When to quit?

[Jpsmith1]

Dude...no

It's what I've got that isn't straight public land.

 

[Steve300xcw]

I know nothing about your area. But I would be looking for a way to change that

 

[MountainTracker]

I went to my local shop asking for coaching and explaining a high level overview of my problems.

I was given a little coaching, but not at the level I think Jason is talking about.

I'm planning to shoot a winter 3D league I may look into the Shot IQ full system following Christmas.

Just a suggestion but you live in PA, Lancaster has a pretty good archery shop, it’s pretty big, I’ve been there once.

Lancaster Archery…I would be surprised if you couldn’t get some good coaching through them.

And hey if you are learning to beat the nose of a whitetail you’re getting closer to killing them, keep it up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tchance21]

I hunt in Lawrence County in western Pennsylvania. It is a large block of private land (approx 3000 acres)

It's members only but there are something like 5k members. How many hunt archery? Idk. It seems like there's a stand every third tree, but a lot are old and haven't been used in a long time based on condition of the stands and straps.

It's tough when not everyone is on the same page an you don't know who is or isn't bow hunting. 5k member on 3k acres isn't the greatest odds to have successful hunts. Ever tried any surrounding public pieces to see what pressure would be like there? To me it seems like pressure may be hurting you th most

 

[WhatToHunt]

Bummer and sorry to hear. I have a buddy who has limited local opportunities so he gets fired up hunting public land whitetails in different states. The challenge seems very fulfilling. Perhaps accept the area you're in or find another area to reignite your passion.

 

[9.1]

Pennsylvania is #3 whitetail state in the USA behind Indiana and Tennessee. I have shot deer and Elk in close quarters and out to 500 yards. Give me the close quarters anytime.

Wisconsin where I am from and where I some times hunt, and I consider a good state for white tail had a total harvest report of 280,000. Pa had 430,000. Totals for all seasons.

I think you're looking at the wrong stats for ranking opportunity. 2/3 of those states are one-buck states. PA's deer population is 15% lower than Wisconsin's, but PA sells 30% more licenses. You can't just go by kills because us PA boys like to get after it.

 

[Jpsmith1]

I know nothing about your area. But I would be looking for a way to change that

So, thinking back. I've had 3 encounters with "shooter" bucks in 2 years there. A deer that picked me off in the stand. One I missed last year and the one tonight. Probably 8 or 10 sub-legal bucks from tiny spikes to 4/6 points that don't meet the legal requirements.

Pharmseller has definitely changed my thinking about the opportunities I have been getting.

Sure. I'd love to have exclusive access to a couple hundred acres and some farm equipment.

It's tough when not everyone is on the same page an you don't know who is or isn't bow hunting. 5k member on 3k acres isn't the greatest odds to have successful hunts. Ever tried any surrounding public pieces to see what pressure would be like there? To me it seems like pressure may be hurting you th most

I haven't hunted public land consistently in close to 30 years. I've been looking at expanding where I hunt. I have been lacking in confidence in selecting spots to hunt, which definitely puts a damper on my excitement to do so. Yay another spot to sit and watch the squirrels is how my thinking has run.

 

[ScreamingPotato]

I hunt in Lawrence County in western Pennsylvania. It is a large block of private land (approx 3000 acres)

It's members only but there are something like 5k members. How many hunt archery? Idk. It seems like there's a stand every third tree, but a lot are old and haven't been used in a long time based on condition of the stands and straps.

Some of those hunting clubs can be pretty shot up IME.

Come down to Texas, I'll put you on deer on highly pressured public land and you'll get shot opportunities. Compound or xbow is legal here where we hunt.

 

[ScreamingPotato]

Well, my 24 bow season ends with a small victory and a heart break.

Sat the same generally area tonight that I saw a nice buck yesterday refined my stand site a bit, moving about 75 yards. Kind of what I think is called a 'staging area' little area just outside of a field.

Sat here since about 1:30 right at sunset, i catch movement 50 yards to the front of me. Antlers it's an 8 point.

Get set and ready watch him do a little scent posting on a branch. Steps behind the tree i planned as a 'screen' and I started to draw.

CREEEEAAAAAK!

Something on my bow made noise.

Yeah, he didn't like that and bounced off.

But. In my own way, I won. I beat his nose by playing the wind, i figured the spot, refined the stand site and still lost

I'm very happy if it isn't clear by what I'm writing. Did I want that buck? Heck yeah I did. Is this a victory? Heck yeah it is

Yep you're getting there, just need a couple more opportunities just like that.

 

[Steve300xcw]

So, thinking back. I've had 3 encounters with "shooter" bucks in 2 years there. A deer that picked me off in the stand. One I missed last year and the one tonight. Probably 8 or 10 sub-legal bucks from tiny spikes to 4/6 points that don't meet the legal requirements.

Theres about a 20sq mile area here that I love to hunt. Something changed and deer just arent there anymore. Least not like they were...I still waste a few days hunting it. But that is not where I kill my deer these days........

I've been looking at expanding where I hunt. I have been lacking in confidence in selecting spots to hunt, which definitely puts a damper on my excitement to do so. Yay another spot to sit and watch the squirrels is how my thinking has run.

Yea dude, thats where the scouting thing comes to play.....

 

[bowhuntercoop]

You need to learn how to execute a proper shot sequence. Your brain turns to mush and you throw up a hope and a prayer. Until you learn how to do this, you’ll keep missing.

That’s why I said get ahold of Joel turner. I was able to get a class in person from him and Tom Clum and it’s changed my trad archery shooting forever.

 

[ScreamingPotato]

So, thinking back. I've had 3 encounters with "shooter" bucks in 2 years there. A deer that picked me off in the stand. One I missed last year and the one tonight. Probably 8 or 10 sub-legal bucks from tiny spikes to 4/6 points that don't meet the legal requirements.

Pharmseller has definitely changed my thinking about the opportunities I have been getting.

Sure. I'd love to have exclusive access to a couple hundred acres and some farm equipment.

I haven't hunted public land consistently in close to 30 years. I've been looking at expanding where I hunt. I have been lacking in confidence in selecting spots to hunt, which definitely puts a damper on my excitement to do so. Yay another spot to sit and watch the squirrels is how my thinking has run.

JMO but I think you're better off on public than potentially 5k people on 3k acres. There's probably very few animals after years of people shooting anything they can. But with two encounters last year and the one this year you're still finding ways to make it happen. I bet if you spent a little time on public you'd figure it out as well, but then again I don't know the area up there. I hunt public in Texas though, which is almost non-existent, so from what I can imagine it's about as pressured as you can get.

 

[GSPHUNTER]

I think you're looking at the wrong stats for ranking opportunity. 2/3 of those states are one-buck states. PA's deer population is 15% lower than Wisconsin's, but PA sells 30% more licenses. You can't just go by kills because us PA boys like to get after it.

The stats I looked at were totals for the season. Bucks and does combined.

 

[9.1]

I haven't hunted public land consistently in close to 30 years. I've been looking at expanding where I hunt. I have been lacking in confidence in selecting spots to hunt, which definitely puts a damper on my excitement to do so. Yay another spot to sit and watch the squirrels is how my thinking has run.

After you fix your target panic, spend some hunts still hunting into areas bucks might be bedded. When you bump a buck, drop a pin on OnX. Map any other sign you come across. When you've done this enough, you'll be able to see on the map how deer use the land you're hunting. It's also a nice break from sitting in a tree all day. Save most of your stand sitting for cold fronts when the wind is right.

 

[TxxAgg]

5000 people on 3000 acres. I'd sell all my stuff and take up hiking and beer drinking.

 

[tchance21]

So, thinking back. I've had 3 encounters with "shooter" bucks in 2 years there. A deer that picked me off in the stand. One I missed last year and the one tonight. Probably 8 or 10 sub-legal bucks from tiny spikes to 4/6 points that don't meet the legal requirements.

Pharmseller has definitely changed my thinking about the opportunities I have been getting.

Sure. I'd love to have exclusive access to a couple hundred acres and some farm equipment.

I haven't hunted public land consistently in close to 30 years. I've been looking at expanding where I hunt. I have been lacking in confidence in selecting spots to hunt, which definitely puts a damper on my excitement to do so. Yay another spot to sit and watch the squirrels is how my thinking has run.

I love the challenge of public land but what I've learned is you have to be able to roll with whatever happens and make adjustments people will walk in on you and you have days where you don't see anything I had 3 all day sits without seeing a deer and honestly It's a little upsetting but some days the deer just don't move... tv shows and podcasts aren't whats happening to the average hunter those fields full of shooters are few and far between... it's all about the love for it.. if you've lost the love and the challenge isn't what's driving you anymore maybe take a year off to see if you do miss it. I hope this never is an issue for me because I can't wait for the rut to role around every year

 

[9.1]

The stats I looked at were totals for the season. Bucks and does combined.

Understood, but it's harder to get good at killing bucks when you can only kill one per year.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

If I missed the vitals on a 30 or even a 40 yard shot on the 3D range or in any kind of practice scenario, even running with a pack on, I'd probably drop my bow from the shock.

Last season, I had an 8 point at 27 yards. Gave it a little trim on the brisket. Cut hair, no meat.

I KNOW it's in my head. I KNOW that i need to kill more deer to get over it. Then I get in the woods and I see the does and thing "what if there's a buck following here" I hold off and here I am.

First off, deer hunting is not natural to everyone. But in my experience there are two types of deer killers:
1. the "naturals". These guys kill deer left and right. You ask them what they're doing and they make vague gestures and shrug, then say something stupid like " I just avoid pressure".

2. The thinkers. Read some Barry Wensel and Roger Rothhaar. The defining characteristic of big buck killers (and most good deer killers turn into big buck killers) is that they are constantly asking "why... ?" For example, "why are the deer doing xyz?"

If you don't have a good working theory for why deer should be where you're at, MOVE! Or think harder about why they're where you're at. If you see deer, figure out why... if you don't figure out why not. Always be thinking. And it doesn't hurt to study deer biology either. Learn what makes them happy, learn how their eyes actually work, etc.

Finally, when it comes to meltdowns on deer, that's because you're letting your emotions overrun your reason. Look up Joel Turner of Shot IQ. It doesn't matter how you shoot when pressure is off. It matters what you do when your adrenaline is spiked. ShotIQ will give you the answer for fixing the meltdown/panic/missing critters. I warn you, it's a lot of work to maintain control of your shot, but it IS fixable. As in, you could probably have a game plan to shoot that big buck without melting down in a day or two.