, only 3 I actually saw a deer.

 

[Jpsmith1]

My good friend hasn’t shot a deer in almost 20 years. he’s legally dead but refuses to get hearing aids I have seen deer well within his range every year, he just can’t hear them, and when he finally sees them, they’re out of range or he has no shot.

He lives, loves, loves, being out in the woods, preparing, and everything involved. What I’m saying is, sometimes the kill isn’t the best part of this hobby, sometimes it’s just getting out there and away from everything.

I took a week at the end of October last year. Best season I've EVER had and it culminated in missing an 8 point.

Felt pretty good going into this season.

That was a mistake.

 

[SWOHTR]

“The reasons to quit, don’t outnumber all the reasons why”

 

[Jason Snyder]

This season (archery) , I have hunted 10 different sites for like 12 sits.

The 3 deer this morning make for a total of 15. Only 4 were close to within bow range.

Of the 12 sits, only 3 I actually saw a deer.

Refer back to my first post then.

 

[Jpsmith1]

“The reasons to quit, don’t outnumber all the reasons why”

To be snarky, in my experience, the people saying stuff like this and stuff like "ya can't eat the antlers" are guys who fill tags regularly.

 

[IW17]

Have you considered asking one of your friends to allow you to sit with them? Spend a few days observing their habits and hunting style. I've brought many people with me to try and show them some pointers and learn any of their bad habits.

 

[TSAMP]

Have you considered still hunting? Doesn't seem like the waiting game is your cup of tea. If deer won't come to you. Start covering ground. You'll mess up alot but might bump your spirits having more action

 

[Danny Hoey]

I understand where you’re coming from. There are days during deer season that I just take the shotgun and go hunt birds instead. It’s your time in the woods, do what makes you happy.

 

[Jpsmith1]

Have you considered asking one of your friends to allow you to sit with them? Spend a few days observing their habits and hunting style. I've brought many people with me to try and show them some pointers and learn any of their bad habits.

The friends who say "its all luck"

I'm not sure they know why they're so effective.