When to quit?

Jason Snyder said:
If someone can hunt that many days and not see a deer, maybe hunting isn’t for them.
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I’d be curious if the guy was sitting in the same exact ladder stand every sit, and it’s just a place the deer never moved through. If he was actively scouting and hunting fresh sign but never saw a deer, different story.
 
bigbassin said:
I think someone on this forum posted once they had gone hunting every Saturday for twenty years and hadn’t even seen a deer. If that guy can keep at it, you can too.

I’m not sure what Pennsylvania’s success rate is, but that’s probably worth digging into for a more accurate comparison. Seems like everyone I know in Georgia that talks about deer hunting gets one or two bucks a season, but success rates for buck or doe are only around 50% and mid teens on most public land. In other words, your buddies may be really good whitetail hunters where as most the guys in the state are having success in line with what you’re seeing.
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Stats say 27% of hunters filled a buck tag last year.

I would strongly suspect that a large number of those hunters fill a buck tag every year even without stats to support it.
 
Jpsmith1 said:
Stats say 27% of hunters filled a buck tag last year.

I would strongly suspect that a large number of those hunters fill a buck tag every year even without stats to support it.
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I would be willing to bet most those guys are repeat customers as well. Did a hunt last weekend that had a 12% success rate on bucks, every single guy I spoke with that had a rack buck had taken one last year and the year before on the hunt.

It’s just like fishing I figure, once you find the spot that has everything they need and figure out when they use it, you can probably repeat that pattern forever until something changes.
 
While it's always nice to fill your tag, remember to enjoy the experience of being in the great outdoors. Now go get a doe.
 
Wait, they clear cut the woods behind your house 5 years ago and you are not hunting it?? Dude idc if there’s not a tree to climb and you need to sit on the ground, that’s where you need to be hunting. Deer love clear cuts man. The thicker the better, what made you stop hunting there? Get in that thick new growth, screw those “open pretty woods”. If it’s super thick sit on the downwind edge. It’s the middle of November man.

I’m sure you’ve heard it a million times but get in the thickest stuff you can find. 20-30 yrd max bow shot type areas. Find some edges with buck sign and sit down wind.

And quit using all that scent free stuff, live and die by the wind.
 
Jakeb said:
Wait, they clear cut the woods behind your house 5 years ago and you are not hunting it?? Dude idc if there’s not a tree to climb and you need to sit on the ground, that’s where you need to be hunting. Deer love clear cuts man. The thicker the better, what made you stop hunting there? Get in that thick new growth, screw those “open pretty woods”. If it’s super thick sit on the downwind edge. It’s the middle of November man.

I’m sure you’ve heard it a million times but get in the thickest stuff you can find. 20-30 yrd max bow shot type areas. Find some edges with buck sign and sit down wind.

And quit using all that scent free stuff, live and die by the wind.
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1. Lack of a place to setup.
2. Interference with the state line and a different state landowner interfering in hunts.
3. This year, someone has bait out and the game commission is ALL OVER IT and I want nothing to do with it. There could be a 30 point buck tied to a tree and I'd walk past it.
 
Jpsmith1 said:
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.
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Try another state? In WA hunting BT is rough, but I go to ID and have a blast hunting whitetail. Maybe change up the season you are hunting, could it be there is just too much pressure the season you are hunting?

There is also the pay for access to land that has less pressure.


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MountainTracker said:
Try another state? In WA hunting BT is rough, but I go to ID and have a blast hunting whitetail. Maybe change up the season you are hunting, could it be there is just too much pressure the season you are hunting?

There is also the pay for access to land that has less pressure.


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That raises other issues. More difficult issues to navigate.

Costs. Out of state tags are expensive. Travel. Eh. It's whatever. I'll camp anywhere. I'm pretty tough that way.

The biggest hurdle is domestic. I really can't convince my wife to agree to an "away" hunt without a partner. I can't find a partner willing to go, ergo, I hunt here.
 
Jpsmith1 said:
That raises other issues. More difficult issues to navigate.

Costs. Out of state tags are expensive. Travel. Eh. It's whatever. I'll camp anywhere. I'm pretty tough that way.

The biggest hurdle is domestic. I really can't convince my wife to agree to an "away" hunt without a partner. I can't find a partner willing to go, ergo, I hunt here.
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I’d suggest if you’re going to hunt out of state look at the states closest to you. Not sure what non res tags cost in Ohio or another nearby state, and then what does access look like, all questions that would need answered.

Take an inreach is really ill I can suggest for the need for a partner.

I assume you are hunting whitetail, are you hunting during prime rut? Calling/rattling? How many days are you spending in the woods during season. Lots of variables.


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I appreciate your wife's concern but you are only 49, unless you have a health issue she is concerned about
tell har you really want to go. My wife never said anything about me going alone until I was 70. Maybe you are trying to find an excuse not to go. In that case, you have already given up.
 
bigbassin said:
You can’t kill bucks if your wife sucks.
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My wife is awesome.

I did a shed hunting day trip this year and was out of cell signal for a few hours. It was kind of known that service would be spotty.

She damn near had a break down and was starting to organize a party to come find me.

GSPHUNTER said:
I appreciate your wife's concern but you are only 49, unless you have a health issue she is concerned about
tell har you really want to go. My wife never said anything about me going alone until I was 70. Maybe you are trying to find an excuse not to go. In that case, you have already given up.
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I think it's a case of what she's used to. I didn't 'want to' go anywhere 20 years ago so why do I now? Truth is, 20 years ago, I knew we couldn't afford it so I didn't ask.

Our lives have changed but she's resistant. I'm working on it and I have made progress.
 
Jpsmith1 said:
My wife is awesome.

I did a shed hunting day trip this year and was out of cell signal for a few hours. It was kind of known that service would be spotty.

She damn near had a break down and was starting to organize a party to come find me.


I think it's a case of what she's used to. I didn't 'want to' go anywhere 20 years ago so why do I now? Truth is, 20 years ago, I knew we couldn't afford it so I didn't ask.

Our lives have changed but she's resistant. I'm working on it and I have made progress.
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Maybe ask her to go with you. even if she doesn't hunt, she can be there to make sure you are safe. My wife went with me many times and just staid in camp while I was hunting. I made sure she knew how to use a gun before we were married, so I wasn't real concerned about her staying in camp.
 
Hunting isn't just gear, time, and experience it's also a mental game.

i started hunting when i was 16, shot my first and only deer then with a bow. Have had chances at other deer, but to be honest the years after that i got cockey and always wanted a bigger dear. So lost a lot of chances of killing a deer. Ive only shot 2 animals, ill never claim to be a expert. Last time i killed a animal was a cow back on 2020 in WY. Which was the 2nd year of elk hunting for me. This year was the first time to actually hunt where i moved to in the last 4 years, all i saw was cows and 2 bulls this spring while scouting, 2 bears this spring, one i couldve shot but didnt want to shoot a bear from a road. And archery hunting i only got 3 days to do it due to a injured back, havent been able to get back out.

i hunt for the meat, yes. But i also hunt as its my time to relax, unwind and get away from the world. Its a way to mentally challenge myself (granted i have yet to make it down to the frank church). If your only goal in hunting is to kill something, i doubt youll ever enjoy it. Might be time to give it up. Unless you're willing to change your mindset.
 
Pharmseller said:
From your avatar the country looks pretty open. If you have time (and distance) I have found a couple dry fires really calms the nerves before I send the real deal.
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Absolutely. Got to do that last season on two deer, one at 360, another at 370. Had time to dry fire on both. It’s tremendous how much it helps calm and give confidence when you have the luxury to do it.
 
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